It’s been a challenge for City Manager Norm Gale and his team to adapt to how many people can be inside a given Thunder Bay recreational facility.

Ahead of the thanksgiving weekend, the province lifted the capacity limits in particular indoor and outdoor settings, which forced local officials to pivot.

Gale, in a conversation with Acadia Broadcasting’s John Ongaro, says the work was ongoing based on council’s vote to increase the limit to 50 per cent on September 27th.

“How do we accomplish (what council directed us to do?),” asked Gale, hypothetically. “We do it with more screeners, with more exits and entry ways as well as other provisions that ensure physical distancing in our facilities.”

Gale stressed the entrance is one factor that makes the work challenging in raising capacity limits, adding “We have to ensure that the physical distancing is maintained in that space. It doesn’t matter how many people are in the stands, it’s all about flow.”

Gale went onto say, “I’ve lived through this pandemic like everyone else has for eighteen months. It’s not easy, it hasn’t been fun, I don’t know who’s enjoying this… I, more than most, understand the importance of youth athletics and recreation.”

The city is hiring a temporary full-time coordinator to lead the screening program.