St. Albert patios will be shut down on Monday, May 10, due to increased COVID-19 restrictions announced by the province May 4, but that won't stop many residents from enjoying plenty of fresh air.
Grade 2 student Avery Hoekstra chased away online-school stress on a recent day out in the sunshine with a cinnamon-toast milkshake and a burger at an almost-patio lunch.
“It’s good and it’s delicious,” Avery said as she gripped her burger.
Technically speaking, Avery and her mom Jessica Hoekstra were not on a patio, but they – and a handful of other people – still enjoyed the green space and benches around Jack’s Burger Shack.
With restrictions getting tighter and the sun getting hotter, many are taking advantage of whatever outside space they can occupy.
Jessica said it’s really nice to be able to get out and walk around.
“The trails are right around here, too, so it makes everything a little more tolerable now until we can keep doing more things,” she said.
Whether they hit an actual patio or not one day soon will depend on when restrictions are lifted, Jessica said
“It just depends on what the COVID-19 numbers are doing. I work in health care, so that plays a big factor in what we do. So as long as it's safe, and as long as we are allowed, and as long as we can do something like this where we're really not next to people, absolutely,” she said.
There’s a lot of options for eating spaces, said Jessica.
“Like honestly, even if you like just go walk like two minutes, there’s a bunch of picnic tables by the river. There's lots of options to take and go. We always like finding little places and doing things like that,” she said.
Eileen Gray and Billy Thomas decided to stop at La Crema Caffe during their bike ride on a warm day before latest restriction announcements. Gray is a university student and has spent the last two semesters locked in her room. It was the first time she was out on a patio this year.
“It's just really amazing to be actually on a patio and enjoying restaurants again. Yeah, actually giving back to companies and businesses around here, you know, they probably deserve it after COVID,” said Gray.
Thomas said it was nice to get out with the warmer weather. He is excited about the prospect of summer activities.
“I'm sure we'll see lots of people kayaking soon and out on the river. Golf courses are open, so there's that. We're getting back fishing (which) is good,” said Thomas.
Fadoua Derbel, the owner of Macarons and Goodies in St. Albert, said she would like to add more chairs and tables to her outdoor space once things open up again. She saw a lot more people before this week's restrictions, and said she hopes to see more when the farmer's market returns to the St. Albert's downtown.
“Because people are fed up from staying home, or just pick up and go – people want to sit and enjoy the short summer, enjoy the weather with the sun,” she said.
Alyssa Choi, a local businesswoman, said it has been important for her to support local businesses in the same way the community has supported hers.
Choi and her daughter, Summer Salzwedel, 2, and her friend, Ina Yang, 2, were out on the patio at La Crema Caffe before the restrictions shut down patios. She said she is grateful for the ability to get outside.
“Indoors are not really secure. You know, we have the little ones and my husband he is a teacher. So, we have to be extra careful for that,” said Choi.
It’s not fun being home all the time and Choi said her daughter was excited to get outside.
“She's been home for two weeks ... And then today all of a sudden we came out and then she rolls on the grass. You know, she ran around, and she talks, and she's getting excited for the summer,” said Choi.
“We appreciate whatever we’re given."
