COVID-19 PRESS RELEASE

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