Author: Christina Doll The signage for Jolley Market Foods reads ‘a convenience store with so much more’, and it lived up to its slogan when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020. In addition to being the place where people can get their weekly groceries, grab a quick lunch or snack, borrow a book, or have a chat with a familiar staff member, since the pandemic started, it has been a safe haven for those who are uncomfortable shopping at larger grocery stores. According to Owner/Operator Marie Halverson, “COVID was great for business for the Jolley Market because when

Christina Doll When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, Vanway Kitchens owners Terry Thiara and Jas Raju experienced the same mixture of emotions any business owner faced with the uncertainty of a pandemic would. They felt fear, uncertainty, and confusion as to how the pandemic would affect their ability to meet not only the needs of their employees and clients, but also of their families. Thiara and Raju acted quickly to protect the health and safety of their staff and customers to the best of their ability. They found excellent local consultants to help them establish new working safety procedures and

Kendall Robertson MEDIChair Northern BC owner, Chris Gobbi, says new renovations at the store are helping to create optimal physical distancing conditions. But that’s just one of the many measures staff are taking to ensure that they are preventing the spread of COVID-19. In March, MEDIChair added free contactless delivery and curb side pickup options to ensure that clients were receiving the important items they need while staying safe. Not only that, but Gobbi says staff have also been offering virtual services by conducting assessments with therapists and clients on Zoom. MEDIChair also reduced its hours when the COVID-19 pandemic

Christina Doll  When the Provincial Health Officer put restrictions in place to flatten the curve of COVID-19 in mid-March, some businesses closed their doors temporarily. Now that these restrictions are being relaxed, businesses like The BX Pub are starting to reopen with enhanced safety protocols in place.  BX Pub owners and management have taken extensive measures to ensure their customers feel safe as they get accustomed to the “new normal.” Patrons are now directed to enter through the front doors and exit through the side doors that lead to the patio. All customers are required to sanitize their hands before they seat

Christina Doll While planning a response to a pandemic is difficult for any business owner, one local entrepreneur has viewed the operational challenges presented by COVID-19 as an opportunity for innovation. Northern Lights Estate Winery Owner Doug Bell made some hard decisions after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March to ensure the well-being of his employees, including closing dine-in service at the Bistro and setting up many of his administrative and sales teams to work remotely. “As the weeks progressed, however, our teams turned their attention to the future. Whenever there is a problem, there is an opportunity,”

Kendall Robertson How long will I be shut down? What will happen to my staff? Will my business survive? These are all questions the owners of Betulla Burning and Nancy O’s restaurants asked themselves early into BC’s COVID-19 outbreak. Co-owner, Eoin Foley made the decision to close the doors with the hopes that they could wait out the storm. “That was one of the toughest business decisions we’ve ever had to make,” says Foley. Both restaurants were closed for more than a month. Nancy O’s and Betulla Burning have since reopened for take-out and delivery, utilizing their own staff as

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The Park Drive-in Theatre will be opening for another great season on May 1st with new processes and procedures to ensure they are keeping patrons safe. The theatre has been part of the Prince George community for many years and is a much loved attraction located just off of Chief Lake Road. The team at Park Drive-in Theatre have implemented the following regulations: Limiting attendance to half of the parking capacity Changing hours of operation to offer more viewing times with one movie per evening Restricting payment to debit and credit only  Offering pre-ordered concession with delivery to vehicle Placing