Quesnel halls to remain open despite new COVID-19 rules

When Dr. Bonnie Henry ordered new restrictions on banquet halls and nightclubs, that sent some Quesnel organizations scrambling.

The Quesnel Elks Lodge and Quesnel and District Seniors’ Centre had just begun to take bookings again before the orders came down Sept. 8.

The Elks said the City of Quesnel considers their hall a “standalone banquet hall,” but the Province clarified the rules do not apply to service clubs.

READ MORE: Quesnel Seniors’ Centre preparing for COVID-19 comeback

“With the recent health order that mandated all ‘standalone banquet halls,’ we were fearful that we would have to close our doors again,” a post on the Quesnel Elks Lodge Facebook page reads. “Fear no more, however, because it has been confirmed that service clubs and their venues are exempt from that order.”

Henry said when announcing the new orders they are meant to prevent parties and close contact.

“These restrictions will take away that late-night temptation people have, when we know there’s been mixing [of social groups] going on and transmission is happening in these venues,” she said.

READ MORE: B.C. to shut down nightclubs, banquet halls; limit late-night alcohol sales at bars

— with files from Katya Slepian

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