Barrie city council temporarily extends patio hours
Barrie city council is doing what it can to help increase revenue for struggling restaurants as they begin to see some restrictions released.
As of Friday, the province is entering step one of its Roadmap to Reopening, allowing restaurants that have been forced to operate with just take-out and delivery options for months to begin to welcome customers back outside.
To help those businesses bring in as much needed revenue as possible, city council met for a special virtual meeting Friday to extend the hours that patios can operate.
"This is a great way for us to support our small local businesses as they recover from the pandemic, and it's a great way for residents to get out and get that sense of social connection that I think everyone is so desperately looking for right now," says Ward 2 councillor Keenan Aylwin, who brought fort the motion behind Thursday's special meeting.
Going into effect simultaneously as the province enters the first step of its reopening plan, the new hours will see patios remaining open until 12:15 a.m. Monday through Thursday, with those hours extended until 2:30 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Canada Day.
Rules for when a person can enter or re-enter a patio have also been extended to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 1:45 a.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Canada Day.
Aylwin, whose motion was seconded by councillor Sergio Morales, says he has heard from some downtown residents concerned about noise volumes, which was why different hours were put in place for weekdays and weekends.
"We wanted to make sure that we could strike that right balance where we're supporting our local businesses by giving them that extra time to do business while also recognizing that people still need to get up in the morning and go to work or their kids need to go to virtual learning, and we don't want to disturb people too much," says Aylwin.
The extended hours are only meant to be in effect while restaurants are unable to serve guests inside. Once indoor dining is allowed, the previous hours that patios had to operate under will resume.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.