Restaurant Patios, Safety Plans, a Warm Welcome & more!
To our members,
There was such a great energy Downtown this week as the warmer weather brought more customers. It felt like Downtown is coming alive again after its long winter’s nap!
Next week we will be announcing our Downtown Easter Egg Hunt, a fun, safe, self-directed activity for kids and the whole family! Clues and a printable contest form will be available on our website for parents to print. Kids can “hunt” for 12 eggs displayed in various downtown windows for the chance to win an impressive Easter basket. The contest will run from March 19th until Easter Monday and we hope you’ll share the contest with your customers, family and friends!
Town Approves Restaurant Patios to Open April 1st
Great news! The restaurant patio season officially commences on April 1st, a month early than usual! At its meeting on Monday night, Town Council approved expanded boulevard cafes (patios) and an extended patio season for downtown restaurants again this year. Please note that while regular expanded patios will be permitted starting April 1st, any restaurants wishing to expand their patio into public parking spaces (2 max.) must wait until May 1st.
Patios must comply with all public health and safety regulations, and in the event of late-season snow falls, restaurants will be responsible for snow removal.
Please see the attached document for more information.
Please click here to apply for your permit. **Please note, the first page of the Boulevard Café Permit Application asks for your lot, concession #, etc. but if you do not have this information, your business street address (municipal address) is perfectly fine! Just complete the form to the best of your knowledge and be sure to include as many details as possible about your patio plans.
Important: COVID-19 Safety Plan Required
We saw fines handed out by public health authorities last week in nearby regions for businesses that did not have a Safety Plan.
We would like to remind you that all businesses that are operating must have a written safety plan by law. The plan must be made available to anyone who asks to see it, and posted in a place where it will be seen easily.
Click here for instructions for creating your own Safety Plan.
Use this checklist to ensure your Safety Plan meets all the established criteria.
Branching Out Support Services (BOSS) Volunteer Crew
The team at BOSS have graciously offered their time and energy to help us out with some important downtown jobs, such as poster distribution, picking up litter, and pulling unsightly weeds! BOSS is excited to contribute to the community in this way, and we are so grateful to have their help for these very necessary tasks! If they pop into your business to drop something off, or if you see them out and about, please take a minute to introduce yourself and say hello! . Thanks BOSS Crew!
Good Customer Service Is About Doing the Common Things Uncommonly Well
“Each ingredient of a great customer support strategy centers around empathy, respect, kindness, and your dedication to using feedback to improve”.
What are you doing well? How can you improve? Check out this great article that can help you think outside the box when it comes to great customer service!
Thanks for reading & have a great day!