This is an unprecedented period in our lifetime.
Delta resident and school board trustee Bruce Reid had that to say Wednesday afternoon about the rapidly growing uncertainty regarding the coronavirus pandemic and how long the crises could last.
“You read the news and things seem to be getting worse. Things are changing rapidly,” he told the Optimist outside the Tsawwassen Mills shopping mall.
Reid said the school district received its budget allocation from the province but isn’t sure how it can proceed with public consultations.
He noted it’s possible the process could be pushed back a few months but at this point he’s not sure what’s going to happen.
As far the community, he said things have gone eerily quite with streets empty and few people going into stores that remain open.
“What we’re seeing now, we’ve never experienced anything like this in our lifetime,” he added.
The Optimist went through the Mills to find an almost completely empty, ghost-like mall with most of its businesses having decided to temporarily close including food vendors.
The Mills had few open stores and even fewer patrons today
An employee at a Stuffy Riders sat slouched, looking forlorn without a customer in sight.
The few other retailers that were open also had no customers.
Even most of the food vendors at the Mills were closed
Meanwhile, the Town Centre was also quiet, as was Ladner Village on Wednesday afternoon, despite most of the small retailers still open for business.
The province, so far, hasn’t gone so far as to order a lockdown of almost all businesses with exceptions such as grocery stores, banks and pharmacies.
A recent survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found half of small businesses have experienced a sales decline due to coronavirus and that a quarter said they don’t think they could survive a month with more than half their sales down.
Noting Covid-19 is impacting many of the local businesses and encouraging residents to continue supporting them in person or through their websites, Ladner Business Association president Jill McKnight recently told the Optimist, “I have seen through social media and in person the steps that our businesses are taking to continue offering their products in an environment that is safe for their customers and employees.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today announced economic measures to help Canadians and businesses impacted by the pandemic.
The Delta Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store was closed but many other Ladner Village businesses remained open for business
Meanwhile, on another front, alcohol in Delta, so far, isn’t becoming a high-demand item like toilet paper
A statement from the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch notes it currently has no plan to close stores or distribution facilities.
The branch will continue to take its direction from the provincial health officer, recognizing the situation is continuing the change.
Speeds Liquor Store in the village, like other businesses, has taken extensive precautions
The government-run liquor store at the Ladner Centre mall saw a steady stream of patrons Wednesday afternoon but not a big crowd.
The shelves were well stocked, including beer and wine, and several customers outside the store told the Optimist they have purchased a few extras but saw no need to stockpile.
“I don’t think we have to start going crazy. You see what’s happening in some of the grocery stores, it’s disgusting,” said one customer.
Several doubted the liquor store would be ordered closed, and if it happens it wouldn’t be for long.
Patrons outside the Metro Liquor at Tsawwassen Commons had similar things to say in that they had no plans to start hoarding booze.
