The Saskatchewan government announced on Feb. 8 that they will no longer require vaccination proof. Local business owners are weighing the pros and cons of this decision. (File photo/650 CKOM Staff)

By Rachel May

Local businesses react

Local businesses in the northeast react and reflect on COVID-19 restrictions

Feb 13, 2022 | 9:00 AM

With restrictions lifting, local businesses are encouraging people to consider supporting local.

On Feb. 8 the Government of Saskatchewan announced they will be removing proof of vaccine requirements and local business owners are seeing the positives and negatives.

Linda Madraga, owner of SpaFit by Linda, said she thinks lifting restrictions is going to help local businesses but understands some residents will be apprehension.

“I am feeling confident and it’s time. I also feel that if someone feels as though they still need to wear a mask and still feel not comfortable coming based on the new mandates, by all means, that’s the way it is.”

Madraga said that some restrictions were more impactful than others.

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“The masking affected us the most. The vaccines were not as much as they did let people provide a rapid test. The majority of people were okay with that. It wasn’t my rule, it was a government mandate.”

Faron Saurfert, owner-operator of The Dam Smokehouse in Nipawin, said he saw the biggest decrease in business he saw was when vaccine passports came into effect.

“The passport mandate hit us the hardest out of everything. I also think that is because a lot of the government assistance programs ended around then too so it was a double whammy. We lost half or more of our business at that time.”

Despite hurting the business itself, the mandates had adverse effects on those in customer service.

“There is early mornings here where I put the brisket on and break down because you’re not sure if you are going to make payments the next day.”

Gavin Brandl, manager at The Spot in Tisdale, said the best part of the lifting of the restrictions is people starting to feel like themselves again.

“The social muscle we all had a society has kind of atrophied to the point where they do probably a quarter of the social activities they did before. We just hope people will allow us to rediscover how fun it is to go out and spend time with other people.”

Brandl said the restaurant is adding a new food and drink menu to help encourage people to come out and enjoy time with family and friends.

With restrictions lifting, SpaFit by Linda, The Dam Smokehouse and The Spot remind everyone to be kind to one another and respect peoples decisions to attend businesses as they see fit.

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Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM