The owners of a downtown Barrie store have raised concerns about ongoing protests around COVID restrictions by a group that has vowed to gather at Meridian Place regardless of public health guidelines.
In an email to BarrieToday, the owners of Bravo Fine Lingerie on Dunlop Street East expressed their frustration with how the protests have affected their business.
The letter, signed by Bravo owners June and Doris, said that while they recognize the value and the right to peaceful public demonstrations, the demonstrations are having a negative impact on their business.
“Clients are cancelling appointments due to the proximity of these protests and the perceived risk of encountering individuals who are not wearing masks,” they say in the letter. “The protests have spilled out of Memorial Square to take over the sidewalks and extend down Dunlop Street, just outside our door.”
The Freedom of Information Rally and Lockdown Dispute has been held every Saturday since March 13 and has seen the crowds of unmasked people grow from close to 60 the first day to approximately 200 on some weekends. That was prior to new stay-at-home measures implemented this week by the province.
The gathering caught the attention of people wanting to use the public square on the weekend to read or eat, but the protests have deterred some people from going there.
On Friday. Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman told BarrieToday that the issue involving the protesters was a police matter, adding politicians “cannot tell police how to do their jobs.”
The mayor did say he remains “very concerned by these illegal gatherings, especially given the rising caseloads and hospital admissions.”
Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon said should the protesters meet again this weekend, despite the new stay-at home order, officers will continue to monitor the situation.
“We continue to take an education-first approach, and while we are aware of the gatherings, we will be on hand to ensure the safety of those in the vicinity,” Leon told BarrieToday. “We are there to make sure the activity doesn’t impede businesses and/or people using the foot paths to, say, exercise as they are allowed.”
The owners of Bravo Fine Lingerie, which is situated across from Meridian Place, said the protests are putting people at risk.
“A core part of our business is serving women who are facing ongoing cancer treatments and breast cancer surgery. Clients are telling us they do not feel safe shopping downtown due to being immuno-compromised,” they said. “Others are advising that they will shop elsewhere as they do not want to have to deal with anger toward them for adhering to mask wearing.”
The shop owners said they are asking for local representatives to engage with the groups to communicate the impact of the gatherings.
“If (protesters) think they are helping us by speaking out against the lockdowns downtown, they are very much mistaken. We need to be able to assure clients that they will be safe when they visit the downtown and right now we cannot do that,” they pair added. “Some kind of follow-up is necessary. A designated area, such as city hall, farther away from local businesses who are already struggling to survive, would be appreciated.”
