CHANGING THE CHEMAINUS BUSINESS LANDSCAPE IN TIMES OF CRISIS
Consistent town wide precautions and alternative purchasing functions to be implemented
Chemainus, BC – Many businesses continue to remain open today in Chemainus and will be for the few foreseeable days
ahead. However, most are operating with reduced hours or an adjustment in services. Others have chosen to close entirely
for the stipulated fourteen days or until further notice. While a businesses decision to close is not an easy one, we fully
support and understand the concerns driving this. Without concrete direction from Provincial leaders, many businesses and
residents are unsure of what to do and what all of this means for them. For the time being, many businesses are committed
to staying accessible. While we expect over the coming days that we will see more businesses close or reduce their services
even further, we hope that patrons who wish to be in the community to shop will practice social distancing and hand washing
procedures as Health Canada has outlined.
We are requesting, in addition to the official safety precautions suggested, that businesses implement a set of safe shopping
procedures which the Chemainus BIA has compiled. These ask that:
• Each store wipe down commonly touched surfaces after people have departed from the store,
• Social distancing will be explained to all who enter,
• The number of people in one store or location at a time will be limited,
• Should anyone feel uncomfortable touching something at any time, a washroom for hand washing will be made
available, and
• Above all else, identifying alternative purchasing methods can be used for almost anything, like drive-up or takeaway
programs.
Employees should also be washing their hands frequently during the day and may even decide to wear gloves. “We will be
publishing out a weekly list of businesses that are open and what services they are providing.” says Krystal Adams, CBIA
Executive Director. “Some businesses are going above and beyond to fill a vital gap for those unable to or unwilling to leave
their residence. We have seen the community really come together,” adds Krystal. “Take for example Maple Lane Café.
They have closed their restaurant seating but are offering a meal drop off service dedicated to seniors. This not only ensures
the population segment most at risk for COVID19 is limiting any potential exposure, but also that they are consuming
healthy meals in a time when they may abstain from food for the simple fact of fear of exposure or inconvenience.”
It is important to remember that all small local businesses will suffer greatly for any prolonged closures they may be faced with now or
in the future. “We have to be mindful that larger chains have a ‘rainy day fund’ or even a ‘pandemic fund’, but smaller businesses often
have no planning for large scale closures or anything like this in their financial structure,” Krystal adds. “That is why it is so important to
ensure that when this is over and we return to a form of normality, that we support those small businesses like never before.”
The whole of the CBIA wishes everyone health and safety in this unprecedented time.
PRESS CONTACT
For additional information, to schedule an interview/obtain quotes, or to discuss other things we are working on please contact:
Krystal Adams – Executive Director for the Chemainus Business Improvement Association
Office: 250-800-1164 | Direct: 250-216-4239 | Email: info@chemainus.bia.com | website: www.chemainusbia.com