Lots of questions about businesses re-opening in phase two have been circulating around the community, so the BI Health Centre Foundation (BIHCF) and the BIM Community Economic Development Committee hosted a town hall to provide a venue for a community conversation about “Opening up Bowen and Staying Safe Together.” The Health Centre Foundation has held a number of these virtual town halls focused on the community’s physical and emotional well-being since the beginning of the pandemic. At the same time, the Community Economic Development Committee (CEDC) has been hosting weekly virtual meet-ups with Bowen’s businesses to discuss their many hardships during this extraordinary time.
Sixty-two Bowen islanders attended the town hall to participate in the conversation focused on the roles that businesses, residents, and visitors all have to play as we navigate through the coming months together. The panel consisted of a variety of subject matter experts: Glenn Cormier, owner of The Bowen Island Pub; Jody Lorenz of Tourism Bowen; Rod Marsh, chair of the CEDC and owner of Quickway Paint and Drywall; Jen McGowan, BIHCF director and BIM Emergency Program Coordinator; Dr. Carolyn Nesbitt, psychologist; and John Pickles, Environmental Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health. The event was hosted by Sheree Johnson and facilitated by Chris Corrigan.
The conversation began with a look at the current status of the virus in the Lower Mainland where the daily new case count is very low.
In mid-March, B.C. was looking at new cases in the twenties and now the new cases are in the single digits, VCH’s John Pickles noted. It’s a much better situation today but there is still a small amount of activity out there, he said. Everything the public has learned in the past few months is still applicable: stay home if you’re not feeling well, wash your hands, don’t touch your face, and stay two metres apart. All of these will help with a smart re-start, said Pickles. He added that social distancing is the best protection and businesses should look at how to maintain this distance in their COVID safety plans. Industries’ guidelines are on the BC CDC and office of the public health officer websites.
Jody Lorenz said that the municipality and Tourism Bowen Island are upholding the phase two guidelines asking people to stay home as much as possible and to stay within their own communities. The visitor centre is currently closed as the island isn’t welcoming visitors, though some visitors are coming anyway. “As soon as we do restart…a part of our service is going to be welcoming people and making sure that they understand the health protocols,” said Lorenz. “I do see our role as very important and is helping to continue to manage visitors, it's just this year is going to be a little bit different.” She said that she’s hoping to work with the municipality and the business community to assure that Tourism Bowen is supporting the current health protocols and doing their part to reinforce the messaging however they can.
When it came to the age-old question of bathrooms, Lorenz said there’s a lack of public washrooms in the cove but pointed to the ferry washrooms, the Metro Vancouver outhouses by the ball diamond and perhaps a municipally funded outhouse by Gardena Rd. at the entrance to Crippen Park. “If anybody does use a so-called public washroom, the onus is on the person using the washroom to make sure that you're washing your hands after or using hand sanitizer,” said Lorenz.
One out-of-province home owner wanted to know when summer residents can return to Bowen. John Pickles reiterated that there are currently no official orders that prevent inter-provincial travel, however, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, has recommended that we stay in our own communities. That may change as we monitor through phase two. If things continue in the right direction, some decisions will be made mid or to the end of the month as to what the next phase will look like. In discussion later, McGowan said that while specific messaging for summer residents (when the travel restricting guidelines lift) hasn’t been on the radar, she can look into “welcome home or welcome back” messaging for people who may be unfamiliar with Bowen-specific protocols.
The next stage is Phase 3 and is currently scheduled for between June and September and depends on whether the virus transmission rate remains low or in decline. Phase three is when B&B owners can begin to welcome visitors again using the WorkSafe BC guidance for the hotel sector.
The Bowen Island Pub, which was take-out only at the height of the pandemic, re-opened for in-house dining June 3. Owner Glenn Cormier talked about re-fitting his business for the COVID era. “You have to really look at your entire operation and rethink all aspects of it,” said Cormier. He noted the importance of protecting employees and customers alike. “We make sure that from the moment [customers] come in the door, it's clear to them…what needs to be done and help them understand what their role is in it,” said Cormier. The pub has created additional positions, including a person at the door at all times to talk to customers, in this safety effort.
“When I talk about the restaurant industry or hospitality in general, every venue is very different,” said Cormier. Under the industry guidelines from WorkSafe BC and the BC Restaurant Food Service Association, the pub is in the same category as McDonald's or Starbucks. “Each individual operator needs to take the guidelines…and adapt them to their particular venue,” he said.
Education is key, Cormier highlighted. “We've had several staff meetings to make sure everybody understands what their role is,” said Cormier. “Make sure that they understand their responsibility in reporting to us their own health issues if there are any and helping them to understand what role they play in keeping our customers safe.”
Cormier said that customers have been very accommodating and respectful. “Everybody has been very understanding and they're doing their part.”
But even after in-house dining resumed, the pub’s take-out business remains strong––it dominated the business last Friday. “Obviously keeping people apart is important and take-out is a great way to do it.” Cormier said that he’s looked at alternative outdoor options, though as tables get spread out servicing them becomes a challenge. One option is putting picnic tables in the parking lot on the former pub site so that people who’ve gotten take-out can sit there.
The use of masks was of great interest to the group. There’s been no clear recommendations to businesses from WorkSafeBC unless you cannot maintain social distancing. It is each business’s responsibility to assure their venue accommodates social distancing. The Pub’s employees, for example, are required to wear masks when delivering food and drink to customers, or other situations where they cannot maintain a 2-metre distance. And Glenn added his own personal behaviour, “When I walk into a business, be it a grocery store or any other business, out of courtesy I put a mask on because as the customer coming into someone else's workplace, I feel it my obligation to do that,” he said. “Obviously with a restaurant, you can't. The customers have to eat and drink.”
As a closing reminder, participants were asked to please stay up to date with Dr. Henry’s briefings and recommendations and keep these conversations going in our community. And of course, above all else, be kind.
The full Town Hall can be viewed on the BICHF website bowenhealthcentre.com.
