A local nightclub owner says she’s frustrated with the inconsistency of the B.C. government’s public health orders during COVID-19.
Linda Allen owns Lambda Cabaret, an LGBTQ+ friendly nightclub in Prince George, and believes nightlife is being unfairly targeted.
“I would like the government to say this is the way it is for all of the restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, everybody,” says Allen in an interview with PrinceGeorgeMatters. “Put us into one category and treat us all equally.”
On Tuesday (Sept. 8), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry ordered all nightclubs and banquet halls to shut down “until further notice.”
This was because many of the community-spreading events have been the result of gatherings where alcohol is served and Dr. Henry said these venues are still the source of significant exposure risk to everyone.
Restrictions were also placed on serving alcohol in those pubs, bars and restaurants that can remain open.
They must stop serving alcohol at 10 p.m. and must close at 11 p.m. unless they are providing full-meal service without alcohol being served.
While Lambda was already shut down when the newest provincial order was announced, Allen says she’s still unhappy with the decision.
“The provincial government is very inconsistent with their rules and regulations. People are spending a lot of money trying to accommodate what the new guidelines are, and they do these things and the provincial government comes in a month later and says, 'No, we can’t do that for you anymore.'”
Dr. Henry has suggested pubs, bars and restaurants won’t have to close down because concerns over nightclubs are not the same.
"Pubs and restaurants have been doing a great job," Dr. Henry said. "The plans that we've seen in restaurants, I feel restaurants, for the most part, are really safe.”
Lambda first closed down on March 17, but Allen tried a soft re-opening in July.
She ultimately decided to shut down the cabaret herself well before the order was announced this week.
“I do understand it is really hard to monitor people and to get them to socially distance,” explains Allen.
“It’s the same thing with children and sending the kids back to school. How can you socially distance seven-year-olds? You can, but it’s a lot of extra work for the teachers. There’s just no consistency.”
She says she’d prefer one guideline for everyone to follow and for nightclubs to be treated the same as bars and restaurants – and even other types of businesses.
“I would appreciate if they would take the names of everyone who goes into Walmart or the big box retailers because then we wouldn’t feel so targeted.”
Looking ahead, Allen says she’s is excited to reopen and return to the community once the pandemic winds down.
“I’ve been getting phone calls and emails and messages from people who’d like to come down. I will be reopening as soon as this is over and looking forward to having all of our party people back,” says Allen, adding, “We are all in this together and we have to work as a team. I would like to make sure that everyone is safe and we get through this.”
- with files from Jess Fedigan, PrinceGeorgeMatters, and Nelson Bennett, Business in Vancouver
