Chamber CEO Says Business Mood More Somber - Encourages All To Take Precautions
“If there is a concensus businesses want to stay open but they also understand the red alert that hangs over the community,” Rob Clark CEO of the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce said about the recent developments about COVID - 19 in the city.
Those developments include a major and rapid rise in the number of people contracting COVID - 19 from Variants Of Concern (VOC) and Premier Scott Moe echoing concerns from the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) that Moose Javians need to take special precautions to prevent the further spread of COVID - 19 lest the Province implement tighter measures on the city.
Clark said the number one priority for businesses are residents not contracting COVID - 19. and business owners, their families and their employees are all people in the community.
“If people aren’t staying well and being safe there is no way you are going to stay open. Business owner’s and their families are in this health-wise as well. They care about the wellness of their staff, customers and clientele. We are all impacted by this,” he said in the aftermath of the weekly virtual business think tank.
The weekly virtual think tanks, where business owners have met for support, idea sharing and problem solving were started in response to the pandemic.
“The main consensus that came out of the think tank can be summed up to three things - stay safe, stay smart and stay open.”
Clark also said the recent developments and the rise of VOCs in Moose Jaw in Moose Jaw has cast a general mood of fear from local businesses.
“Things were going along well and it looked like the pandemic was lessening and the mood was an optimistic one but now it is a mood of fear,” he said, adding “the mood has changed to one with a lot of fear but there still is some optimism…it (the weekly business virtual think tank) was a little bit more somber today.
“The wind has been taken out of their sales again with this red alert hanging over their heads in the community but again there is still some optimism in the business community.”
Businesses at the weekly think tank re-iterated a common theme they “are going to have to be more vigilant in cleaning and screening people coming to their businesses.”
“If people aren’t staying well there is no way you are going to stay open. The biggest thing is they (businesses) want to stay open,” Clark said.
The Chamber’s CEO said with businesses stepping up to stop the spread of COVID - 19 in their businesses that spread can be in other places in the community.
Clark echoed Premier Moe’s call for everyone to do their part and be extra vigilant to stop any further spread of the virus.
“Businesses and restaurants are being more vigilant but we also realize the spread could start elsewhere and impact the health, the lives and the economy of Moose Jaw. We ask everyone to follow the rules.”
“Unless we start flattening the curve we are still under the threat of the Red Alert....which means shutdowns or partial restrictions”
For the restaurant sector Clark said if customers do not want to dine in he asked that they continue to their support for them through delivery and curbside pickup.
“We hope the people of Moose Jaw continue to support our local restaurants there are other options and opportunities to have a great meal if they prefer not to dine in,” he said. “People now with the red alert are going to be more cautious.”
Clark said the curb-side and delivery option was also something Moose Javians should remember many other local businesses, which are not restaurants, also offer.
Clark said despite the more somber mood in the local business community there was still optimism and recent things like The Big Give were still having an impact on the restaurant community.
The Big Give was where businesses and individuals got together and donated money to buy nutritious meals from 21 local restaurants for those who cannot afford them in the community. Those less fortunate or down on their luck because of the pandemic not only received a great nutritious meal it also helped generate sales and revenue for the participating restaurants.
The Big Give had an initial “lofty $10,000 goal” but managed to raise $27,400 during the month of March which translates into an additional 50 - 69 meals for each of the participating restaurants.
“It put 2,600 meals right back into the community and helped out the local participating restaurants.”
He is hopeful the momentum the project generated continues and people continue to support local businesses.
Clark said he had watched part of Premier Moe’s press briefing on Tuesday about COVID - 19 and he found “Premier Moe was pretty confident yesterday.”
“I don’t know if we are going to escape it (full or partial lockdowns) yet but the next few days is going to determine whether that happens or not.”
If shutdowns or other further measures are enacted Clark said he hoped that “maybe they (governments) come up with some stimulus aid to help people and businesses out,” Clark said.
“Everybody needs to have work.”