With B.C.’s phase two set to begin, businesses in Greater Victoria are getting ready to reopen and welcome back customers starting tomorrow.
“We are very excited to start back up again,” said Kirstin Lebrun, owner of Kharma Salons. “We are going to make sure we are doing our due diligence in every possible way and I think we’re as ready as we can possibly be to do all of it correctly.”
Hair salons are among one of the businesses that have been given the green light by the province to reopen tomorrow under enhanced protocols.
With these extra measures, a trip to the salon is going to be a different experience.
“When you come in, you will be required to wash your hands right away,” said Lebrun, adding that all customers and stylists will be required to wear masks. “We will provide a mask for you if you don’t [have] your own.”
In addition to the masks, stylists will be wearing smocks and gloves at all times. There will be more time in between clients so stylists can disinfect their stations, sanitize their equipment. During all of the appointments, conversations will be kept to a minimum.
“We’ve removed some of our waiting chairs, all of our magazines,” Lebrun added. “We had eight stations in our shop before and so we’ve taken out two double-sided stations and put extra trolleys in between them” to maintain 2-metres of distance.
The staff at CrossFit LoLo in Victoria are also getting ready to open up their doors once again.
“So we’re going to start with extremely small classes and those one-on-one personal training interactions to begin with to test out our protocols and our methods this week,” said Kelsey Goodwin, co-owner of the gym.
Goodwin added the gym won’t be offering all of its programs for a while, but hopes to be fully operational by June 1.
Just like Kharma Salons, CrossFit LoLo’s workout space is getting a makeover.
“Limit the amount of people in here, tape out spots on the floor to make sure people can be socially distant while they work out and everyone will get their own chalk in a little baggy,” said Goodwin.
At the same time, CrossFit LoLo is offering virtual fitness classes for those that don’t feel comfortable coming out to the gym or aren’t able to sign up for in-person personal or group training.
Other businesses that can open up starting tomorrow include retail stores, dine-in services at restaurants, and medical services like dentists and physiotherapists, under enhanced protocols.
Phase two of B.C.’s Restart Plan also includes the re-opening of in-person counselling, museums, art galleries, libraries, office-based worksites, parks, beaches, recreational outdoor spaces and child care.
If you are planning on visiting any of these places, make sure you call ahead to confirm they are open.
MORE: Hudson’s Bay Company set to reopen B.C. stores this week
Jasmine Bala
