02/27/2021
This is not right. We are not the problem. Yet, we are the ones that feel the effects of these lockdowns the most. And when I say 'we', I mean our amazing community of customers - golfers, soccer players, baseball players, lacrosse players, lawn bowlers, and so many more.
That is who we are most sad for during these lockdowns. Sure, having to lay-off our dedicated employees along with the complete loss of revenue is difficult on our business, but losing the ability to safely offer our loyal community an outlet to stay mentally & physically active and healthy...that hurts. After all, this is why we went into this business in the first place - and that is being taken away from us and all of you for no conceivable reason.
Now, by no means are we downplaying the seriousness of this virus. We agree that procedures need to be put in place to protect our community and it's most vulnerable. In fact, we support much of what has been done and have eagerly implemented modifications to our programs in an effort to keep everyone safe and healthy. What we don't agree with are the non-sensical blanket decisions and mandates that are forcing us to completely close our doors - for the 3rd time in under a year - with no evidence, facts, causation, or input to backup these regulations being placed on our business & community.
As a small business, we've worked incredibly hard to implement policies and procedures that have kept our customers safe. When we've been permitted to open our doors throughout the last year, we've run soccer leagues for over 1000 participants, we've had various user groups come in on a regular basis to practice their respective sports with their teammates, we've hosted the Barrie Lawn Bowling Club twice a week, and we've had our indoor golf driving range in regular operation. Through all of this, we've not had a single case of the virus linked to our facility - this proves that the Covid-19 safety policies and procedures that the Barrie Sports Dome has so meticulously implemented have worked and continue to work. We've been committed to the safety of our community, yet, here we are being forced to shut down again.
All of our customers are forced to comply with our stringent Covid-19 safety measures to be able to utilize our facility. Our facility also has the unique advantage of constant fresh air circulation meaning it is more similar to an outdoor environment than an indoor environment - yet there is no consideration to any of this. No safety policy review, no facility inspection, just a blind order to shut our doors.
Our 42,000 square foot facility is not permitted to have even 10 people inside. This is especially frustrating when certain sectors and businesses can cram people and kids in small rooms and claim it is okay because it is essential. Well, is mental and physical health not essential?
What we are trying to say is that the regulations that the Government of Ontario have blindly implemented are unnecessarily targeting the wrong people and businesses. We ask that our local health unit officials take the time to truly consider the safety of our facility and it's necessity to the community rather than brush it off without any consideration (which has been the case up to this point). We urge the Government to reconsider their stance on facilities like ours in hopes that we can continue to offer a safe space for our communities to stay mentally healthy and physically active during this pandemic.
To those in charge, please hear us. We are safe. We are caring. And our community needs us.