Page 28 - Brandon Sun - 2020 Westman Business

28 THE BRANDON SUN • WESTMAN BUSINESS • NOVEMBER 2020

Brandon businesses adapt to COVID times

Judy Jung (R) visits with her mother Jean Lepage while adhering to social distanc-
ing guidelines outside Rotary Villas at Crocus Gardens on 10th Street in August. PRODUCTS TO CREATE A
The assisted living facility staff had to come up with different activities to entertain
their residents and moved many activities outdoors to encourage social and phys-
ical distancing. (File)

BY COLIN SLARK at 37.8 per cent — down 33.9 per cent
from August 2019.
It’s been a long, tough road for local The year-to-date figures also show a
businesses during the COVID-19 pan- drop. As of the end of August 2020, the
demic. year-to-date hotel occupancy rate was at
But local businesses have proven to be 35.5 per cent — down 26.6 per cent com-
resilient according to Brandon Chamber pared to the same period of time in 2019.
of Commerce president Spencer Day, as These tough figures for the hospitality
they experienced the tight restrictions at industry and many other industries have
the beginning of the pandemic and then forced local businesses to get creative
a reinstatement of heavier restrictions and adapt quickly to keep bringing in
under the province’s pandemic response revenue and satisfying customers during
plan in August and September under the COVID-19.
level orange rules. At assisted living facility Rotary Villas
The rules being relaxed from level or- at Crocus Gardens, staff had to come up
ange came as welcome news to local with different activities to entertain their
businesses, Day said. residents. Executive director Jody Kehler
“Getting moved out of code orange said that to encourage social and physi-
and back to yellow has been a huge relief cal distancing, they moved some enter-
for the Brandon business community,” tainment activities outdoors. FRESH IMPORTED PRODUCE
he said. “I think that stigma has kind of For the second straight year, residents (AVOCADOS, GREEN BANANAS, PLANTAINS)
faded over the last month and it’s shifted also helped raise Monarch butterflies
its way about the province. Our business from eggs to full-grown, releasing 26 of FRESH BAKING • SNACKS AND MUCH MORE
community has been really dedicated to the struggling species into the wild in
staying open and I think things have re- August.
ally stabilized here.” As the weather gets colder, the facility
Some industries, Day said, like hospi- has introduced some indoor activities
tality and restaurants are still feeling the like floor curling and shuffleboard where
pinch despite the relative stability. the equipment can be sanitized after IMPORTED FROM CENTRAL AMERICA
A tweet made by Brandon’s economic each use.
development office on Oct. 13 said that 904 ROSSER AVENUE, BRANDON • 204-717-0113
in August 2020 hotel occupancy was only » Continued on Page 29