WC patio season is nigh

WEST CARLETON – It’s stinkin’ hot outside so thank God patio season opens in West Carleton this Friday (June 11).

Yesterday the Government of Ontario announced the first day of its three-step re-opening plan from the provincial Stay-at-Home order begins Friday with some re-opening of area businesses.

“Based on the provincewide vaccination rate and continuing improvements in key public health and health system indicators, the Ontario government, in consultation with the chief medical officer of health, will move the province into Step One of its Roadmap to Re-open at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 11,” the province released in a statement yesterday.

“Thanks to the ongoing success of Team Ontario’s vaccine rollout and the ongoing improvements in public health trends, we are able to enter step one of the roadmap and begin to safely and cautiously lift restrictions,” Premier Doug Ford said yesterday. “The only reason we’re able to do so is because of the enormous sacrifices made by individuals, families and communities across Ontario. As we begin to enjoy the benefits of the first step in our roadmap like meeting friends on a patio or visiting your favourite local store, please do so safely by continuing to follow all public health guidelines.”

As of June 6, at 8 p.m., 72 per cent of the 18 and older population in Ontario received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine with more than 10 million doses now having been administered.

Step one permits restaurants and pubs to re-open their patios with up to four people per table, with exceptions for larger households.

With that news, several of West Carleton’s finest patios immediately announced their own re-opening plans and several patios in West Carleton will open for the first time this spring.

The Ridge Rock Brewing Company will open their patio starting Friday at 11 a.m. and remain open until 9 p.m.

“We’ve been getting lots of calls about reservations, and in order to see as many of your beautiful faces as possible, we won’t be taking reservations this weekend,” the Ridge Rock released in a statement yesterday (June 7).

The Juke Joint Soul Kitchen will also be opening its patio on Friday.

“Finally, the announcement we have been waiting for,” the Juke Joint released in a statement yesterday. “It’s been a long eight months of take-out only, we could not be happier to open our patios on Friday.”

The Juke Joint says reservations are required but if they can accommodate a walk-in, they will do so.

And if you want to wait a day to get your patio-life in, on Saturday, June 12 musician Spencer Scharf will be serenading patio guests between 8 and 8 p.m.

“We look forward to seeing you all,” the Juke Joint said.

The Swan at Carp will also open its patio on Friday the pub announced in a simple social media post.

Just down the road at the Cheshire Cat Pub, management has decided to hold off opening until Monday, June 14.

“Although we are allowed to open this weekend, we made the decision to open on Monday (June 14) so we can be well prepared stocked and organized to do the very best for you,” management released in a statement yesterday. “Thanks so much for your patience we look forward to seeing you Monday. Reservations will be available online at Cheshirecatpub.com starting Saturday.”

If there are any other West Carleton patios opening this weekend, please feel free to share in our comment section below.

Step One of the Roadmap to Re-open includes but is not limited to:

• Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 10 people;
• Outdoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, capped at the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
• Indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted at up to 15 per cent capacity of the particular room;
• Non-essential retail permitted at 15 per cent capacity, with no restrictions on the goods that can be sold;
• Essential and other select retail permitted at 25 per cent capacity, with no restrictions on the goods that can be sold;
• Outdoor dining with up to four people per table, with exceptions for larger households;
• Outdoor fitness classes, outdoor groups in personal training and outdoor individual/team sport training to be permitted with up to 10 people, among other restrictions;
• Day camps for children permitted to operate in a manner consistent with the safety guidelines for COVID-19 produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health;
• Overnight camping at campgrounds and campsites, including Ontario Parks, and short-term rentals;
• Concert venues, theatres and cinemas may open outdoors for the purpose of rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted concert, artistic event, theatrical performance or other performance with no more than 10 performers, among other restrictions;
• Outdoor horse racing tracks and motor speedways permitted to operate without spectators; and
• Outdoor attractions such as zoos, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens with capacity and other restrictions.

Please view the regulation for full details.