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A table at Blue Bird Coffee Co. in Rimbey bears a message letting customers know they are in contravention of public health orders by dining there. (Supplied)
nearing a "breaking point"

Restaurants violate health orders as clamour to re-open ramps up

Jan 28, 2021 | 6:30 PM

Several central Alberta restaurants are done waiting for the government to allow businesses to re-open.

According to Alberta Health Services, Hockey Central in Sylvan Lake and Mom’s Diner in Red Deer were both issued closure orders on Jan. 27. Mom’s Diner received a second closure notice on Thursday as well as a $1,200 fine.

The Whistle Stop Cafe in Mirror was given one on Jan. 22. The owner there was also served with a ticket and written order to close on Jan. 26 by RCMP.

These businesses and others are part of a growing movement by Alberta restaurants to re-open in a bid to show the provincial government they can do so safely, regardless of public health orders.

“I knew it was coming. I don’t feel the greatest about it, but seeing the people come in here, and the light they give off, I do feel great about what I’m doing,” says Wesley Langlois, owner of Mom’s Diner. “It’s a bummer, but I feel positive.”

Langlois and spouse Leslie Clothier bought the restaurant in Red Deer’s West Park area last June. He says because it had already existed for decades, they couldn’t qualify for various forms of financial assistance afforded to others.

“I wish we could talk to somebody instead of an automated thing,” he says. “If we could tell someone our situation, maybe they’d do something for us to help pay our rent or keep the lights on.”

Mom’s Diner has shower curtains between tables and customers must wear masks when going to use the washroom. They’ve opened for four days and plan to do so again Friday.

Wednesday night, images from Hockey Central in Sylvan surfaced on social media showing a lack of distancing and mask-wearing. Langlois, who was there and even helped in the kitchen, admits that doesn’t put a good light on other restaurants who are still taking all possible precautions.

Glenn Carritt, a former Innisfail town councillor and current mayoral candidate, posted a Facebook Live video from inside Hockey Central on Wednesday. During it, Red Deer city councillor Buck Buchanan can be seen commenting, “Good job Glenn – any AHS yet??”

Mayor Tara Veer addressed this on Twitter:

Councillor Buchanan did not return rdnewsNOW’s request for comment. The comment remains up as of 6 p.m. Thursday.

The Town of Sylvan Lake also declined to comment on Hockey Central’s actions.

Meantime, Holly Schell, owner of Blue Bird Coffee Co. in Rimbey, says they simply aren’t getting enough help from the government.

“I can go get my hair done and have someone touch my face, but I can’t have my restaurant open with people apart. It’s very contradictory,” Schell says. “I’m a single mom to a five-year-old girl, so it’s either I open or I’m not able to support her.”

Schell opened her café last November, which she admits receiving flak for. It came down to fulfilling or giving up on the dream to own a business, she says. It also came just a few months after the family’s home burned down.

“[Dr. Deena] Hinshaw saying ‘just a while longer’ only gives us more uncertainty and more anxiety,” she says. “There is no right or wrong way to do this. We’re in a time when no one knows what they’re doing.”

Schell has removed half her tables, has sanitizer on those that remain, and signs on each table which say, “By sitting at this table, you are acknowledging that this goes against provincial restrictions. Thank you for your support.”

She says since lunchtime Wednesday, close to 100 consecutive customers made a ‘pay it forward’ gesture at the till, as little as the price of a coffee up to $40.

Schell remained closed Thursday after an RCMP officer came by Wednesday, but did not issue a ticket. She hasn’t received an AHS closure order.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, said Wednesday the province is crafting a framework which will allow Albertans to better understand which targets must be hit before certain activities can be deemed safe.

“Unfortunately, what we saw in the fall is that when we did take early targeted steps to try to minimize risk but not have businesses closed, we continued to see cases climb and our healthcare system came very close to a tipping point. We want to avoid that and we need to make sure we’re taking slow measured steps,” Hinshaw said, addressing those still shut down. “I’d ask them to hold on just a little bit longer to watch for the framework that’s coming.”

On Friday, the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce shared a letter with media that it circulated to Premier Jason Kenney on behalf of its 840 members. The letter called on government to ease restrictions and allow for businesses to re-open.

“We’re seeing from the data that businesses are not a substantial source of transmission,” says Rick More, Chamber CEO. “Since the first health guidelines were enacted we have been continually impressed with the business community’s ability to safely operate and serve their customers while continuing to earn a livelihood for the owners, operators and employees … bills are piling up.”

More goes on to say the, “cure may be worse than the disease,” referring to the economy reaching near-irreparable levels of damage caused by closures and mass unemployment. The Chamber is concerned about reaching a ‘breaking point.’

“Based on the preliminary data we’ve received from a recently circulated survey, an alarming number of businesses are taking in substantially less revenue, made layoffs, and are concerned they cannot survive this type of shutdown any longer,” he says. “Put yourself in the shoes of a shutdown business with no income, no savings, a tapped out line of credit, and unable to pay their heating bill.”