INNISFAIL – The town has taken a major step towards a return to normalcy from the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
At the town’s June 11 Emergency Management Committee (EMC) meeting members rescinded the local state of emergency as of the morning of June 12.
Todd Becker, the town’s chief administrative officer, said the town’s Emergency Coordination Centre would remain in operation for a while longer to handle risk assessments, facility reopenings, and health components of COVID. The committee will still meet three times a week. The EMC will no longer meet weekly but administration will still report COVID-related updates to council.
“We are still building out on our risk assessments for our facilities and monitoring our services as we go on,” said Becker.
On June 9 the province announced Stage 2 of the COVID relaunch, which will include the reopening of more facilities on June 12, or shortly after. There will, however, be restrictions still in placed as safety remains the top priority.
A maximum 50 people will be allowed for indoor social gatherings, including wedding and funeral receptions and birthday parties. There will be a cap of 100 people for outdoor events and indoor seated/audience events, including wedding and funeral ceremonies. There is no cap for worship gatherings, restaurants, cafes, lounges, bars, casinos and bingo halls. Public health measures and physical distancing guidelines are still in place.
Becker said the Innisfail Public Library would soon be open, noting its risk assessment is complete and looks good.
“Now they need to decide what day works for them to manage the service and demands from the public side,” said Becker.
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Sometime later this month, the town’s movie man, Derek Austin, can once again fire up the projector at the old Century Theatre on Main Street.
Austin, the theatre owner for more than 20 years, is elated but he may have to wait a few days longer until he gets everything ready. He originally thought he would not get the go ahead until June 19.
“I am really happy. I guess I got to get a move on the renovations I have been doing. I am not sure I can make it for June 12,” said Austin, who was forced to close his theatre two months ago. “We are excited to offer people a different place to watch entertainment other than their basement or living room.”
Austin said one challenge is whether his three part-time staff are still available to return.
In the meantime, Becker said one surprise with last week’s Phase 2 announcement was the inclusion of pools and arenas. He said the reopening of the Innisfail Aquatic Centre and arena were part of the plan for Phase 3.
“We’ve been slowly building our risk assessment for both of those facilities,” said Becker. “We now have the ability to put those on urgency to finish those assessments, build out our operational and programming models and then make an announcement for projected openings.
“We could open up today but we are not prepared based on what we saw at the pool, with (projected) opening in Phase 3,” he said, adding an announcement would likely be made this week on the projected opening of the pool. Becker added an announcement would be made this week on the reopening of the spray park, which he said is close to being ready.
As for community halls, the only one affected by the provincial announcement is the facility at the Innisfail Library/Learning Centre. Becker said a risk assessment is being now and a date for reopening has not yet been determined.
For local sports fields, Becker said maintenance is being increased to get them ready for use. He said discussions have been made with local sports groups on their responsibilities in accordance with provincial guidelines. Becker said he expects these facilities can be used this week or shortly thereafter.
Meanwhile, Becker said town council was to have have its final ZOOM meeting for its Agenda & Priorities meeting on June 15, with council chambers ready to open for the public at its regular meeting on June 22.
