Theatres, museums and other Airdrie businesses that would possibly have been able to open under Step 3 of the Alberta government’s ‘The Path Forward’ plan will have to continue playing the waiting game.
Alberta government officials announced on March 22 that current public health restrictions would remain in place for at least three weeks. Health Minister Tyler Shandro cited a growing number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions in recent weeks for why the government would postpone Step 3.
“Moving to Step 3 can be considered only when hospitalizations for COVID patients are under 300 and declining,” Shandro said during a press conference on March 22. “Hospitalizations must be on a clear downward trajectory if we are to enter any new step, just like they were when we entered Step 1 and Step 2 earlier this year.”
Entering Step 3 would have seen Alberta ease limitations for adult and youth team sports, recreational activities and indoor gatherings, as well as lift restrictions for casinos, racing centres and bingo halls. Restrictions would have also been lifted for indoor seated events, such as movie showings, as well as museums, art galleries, zoos, interpretive centres and places of worship.
Staff at Airdrie’s local museum – the Nose Creek Valley Museum along Main Street – were disappointed by the government’s announcement, considering museums were one of the first types of businesses allowed to reopen during the first wave of the pandemic.
“We were in Stage 1 of opening back last year and I thought we did a pretty good job,” said Laurie Harvey, the curator of Nose Creek Valley Museum. “I know [we] did a good job preparing safely for visitors, so we were just a little surprised that we were shuffled back to Stage 3, and then just disappointed that we're still not allowed to be open now.”
While the museum was able to operate for much of 2020, according to Harvey, the experience wasn’t quite what Nose Creek Valley Museum's staff hoped to deliver. With restrictions still in place, she said many of the museum’s more interactive features and exhibits were not offered or kept behind Plexiglas. Having been ordered to close again last November, she said the museum hasn't been able to appropriately adapt its exhibits or services to an online format.
From a financial standpoint, Harvey said Nose Creek Valley Museum’s main source of revenue has always been through its room rentals, rather than its admission rates.
“We've kept our admission price down and funded ourselves through our meeting room rentals and so being closed and not having any gatherings allowed inside … it's really impacted us,” she said. “So, we're hoping to be able to open and we're also hoping to be able to rent our room a bit more.”
Another long-serving Airdrie business that was impacted by the Province's March 22 announcement is the Roxy Theatre in Towerlane Centre. The two-screen theatre, which is owned by Landmark Cinemas, has been closed to the public since mid-November 2020.
Landmark Cinemas Chief Executive Officer Bill Walker said a frustrating element of the pandemic has been the reasoning behind why some industries are able to operate, while others aren’t.
“The part that drive the most frustration, we’re in no way advocating against restaurants or personal care services or any of these other places, it’s just a question of, if the Province has deemed those venues safe, what is it about theatres that presents significant risk?” Walker said. “From our perspective, theatres are one of the safest places you can have open in the midst of a pandemic, with spread-out showtimes and physically distanced seating – and the fact that people sit there quietly and don’t talk.”
While the Roxy has not been able to offer movie showings for the last four-plus months, Walker said the theatre has been one of Landmark Cinemas' most successful locations for takeout popcorn and concession sales.
“As soon as we’re comfortable with people going to retail and restaurants, theatres should be another avenue or outlet we offer the population,” he said. “Honestly, it feels like that’s what people need – they need something to help them feel normal. All the feedback we received from the fall was that when you can escape into a movie theatre, see something on the big screen and enjoy some popcorn, it feels pretty normal.
“I think that’s what a lot of people are seeking – a sense of normalcy, connection and doing something outside of their homes.”
The Alberta government is slated to reassess the possibility of entering Step 3 of its 'The Path Forward' plan in the second week of April.
—With files from Carmen Cundy/Airdrie City View
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
