Wednesday marks the middle of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The next step became official as of 12:01 a.m. with the province further lifting restrictions on camps, shopping and gatherings.

Here are the Step Two measures:

Outdoor gatherings up to 25 people
Indoor gatherings up to 5 people and other restrictions
Outdoor dining up to 6 people per table
Outdoor sports and leagues
Overnight camps
Outdoor meeting and event spaces with capacity limits
Non-essential retail at 25 per cent capacity, essential retail at 50 per cent capacity
Personal care services where face coverings can be worn at all times with capacity limits
Outdoor cinemas and performing arts with capacity limits
Horse racing and motor speedways for spectators with capacity limits
Outdoor tour and guide services with capacity limits
Indoor religious services, rites or ceremony gatherings at 15 per cent capacity
Public libraries with capacity limits
Outdoor waterparks and amusement parks with capacity limits
Fairs and rural exhibitions with capacity limits

Thunder Bay

Officials with the city say that with Wednesday’s advancement indoor weddings will be allowed with 25% capacity. Also the first concert at Live on the Waterfront can happen on Wednesday, July 14, and the Fort William Stadium will be back open for user group bookings, provided they follow public health guidelines.

Amenities Currently Open

Marina and Boat launches
Golf Courses
Skate parks
Sports Fields
Tennis Courts & Tennis Centre
Basketball courts
Trowbridge and Chippewa Campgrounds
Chapples Golf Course outdoor patio
Outdoor Fitness at select Community Centres
County Park, Franklin Street, Prince Arthur’s Landing and North End Park splash pads
Heath Park and Art Widnall Outdoor pools
Sandy Beach (Chippewa) and Boulevard Lake Beach
Summer Camps & Playgrounds Program

Tourism Thunder Bay

Paul Pepe, Manager with Tourism Thunder Bay Manager, feels there will be more confidence to travel throughout Northwestern Ontario.

“People want things to do when they travel,” noted Pepe. “So the more there is that’s open in the second stage and the more that’s available for people to do that’ll help influence their decision to travel so we’re certainly looking to capitalize on that.”

Provincial officials, when they first unveiled the roadmap on May 20, indicated that each step will last a minimum of 21 days, which means Step Three could happen as early as Wednesday, July 21.

Pepe believes that date will get moved up.

“When we look at just the incredible rise in second vaccination rates in Ontario, I think we’ll be at Stage Three fairly quickly. My gut feel tells me we’ll be back to normal by the middle of July.” Pepe noted.

Terra Nova

You will notice some changes at Terra Nova Salon and Day Spa as it, and other venues, reopen.

Owner Steve Scaffeo says there will be two entrances.

“The hair clients coming in through the front door, the spa clients coming in through the back door, up the stairs.  We are spreading our appointments out, and we are using every second chair to cut hair,” says Scaffeo.

The salon owner appreciates all the support shown by customers, including on-line sales.

But, he notes the other big part that made the difference is he does not pay rent on the building.  “I do own the building, so that makes a huge difference compared to some people who are paying rent and the overhead, that some places are paying.  It’s a lot more than what I’m paying.”

 

With files from Geoff Waterfield