'I'm hoping the government will give us more time': Pandemic subsidies vital to Barrie businesses
Despite its brightly coloured jungle gym and blocks, there have been some dark days at Barrie's Kaleidoscope Play Centre since the pandemic began.
"It was really hard. Sometimes we'd just almost give up," says owner Sergei Asseyev.
He credits federal wage and rent subsidy programs for seeing him through the pandemic.
More than 200,000 business owners have tapped into the rent subsidy, while 400,000 have received wage help.
But after several extensions, both programs are set to expire this weekend, leaving some business owners in a bind.
"I'm really hoping the government will still give us a little bit more time," Asseyev says. "Just to go back to normal operations because it's still about 60 to 70 per cent down."
Capacity restrictions on after-school programs and children's birthday parties are complicating things for Kaleidoscope.
Asseyev says being without the financial aid will be challenging, and he'll have to figure out new ways to draw in families.
Downtown, the proprietor of Groovy Tuesdays Bistro, says wage and rent programs help make all the difference after a series of forced closures.
"I had to pay my rent. I had to pay bills that were still outstanding and people that I pay throughout the year and contracts that we have," says Melanie Barrett.
"Without (subsidies), I would be out of business," she adds.
Running the bistro remains difficult with limitations on the number of people she can welcome inside to eat, along with some staffing shortages.
But Barrett says she's feeling encouraged heading into what is typically the bistro's busiest time of year.
While Barrett is grateful for the help she has received, she's reluctant to take another round if it were offered.
"As long as we continue to get busier and get back to where we were, absolutely not would I use them anymore. 'Because other businesses may need them more," she concludes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Vancouver firefighter in rehab at home after losing leg to flesh-eating infection overseas
A family trip took a frightening turn for Christopher Won when he was diagnosed with flesh-eating disease while in Hong Kong and now, after weeks of treatment overseas, the Vancouver firefighter is back home recovering.