Foothills businesses torn over new COVID regulations

New regulations from the Province have brought concern and dismay from some Foothills businesses while others exhaled a sigh of relief.

Tamara Anderson, owner of Mint + Maple in Okotoks, said she had prepared herself for the worst ahead of Premier Jason Kenney’s announcement of enhanced COVID-19 regulations on Nov. 24, with rumours floating around that another full lockdown was about to hit Alberta.

“There was a lot of sort of thinking and planning for kind of the worst-case scenario and how I could get creative with my business to make it work,” said Anderson. “When I heard the announcement that it wasn’t going to be the worst-case scenario in my mind, which was to have to shut down, I just felt extremely relieved.”

Kenney announced on Nov. 24 the Province would be implementing “bold and targeted” measures, saying the government opted not to incite a full lockdown because of the impacts it would have on the economy and Alberta citizens.

Instead, the Province placed businesses into three categories: open with restrictions, such as 25 per cent capacity in retail stores and limiting in-person dining to members of the same household at a table; closed, such as banquet halls, concert halls and conference centres; and open by appointment only in the case of personal and professional services, and hotels.

Further, worship services across the province were limited to one-third capacity, and funerals and weddings are capped to 10 people for ceremonies and no receptions permitted. In addition, outdoor social gatherings are limited to 10 people and all indoor social gatherings are prohibited.

Those who can work from home have been asked to do so as part of the measures as well. Kenney indicated the measures would be re-evaluated mid-December.

For Anderson, the announcement took a weight off her shoulders, though she said it could be only temporary relief. She said she’s trying to focus on positivity and creativity as she keeps her doors open and runs her business as best she can.

“I’m not going to lie – it’s hard, and it’s a lot of trying to not worry too much about the way that things could go,” she said.

Anderson just took over Mint + Maple during the pandemic. The business had been established for five years when she took the reins while also navigating through COVID, and she said that may have been of benefit because she has no yardstick to measure against.

Learning to do business this way has allowed her to find ways to adjust for different types of customers, she said, such as offering private shopping appointments for those who prefer.

“For me it’s really about serving the community in the capacity I am as a business owner,” said Anderson. “I get it – making the provisions and the protocols and everything for public safety, but this is an important time for people and not being allowed to be with family that doesn’t live with you feels a little bit devastating.

“Just being able to provide some kind of normalcy, of Christmas shopping, making people feel comfortable and safe, that’s important.”

While Anderson felt a sense of relief to be able to keep her doors open, some businesses were devastated by the Province’s announcement.

Leanne Snodgrass, owner of Snodgrass Funeral Homes, said limiting funeral services to 10 people is a hardship for the families who are grieving lost loved ones.

“That’s a big part of what funerals are, is to have friends and family around, and when you take that out, it sure makes things more difficult for the families we’re serving,” said Snodgrass. “For a lot of families 10 people is going to be picking and choosing who in the family gets to come, and that’s not going to be easy.”

She said they have made accommodations throughout the pandemic, when their services were already limited to no more than 50 people including staff and attendants, such as offering Zoom streams for those unable to join in-person, but it’s still not the same.

Many people have been opting to postpone their services until COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, she said, and while that may be an option to ensure large families can gather together, it has different implications.

At this point, some people who decided five or six months ago to delay have further postponed, she said.

“It slows down the whole grieving process,” said Snodgrass.

She said the challenges will be difficult to navigate but they are committed to comforting families and helping them through.

“Each situation and each family is different, but 10 people is just…it’s so hard,” said Snodgrass.