The first weekend since B.C. lifted its mask mandate for indoor public spaces brought crowds and a sense of optimism to the province’s nightlife industry.
Jeff Guignard, executive director of the Alliance of Beverage Licensees of B.C., told CTV News on Saturday that the timing of the change will be a boon to businesses.
“People are absolutely partying like it’s 2019 this weekend,” Guignard said. “We’re getting really excited for next weekend too, right? It’ll be the first St. Patrick’s Day in two years where we can actually celebrate. St. Patrick’s Day is typically one of our biggest days of the year, but it has not been for the last couple of years.
B.C. bars and nightclubs were ordered to close for much of the Omicron wave of COVID-19, but the province lifted many restrictions in mid-February.
