With the province now in a new state of public health emergency, the wide-ranging new measures announced Nov. 24, included temporary closures of group fitness classes, team training, practices and games.
For Innisfail that specifically means the arena and curling rink were closed as of Nov. 27, and will remain so until at least Dec. 15 when the provincial government will review the new restrictions and either lessen them, or direct further and even tougher new measures.
“Some of those (Innisfail Minor Hockey Association) teams have started to cancel their respective programs,” said Todd Becker, the town’s chief administrative officer
He said the new restrictions will also shut down activities at the Innisfail Aquatic Centre, including swimming lessons, along with kayak and swim club programs. He said on Nov. 26 that lane swimming would be allowed, and the town was also looking into the possibility that family swims could still be offered under the new restrictions.
“We are looking into the possibility of maintaining lane swimming but we are going to see if that is a valid program that we can maintain as an individual-type of activity but we are still absorbing of what is expected of us, and we are in conversations with other municipalities on their interpretations of the restrictions.”
On Nov. 23 town council approved a motion to have face masks mandatory for all council members and staff at town hall, despite the objections of one councillor against legislating mask wearing, and a determined call by Coun. Don Harrison to expand the motion to cover all municipal facilities. The new provincial COVID guidelines did not include any face mask requirements for any areas outside Calgary or Edmonton.
“Now I am thinking we will have to revisit everything,” said Town of Innisfail Mayor Jim Romane, who has had discussions with mayors from other Central Alberta municipalities on the face mask issue. “It will be reviewed but I can’t see us doing a blanket on the town but workplaces perhaps. I’m a little bit premature to say exactly but we will be talking about it.”
Even so, Harrison said he still intends to lobby to have mandatory mask wearing expanded beyond the administration building.
“I will certainly bring it up when we are together as a group where we are going from here,” said Harrison. “At a minimum I would like to see our facilities, such as the library and the arena and the swimming pool, have mandatory masks.
“As for public facilities that is a bit of leap right now, but with our facilities that is what I wanted on Monday (Nov. 23),” he added. “Support was there but we wanted to wait until after the premier’s announcement.”
In the meantime, the local business community was still trying to sort out the fine print of the province’s new COVID rules.
Most retail businesses and some entertainment and event services can remain open with capacity limited to 25 per cent of the occupancy set under the Alberta Fire Code.
Restaurants, bars, pubs and lounges can have a maximum of six people from the same immediate household at a table. Movement is not allowed between tables. Only seated eating and drinking is permitted. No other services or entertainment will be allowed, including billiards, games or darts. Liquor can be sold until 10 p.m. and they must close by 11 p.m.
“I am glad to see businesses are able to stay open and I hope our community will really make an effort to shop local,” said Coun. Jean Barclay. “I hope as a community we have enough compassion for others to take COVID seriously and follow the mandatory and voluntary guidelines. If not, we will likely see harsher restrictions in three weeks.”
Tyrel Robinson, president of the Innisfail & District Chamber of Commerce, said the measures are “probably” a good step to take, adding the capacity limits imposed should not cause great strain on businesses, notably restaurants, because many of them have already taken proactive measures to ensure customer health, such as safe distancing.
As for calls for face masking, he said that is a matter of personal preference.
“I think the masking situation is a personal preference for people as long as they are maintaining distancing at six feet apart,” said Robinson, who is co-owner of Innisfail’s Cornerstone Flooring & Design. “I know in our business I don’t wear a mask unless customers want me to. I just stay six feet away when talking to them.”
Meanwhile, Innisfail's Royal Canadian Legion branch announced last week that all events had been suspended until further notice, including the meat draw, horse races, Chase the Queen, darts, shuffleboard and pool.
