Jared Tarswell pours a beer at Iron Road Brewing in Kamloops, Apr. 6, 2022. (Image Credit: Chad Klassen, CFJC Today)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

BC RESTRICTION CHANGES

Kamloops venues, organizations expecting minimal shift in patron levels after proof of vaccination requirements ease

Apr 6, 2022 | 4:20 PM

KAMLOOPS — By Friday (Apr. 8), proof-of-vaccination will not longer be required by the province to get into bars, restaurants, sports games, concerts or other events. In Kamloops, businesses and organizations are preparing for another shift in their operations.

“Honestly the biggest change I think there’ll be is the servers won’t have to check passports anymore and we’ll get a little bit accelerated service,” says Iron Road Brewing co-owner Jared Tarswell.

For them, Friday’s shift away from vaccination cards is simply another public health order to adapt to. And Tarswell says the change isn’t expected to have a major impact on clientele.

“One thing we do notice when mandates are lifted is people come out more regularly. I think that there’s just a general higher comfort.”

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Performance and event venues will also no longer need to check vaccination status at the door. Kamloops Symphony’s upcoming productions won’t have the card requirement in place, but executive director Daniel Mills says the organization still wants to make sure people coming to show feel comfortable.

“As with our performances for the rest of the year, we do will have buffers between groups of patrons so no one is seated immediately beside each other as well. With the combination of those precautions that we’re taking, we don’t expect much change in terms of who is coming to our concerts.”

Elsewhere, Western Canada Theatre (WCT) will keep the card check in place until the current production of Kim’s Convenience wraps up Saturday evening (Apr. 9). After that, WCT artistic director James MacDonald says the theatre company will not require vaccination cards to attend the rest of the seasons programs.

“I mean you can look around, this is a nice big open venue, there’s a lot of space in the theatre,” notes MacDonald. “We still do encourage people to wear masks if they’re comfortable with it, and if they’re not that’s their choice. We have N95 masks available at the door if patrons want them, and there’s also a plethora of testing available. We have tests that we’re happy to offer the patrons.”

Sporting events are included in the updated public health orders. Which means the doors won’t have to open as early to shuffle long line-ups in to Blazer hockey games. Other than that, Assistant GM Tim O’Donovan expects the number of fans in the stands won’t fluctuate much.

“It’s probably going to be a little bit easier — not as congested coming in to our building,” he explains. “I think the big thing though with people — it’s all about feeling comfortable and safe, and masks are still optional if you’d like to wear them. I think we have quite a few fans that still like to wear them, and you’re more than welcome to wear them.”

Overall those in entertainment, recreation and hospitality industries are expecting status quo patron levels in Kamloops — even after the restrictions shift at the end of the week.

“Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t really think it’s going to change very much except for a little bit faster service,” adds Tarswell.