Ontario/Quebec Covid Update & More
Capacity limits will be removed today on establishments that require vaccine passports in Ontario, like cinemas and conventions. But it appears a 50% limit will be imposed on concert venues and theatres according to the official press release from the Government of Ontario.
Proof of vaccination requirements will be lifted on March 1st but social distancing, masks and hand sanitizing will remain for some time, as it will in Quebec, where capacity limits have been lifted for cinemas.
Smaller venues in Quebec with less than 10,000 seats will be allowed to fully open but restaurants, bars and taverns will be limited to 50% capacity until March 14th.
By the way, the Record Store Day release lists for April 23rd and June 18th have been released. You can view them by clicking here.
Ontario Theatres Closed
Cineplex has issued a notice that the their theatres will be closed as of January 5th, 2201 in response to the new provincial guidelines on COVID. And it appears that the other chains in the province will do so shortly.
Refunds will be issued so keep an eye on your email if you have purchased tickets.
Back to Square One
Unfortunately it appears that we’re back to the occupancy limits in most provinces, both in stores and in theatres, thanks to the Omicron variant.
Most music stores will remain open with the usual precautions, accepting proof of vaccination for access. But some movie theatres have decided to close or alter their schedules, and are offering refunds for pre-purchased tickets so keep an eye out for an email if you’ve purchased tickets recently.
Some live performances are being cancelled or rescheduled but many are simply waiting to see if the new variant will be controlled so keep an eye on your favourite band’s official site or Facebook group for details.
Vaccine Passport Clarification
Just thought I’d inform readers that vaccine passports or provincial receipts for vaccines are not required to enter record, music, or clothing stores in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. And that you may now travel to those stores from other provinces, provided you wear masks and perform social distancing.
Some retailers in the other provinces may choose to ask for these, along with a valid photo ID. But generally, these will only be required to attend restaurants, pubs/bars, clubs, concert venues, record conventions, casinos/bingo halls, sporting events, and cinemas throughout Canada.
You can show your second provincial vaccine receipt on your cell phone or print them out to gain access. And some of these establishments will still be subject to occupancy limits.
Note to Ontario residents: Access requiring proof of vaccines will begin on September 22nd, 2021. But you may travel to Quebec or Manitoba and use your second provincially issued vaccine receipt and valid photo ID to access the aforementioned establishments there.
By the way, overstocked amounts of disposable 3-ply masks and hand sanitizer gels are being discounted at some Canadian Tire, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Giant Tiger stores. And online at Amazon.ca and shopperplus.ca. You might want to pick up some extra from your local store and before your trip.
Stores Slowly Getting Back To Normal
Stores in Ontario and Quebec have had their COVID-19 related occupancy limits lifted but masks, social distancing and other measures will remain in place due to the variants. And this is pretty much the situation in other provinces as well but curbside pickups and online orders are still an option.
Theatres have reopened with limited seats, with the aforementioned precautions.
Reopening Ontario/Quebec
Retail stores are slowly opening in theses provinces, but not all.
Some will limit access to a certain number of customers, with the standard precautions, whilst chains will simply open a limited amount of central locations, like Indigo, or continue with curbs orders, like Sunrise Records.
Contact your favourite music and book stores for details.