Businesses Flattened Along with Curve

While venturing downtown in our city to have dinner last Sunday, determined to support one of our favorite restaurants, we were confronted with the stark effects of the pandemic. No, we weren’t intimidated by sneezing, coughing people who might have been carrying the virus. Nor did we feel uncomfortable about the newly appointed rules of social distancing in the restaurant, or disappointed with the reduced menus and empty tables. But we were shocked by the sight of businesses which had gone under, shuttered their windows and posted ‘closing out‘ signs. Is this the new reality we keep hearing about?

We drove slowly through the streets after dinner. We’d done this before, during the preceding weeks, observing the sparse traffic, commenting on the impact on businesses. But this was worse than we expected; dozens of storefronts stood empty, boarded up as though preparing for a hurricane. I intended to count them, but I eventually gave up, and we went home, shaking our heads.

Our province, and especially our island, has fared well during this crisis. While the virus has reflected high numbers in two of our ten provinces, and raged in the neighboring United States, our area’s impact was light. Throughout the epidemic, British Columbia had  2790 cases and 168 related deaths. I don’t mean to minimize this—every death is tragic, and images of the isolated, frightening way some Covid 19 patients died will always remain with me.

Some people have speculated that health provisions in Canada and BC were too extreme. They’ve suggested that authorities should have focused on protecting the vulnerable while allowing healthy younger people to work and keep businesses alive. We may never know how that approach would have played out, although I’m confident that the economy and job situation would be in better shape today had we done that. It’s also possible that higher numbers of cases and deaths might have been the result. But that’s a futile game, and no one wins by second-guessing the past.

The reality is, many businesses hung on for as long as they could, then finally caved in. They may be gone forever. In their wake are shattered dreams, depleted savings, and displaced employees. Some owners and workers will find other ventures and other jobs. Some will be forced into social service dependency or even homelessness, possibilities we do not want to face.

But right now, and in the coming weeks and months, we need to pull together to minimize the damage and find a way forward. The businesses that have survived for now, and are hoping for better days, need your support. Here is what you can do:

• You can put on your masks and venture out. All businesses I have entered have made enormous efforts to make conditions safe. 
• If you are reluctant to go inside, you can phone in an order, or buy from their website. The process of buying, paying, and delivery is streamlined now, and very safe.
• You can phone the store in advance and have the product ready for pick-up.
• You can buy a gift certificate to use later if you can’t find anything you want.
• You can buy a clothing item without trying it on, and, as they suggest, try it on at home and return it if it doesn’t fit.
• YOU CAN STOP ORDERING FROM AMAZON. They do not need your business!

Other long-term effects of this epidemic, traumatized children, fractured relationships, financial loss, damaged health, and lives lost through postponement of surgeries will be with us for a long time. We can’t do anything about them.  

But we can help our business community. Businesses are, after all, the cornerstone of our economy, the vibrancy at the core of our cities. We need to participate in their recovery.