Boler gears up for reopening as Middlesex-London likely heads into orange or red zone

A stay-at-home order is expected to lift in Middlesex-London and 27 other public health regions next Tuesday, the province announced Monday as part of its gradual re-opening plan. 

Regions where the order is lifted will return to the previous colour coded framework, and London Mayor Ed Holder said Middlesex-London is heading toward either the orange or red level.

"Regardless of where we end up, this is not back to normal," he cautioned during a media briefing Monday. "The premier and the health minister made it crystal clear this afternoon that they will not hesitate to [reinstate] lockdowns." 

Dr. Chris Mackie, Middlesex-London's chief medical officer of health said there isn't a "tremendous amount of detail" about what will happen next week. But, he said, he'll be consulting with the province's chief medical officer, Dr. David Williams, in the days to come. 

"It's really about what the data is looking like," he explained. "At the end of the day, the cabinet will decide what level Middlesex-London is moving into." 

Non-essential businesses open at limited capacity

One of the changes in the province's re-opening framework is that all retail stores would be allowed to re-open at varying levels of capacity, depending on what they sell and what level of restriction they're under. 

Under the grey-lockdown level, grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores can open at 50 per cent capacity while all other retail stores, including bix box stores, can operate at 25 per cent capacity. If Middlesex-London goes into the red level, grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores can operate at 75 per cent capacity and retail can open at 50 per cent. 

Barbary Maly, the executive director of Downtown London, said it's a step in the right direction. 

But, she said, some businesses will have to decide whether the capacity level is worth pivoting back to in person sales. 

"What this is, is a transition from them again having their doors closed but actually now having their customers physically able to come in and meet with them and begin the purchasing at a face to face level." 

The orange and red level would also allow restaurants and bars to re-open to customers again as well, with restrictions.

Boler Mountain reopening next Tuesday

The lifting of the stay-at-home order is welcome news for Boler Mountain.

Ski hills are allowed to open even under the grey zone of the province's re-opening framework, and Marty Thody, a member of Boler's management team, said they'll be open bright and early Tuesday.

"It's been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for us, that's for sure," he said. 

Ski hills had expected to remain open when Ontario entered a second lockdown, and there was public outcry when they were shuttered along with the rest of the province just days before Christmas. 

"We never really did get a clear answer on why, other than travel, so that was challenging." 

Thody said the ski hill in London's west end was able to keep some of its outdoor staff, who have been maintaining the snow pack and machines for whenever restrictions eased. He said he's excited to bring staff back to work and to greet guests for the first time this winter season. 

However, he said, it'll take years to recover from the financial loss of opening so late. 

"Somebody put a plug in the hole but we did leak a lot of water out. We're in no way going to recover what our losses were or what our losses have been, but we're happy to be open and we're happy to operate."

Thody said online ticket sales will start soon. Patrons can also expect COVID-19 safety protocols at the hill, including masking, riding the lifts with members of one's own household, and gearing up at the car, not inside the buildings.