Masks now mandatory: Edmonton bylaw starts Saturday

If there's one sectorin Edmonton that doesn't need much guidance onEdmonton's new face covering bylaw, it's small business.

Several retailers have already made it a rule forall staff and customers to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19while inside thestore.

Edmonton's new bylaw takes effectSaturday, nearly two months after Knifewear and Kent of Inglewood on Whyte Avenue made face coverings mandatory.

Since June 8, everyone who enters the two stores must wear a covering, said manager KristopherArmitage, chair of the Old Strathcona Business Association.

"We started preparing for this the minute we opened," Armitage said."We've been 100 per cent mask in store since the very beginning."

Customers coming in without a covering are given a disposable mask, he said, and signs outside the shop explain the safety reasons for wearing masks.

He said there are a few people who give them a hard time about their policy.

"There is the odd person who is very anti-mask, that will see our signage and feels they need to stick their head in and tell us that we're fascists or something along that line."

In contrast to some fierce opposition to the bylaw, Armitage said his business owner and other stores are relieved by council's decision earlier this week to approve the bylaw.

"We've just really happy that the city is backing us up on that," he said,callingthe decision the "better safe than sorry," scenario.

Other retailers have been incorporating mask wearing as well, Armitage noted, and the business association is helping guide them when needed.

• Mask up: What you need to know about masks in Edmonton
• Masks mandatory in all Edmonton indoor public spaces starting Aug. 1

The city launched a new webpageFriday explaining the reasons for the bylaw.

"It is a quick, easy and effective way to protect each other," the site says, whileoutliningexceptions and clarifications.

"Business owners and operators will not be responsible for enforcement and can choose whether to deny service to those who do not comply with the bylaw."

The site includes resources such as printable posters.

It's the same as no shirt, no shoes,no service,- Todd Janes, Stony Plain Road and Area Business Assn.

Todd Janes, executive director ofStony Plain Road and Area Business Association, saidsmall and medium-size companies are relieved the city is taking responsibility for the issue.

"It affords an opportunity for business owners to concentrate on doing what they need to do, which is having the best service and running their business to the best of their capabilities."

While some owners and staff worryabout dealing with customers unwilling to follow the rule,generally the mask requirement will give them and customersa level of comfort and safety, which maybring back business, Janes said.

Janes said he considers wearing a maska matter of manners.

"It's the same as no shirt, no shoes,no service," Janes said."It's a very non-offensive activity that people can do to protect vulnerable people and to protect each other."

Homemade/store bought masks

Some businesses are benefiting from a recent trend of people making their own.

Patrick O'Shaughnessy, manager at Marshall Fabrics in the city's south side, told CBC Newshe's seeing 25 per cent more customers with most of them buying materialto make masks.

"It's definitely our number one seller by far," O'Shaughnessy said.

Fabric with designs are trendy, he added,featuring anything from flamingos tohockey sticks, withthewildly-popularBaby Yoda character a bestseller.

"We sold right out of itright away, 'cause obviously that's cool and new."

Mask-making materials flying off the shelves in Edmonton

4 years ago

Duration 1:19

Cotton, elastic, and all kinds of mask-making materials are flying off the shelves ahead of August 1, when masks become mandatory in Edmonton at all public spaces. Patrick OShauhnessy from Marshall Fabrics explains.

Besides the plethora of online options and pharmacies, masks are available at several local shops andfarmers markets.

They come in various styles andrange from $7 to $20.

This weekend, city bylaw and peace officers will be tasked with raisingawareness amongthe general public, while on their regular patrols,focusingon high-use areas likeLRT platforms, transit centres,buses and city-owned-and-operated facilities, amenities and attractions.

They will also patrol shopping malls and other retail locations.

@natashariebe