A Foothills area resident might have been all smiles as she was receiving her first hairstyle since February.
However, it was hard to tell. Brianna Fowlow was wearing a mask as part of the guidelines at Chatters Hair Salon.
The salon was one of several Okotoks businesses opening on May 14 as part of the Alberta government's Stage 1 of the Economic Relaunch Strategy from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I had my hair cut and dyed," Fowlow said with a chuckle. "I should have had it done in March. Hair-wise, it's been a struggle, but I haven't picked at it or anything like that, I kind of just left it alone."
Fowlow was hairstylist Tianna Hartford's first customer since Chatters, at the Cimarron Shopping Mall in south Okotoks, was closed in mid-March with all salons and other businesses in Alberta due to COVID-19.
"It's been really weird — I am glad to be back," Hartford said. "She (Fowlow) is my first customer, but I am booked solid for the rest of the day."
Hartford has received either Employment Insurance or the Canada Emergency Response Benefit for the past two months to help get her by financially.
Some Okotoks businesses offered traditional service for customers, as opposed to curb-side service or takeout, for the first time on May 14 since mid-March.
Stage 1 allows some retail stores (clothing, furniture and book stores) to reopen, as well as farmer’s market vendors; hairstylists and barbers; cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars (at 50 per cent capacity); museums and art galleries; daycares and out-of-school-care facilities with limited capacity; summer camps and summer schools with limited capacity; and more scheduled surgeries or dental procedures will be permitted. Premier Jason Kenney gave the thumb's up for Stage 1 on May 13.
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Heather Frayn, owner of Chatters, said adjustments have been made since the pre-COVID days.
"It's mandatory to wear a mask to your service appointment for staff and clients at the store," Frayn said.
The chairs are two metres apart and the waiting room is closed. As well, Chatters is running at about half capacity, she said.
She also owns Tommy Gun's original barbershop, also at Cimarron Shopping Mall. It was not open May 14, but is expected to open soon -- possibly May 15.
It didn't open because of safety concerns from staff about the potential of getting clients from Calgary and Brooks. The government stated those communities, because of their higher number of COVID-19 numbers, could not have services like hair salons and restaurants having in-house dining until May 25.
Frayn said its been difficult the past two months with her businesses closed.
"It's been challenging watching what has been going on in the world and trying to make safe decisions," Frayn said. "We're ultimately at the hands of the government, but we want it to be safe for the staff and public when we return."
The entire staff was laid off when both operations closed shop in mid-March, in order for the employees to apply for CERB or EI funding.
She was able to hire back the majority of her staff.
She said there is some government funding available for her businesses but she is working out details concerning leasing.
Deck time
An Okotoks business team was able to do something it hasn't done for two months.
Wayne and Elyse Austen were enjoying a sit-down dine-in lunch when they enjoyed a beer and a meal May 14 at the Royal Duke Hotel deck.
"The last time we ate out together was when we went to Grand Central in the middle of March," said Elyse Austen, Wayne's daughter and owner of Austen Jewellers in Okotoks.
"Delicious."
Dad agreed.
"It's nice to sit in the sunshine and share a meal with somebody."
Although missing the friendly confines of the Duke, Wayne didn't feel the closure of businesses -- including Austen Jewellers -- was too harsh.
"I sure wish the COVID-19 numbers were lower," Austen said. "Hopefully, we aren't jumping the gun."
Austen Jewellers is expected to open after the long weekend.
Guy Ward, owner of the Royal Duke, said it was a relief to be open after a long haul.
"It's been two months -- a long time," Ward said. "It's been hard on everybody."
Ward used the two-month hiatus to fine-tune his kitchen. He said as a pub, it wouldn't have been economical to offer take-out dining.
He said business was slow on May 14.
"I don't think people are quite comfortable yet, it's going to be awhile," Ward said. "Until they get a vaccine or something."
He said it was frustrating not getting the final word on whether Okotoks restaurants could partially open until mid afternoon of May 13.
There was further confusion when Kenney announced Calgary could not open.
"We didn't know whether we were part of the Calgary area," Ward said. "This has been hard on all pubs and I feel bad for the guys in Calgary that couldn't open.
"I'm sure they did the same thing I did. Prep things, did all the things they were supposed to do and then..."
Stage 2 of the economic recovery plan will allow additional businesses and services to reopen and resume operations with 2 metre physical distancing requirements and other public health guidelines in place.
No date has been set for Stage 2.
In Okotoks there have been 164 cases of COVID-19 as of May 14, 17 are active and 146 have recovered. There has been one death.
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