Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS

COVID capacity limits concerning for Colombo Lodge and other event hosts in Kamloops

Oct 26, 2021 | 5:04 PM

KAMLOOPS — At the Colombo Lodge, staff and volunteers are usually gearing up for a busy November and December, as they prepare for the annual holiday party rush.

“In November and December, our public banquets, Christmas parties, New Years’ party accounts for 50 per cent of our revenue,” Ross Spina, President of the Colombo Lodge, explains. “We have an average of 35-to-40 parties and banquets, and they’re usually at capacity — 300-to-400 people.”

However, event spaces like the Lodge are still under order by Interior Health that they operate at a maximum of 50 per cent capacity. There’s also a Provincial Health Order that bans dancing at bars and banquet halls throughout the province.

“Colombo Lodge is known for its great food and great dance hall and its great entertainment ambience,” Spina says. “As soon as you start restricting those things, I think the uptake of people wanting to hold such events, or to participate in such events, gets reduced.”

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Interior Health declined CFJC’s request for an interview. However, in a media briefing held Tuesday (Oct. 26), Dr. Henry says there are two factors at play when determining capacity limits in different health regions.

“One is, of course, the transmission in the community — where it’s happening and who it’s affecting” Henry noted. “The other is the vaccination rates in communities. Where we are still seeing high rates of transmission and lower rates of immunization, those are all things that are important and that we take into account.”

Henry says capacity restrictions at some venues — like Sandman Centre for Blazers games — could increase in the coming days.

“It is a joint decision between my office and Interior Health,” Henry explains. “I’m hopeful within the next week, we’ll be able to look at it if things continue on a good path.”

Spina hopes the community finds a reason to celebrate but understands that many may still be hesitant due to current COVID conditions.

“We’re hoping we’re going to get some uptake, even with the 50 per cent capacity,” Spina says. “We’ve had cancellations where people are saying, ‘Look, this is something we’re not wanting to do at this time.’”