Restaurants and other local businesses will be at the forefront of the minds of local leaders in the Battlefords this winter, following the SHA mandate announced Wednesday. (File photo/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Josh Ryan

COVID Measures Reaction

Local leaders prepare for new SHA measures in the Battlefords

Nov 26, 2020 | 4:00 PM

Following the announcement from the Government of Saskatchewan on Wednesday, the reaction from local leaders in the Battlefords was not one of surprise.

The province’s new measures, affecting business owners, schools and more, go into effect just after midnight tonight. Despite the challenges that will occur from the measures, Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie said it could have been worse.

“We’re not seeing the shutdowns that Alberta and Manitoba are seeing, so I’m optimistic,” he said.

The trending headline from the announcement for many residents was the implications for sports competitions and gatherings, which has postponed the SJHL season. Leslie said he understands the reasoning for reducing the spread of the virus, but acknowledged there’s residual effects for many, particularly families.

“It’s a tough one, because it affects the kids more than it affects anyone,” he said.

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Leslie said it’s going to be an adjustment this December, with parents having accepted a transition of sports back into life when the province began to open up. Now, they will have to find a way to keep their children active without many options.

“There’s going to be a lot of free time that’s going to need to be filled with something, and that makes it tough on families trying to keep their young ones busy without being around other kids,” Leslie said.

Another impact expected to reverberate in the Battlefords will be on restaurants, theatres and other local businesses and venues. Leslie said it may take a change in the schedule in how people eat out, so establishments can receive patrons outside of two busy periods.

“Maybe we can find a way to support them by going an hour early or later, to keep the flow of people coming through the restaurant,” he said.

In the coming days, Leslie said it’s important the municipal leaders meet.

“We need to get together and push our own envelope forward, so our own small businesses and restaurants are looked after,” he said.

Among the affected industries, Chamber of Commerce COO Linda Machniak said the hospitality sector is high on the list. Among the measures announced on Wednesday, restaurants are limited to all tables without barriers to be positioned three metres apart.

“Certainly, if there’s anything that residents can do, such as a delivery order or pickup order, that would help support restaurants,” she said. “It may be that some decide to close, at least in the short term.”

Machniak said chambers across the province would be encouraged to hear that consultations with affected industries, a move that can hopefully help in crafting decisions that work to slow the spread of COVID-19 without keeping business owners from having to shut down.

“We talked about that just last week, offering up expertise to the government, so that there’s some discussion going on,” she said.

Machniak said it’s a real balancing act between life, lives and livelihoods that has to be addressed this winter.

“I see that this government is trying to balance that and make sure jobs aren’t lost and business don’t close,” she said. “But obviously we all recognize that the health and safety of people’s lives is critical.”

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports