'It's difficult to plan anything': Indoor businesses feeling left behind in provincial reopening plan
As Ontario prepares to enter Step 1 of its reopening plan on Friday, many business owners are frustrated and disappointed they aren't included in the list of what's allowed to operate.
From indoor fitness facilities to gymnastic studios to dance academies, many businesses will have to wait until later in the summer to reopen under the province's three-staged plan.
For dancers in Waterloo Region, it's unclear when they'll be able to bust a move inside a studio again.
"I would usually dance about five days a week which would usually add up to 12 to 15 hours a week," said Charlotte Riordan, 12, who has been dancing competitively since she was five. "It's one of my favourite things to do because of the people there and the community."
Laura Ramsay, owner of Grand River Academy of Dance, says in the past 15 months, her business has been open for only 17 weeks.
"We got to operate from mid-September to mid-December and then I had five weeks with my competitive team from the middle of February to the end of March," Ramsay said.
Indoor dance classes are not allowed until Step 3 of the province's reopening plan. Ontario is expected to stay in each step for at least 21 days before moving to the next.
"We can't be indoors and I don't have the facilities to run outdoor camps for my kids," Ramsay said. "The guidelines aren't released yet for us to know what we are allowed to do. It's difficult to plan anything."
Although outdoor fitness classes are allowed in Step 1, Ramsay says that's just not possible for her business.
"Part of the reason for that is for injury prevention. I have special sprung floors inside my studio that help mitigate the issues of joints on the dancers when they jump and they dance. We can't do that outside, tarmac is not safe and grass is not safe, it's uneven," she said.
The dance studio owner is bracing for a long road to recovery once she can reopen.
"I'm thinking it will probably be an 18 to 24-month rebuild before I'm back to where I was pre-pandemic," Ramsay said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.