'Ready to reopen': Nova Scotians embracing Phase 2 of COVID-19 reopening plan
From restaurants to fitness centres, businesses in the Sydney, N.S. area - and their customers - are embracing the latest phase in Nova Scotia’s COVID-19 reopening plan.
For Shana Lawrence, it was the first time in nearly two months she was able to start her day by going to the gym.
"One would say I have a mild addiction. So, last night, I couldn't sleep. It was like Christmas," she told CTV Atlantic.
At Ascendo Fitness in Sydney, owner Shauna Sifnakis said her gym was busy since its doors opened at 5 a.m.
"People want normal again and they're feeling super confident that it's going to happen soon. I know myself, I've been vaccinated. I've got both of them. So I'm feeling confident," sayd Sifnakis.
Across town in Sydney River, N.S., owner Wayne Miller of Downtown Nutrition was among many restaurants eager to welcome customers back for indoor dining.
"We found over the past six to seven weeks that people were less likely to come inside and even order," said Miller.
He says while his business was able to get by on take-out orders and curbside pickup during the latest lockdown and phase one of reopening, the pandemic has meant shutting down another location at Cape Breton University and laying staff off.
"First lockdown, we weren't sure if we were going to reopen. Second lockdown was a little bit more stressful because we thought it was a little bit more serious with case counts going up. And we weren't sure how long it was going to go," recalls the small business owner.
In Lunenburg, N.S., Ironworks Distillery co-owner Lynne MacKay says the biggest difference that Phase 2 has made for her business is the option for guests to be able to sit down inside and sample drinks again.
"We've suffered, waiting. There's no two ways about that," MacKay noted. “It's a little difficult to convince someone to purchase a product - a libation - that they've never tasted before, unless you can give them a sample. So, that's significant."
While some might have reservations about opening a COVID-19 bubble, or to the rest of Canada, others say they welcome further loosening of restrictions.
"You have to work with what you've got in front of you and right now, things are looking good. So, let's take advantage of it”, says MacKay.
Shana Lawrence was even more optimistic about a post-pandemic future.
"I'm ready. I'm ready for things to open. I'm ready to get back to the real world and travel," said Lawrence.
There were limits to Wednesday’s Phase 2 reopening. Fitness centres are only allowed to operate at 50 per cent capacity. Indoor dining is capped at 10 people per table, and sit-in service ends no later than 11 p.m.
Nova Scotia’s Phase 3 of reopening is tentatively set for June 30.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca