Dear Downtown Winnipeg BIZ Member,

Province announces early move to re-opening plan

On July 14, the Province announced changes to the public health orders starting 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, July 17. Manitobans achieved and surpassed the second key vaccination benchmarks in the ‘4-3-2 One Great Summer’ Reopening Path and will see further restrictions lift slightly earlier than the August milestone.

For restaurants:

• Restaurants, licensed premises and food court capacities expand to 50 per cent indoors, outdoors remains at 50 per cent.

• Opening hours extend to midnight.

• The requirement to purchase food when ordering alcohol no longer applies.

• VLTs may operate with all other restaurant/bar rules applying (two-metre distance, only households or fully vaccinated people seated together).

• Outdoor maximum table size remains at eight people.

• Patrons may only sit together indoors if they are from the same household or if all patrons 12 years of age or older are fully immunized (unvaccinated children under 12 may dine with fully vaccinated members of their household in this case).

Additional changes:

• Retail businesses increase to 50 per cent capacity with a limit of 500 people.

• Personal services (haircuts and styling, nail salons, estheticians and massage) continue at 50 per cent capacity — appointments are no longer required.

• Gym and fitness centre capacities expand to 50 per cent (masks and physical distancing of three metres are still required).

• Museums & galleries, movie theatres, bingo halls, and VLT lounges & casinos may open only to fully-vaccinated people, up to 50 per cent capacity.

  • unvaccinated children under 12 may attend/visit these facilities/events (as appropriate) if accompanied by fully vaccinated members of their household.

• Indoor sporting facilities may host groups up to a maximum of 25 people, interaction between groups and tournaments are not permitted.

• Public outdoor gatherings increase to a maximum of 150 people (i.e. outdoor fitness classes).

According to the Province, physical distancing and mask use are still required.

These orders are scheduled to expire at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7. For more detailed information, read the Province’s July 14 news release.

Healthy Hire Program grant applications are now open

Local employers can now apply for a grant to help cover 50 per cent of wages for up to 10 new employees who can attest they have been, will be or cannot be vaccinated.

The wage support program is available for newly-hired employees who started working no earlier than June 10 or a rehired employee who worked for that employer in a previous year or who was laid off as a result of the public health restrictions.

Key dates, full eligibility criteria, and more information is available on the Healthy Hire Manitoba Program website.

Become Rainbow Registered at no cost to you

Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has extended an offer for complimentary Rainbow Registered accreditation if you apply before the end of July.

Rainbow Registered is a national accreditation for LGBT+ friendly businesses and organizations. This means the business or organization meets a stringent set of standards to ensure LGBT+ customers feel safe, welcomed, and accepted.

What benefits come with accreditation?

• Ensure LGBT+ customers feel welcome and accepted

• Rainbow Registered Welcome Kit (window decal, desk card)

• Listing and map inclusion in the Rainbow Registered business directory

• Website badge

• Access to CGLCC Associate Member Benefits

Visit the Rainbow Registered page for more details and to apply.

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions:
204-958-4640
info@downtownwinnipegbiz.com

Thank you,

Kate Fenske, CEO
Downtown Winnipeg BIZ