‘Excited to be back’

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This article was published 26/06/2021 (1782 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Boisterous laughter filled the hair salon on Lilac Street, giving it the air of being full, despite running at 50 per cent capacity. Salons like Prep Hair reopened Saturday for the first time since COVID-19 public health orders forced them to shut down May 9. Personal services like hair and nail salons were among a host of other reopenings, including restaurants and gyms.

Prep Hair’s stylists and clients alike seemed overjoyed to be in the salon again, surrounded by its charcoal walls, wood-framed mirrors and beauty products, which scented the air an alluring aroma.

A stylist held high the tips of Stacey Giles’s hair with two deft fingers and snipped away. But to Giles, the cut meant more than just a few centimetres off the top.

“I’m a stay-at-home mom,” she said. “So this is really, really freeing and great to get out of the house and take care of something for myself.”

As seems the wont of parents justifying self-care, she added she loves her son — but it’s wonderful to get out and converse with adults.

“It’s been just really, really good for my mental health,” she said.

As she spoke, stylist Lauren Sareen bustled around her head with scissors in hand, every now and then leaning backward to get a new perspective on her work.

“I’m so excited to be back,” said Sareen. The stylist said she worked a part-time job at Polo Park Shopping Centre while the salon was closed.

“It was a little bit frustrating to see how busy malls were and people not following the rules,” she said, “and I was unable to participate in my full-time career.”

Sareen will have no shortage of work in the next few months.

“Summer appointments are slim to gone,” she said. Her next open time is nearly in September, she said.

Restaurants restarted their proverbial engines Saturday too, with outdoor dining at 50 per cent capacity and indoor dining at 25 per cent. Indoor diners must be from the same household unless the whole party is fully vaccinated.

Nick Luhowy, sipping a pint with three friends on the patio of Bar Italia, didn’t hold back.

“It’s transformational,” said Luhowy, hamming it up a little for his friends. “Really excited. Feels like we’re on the precipice of something pretty big.”

He and his friends had a good laugh, then Luhowy spoke more plainly: “I haven’t seen these folks in probably a year. So it’s pretty, pretty amazing. I was actually quite emotional on the way here.”

Wall climbers hit the gym for the first time in over a month at The Hive, a climbing and fitness centre on Lorimer Boulevard. Gyms and fitness facilities opened at 25 per cent capacity.

Sam Beardsell is a member at The Hive, and he buzzed with excitement to be back.

“I’m just happy to be here. I’ve reconnected with so many people that I haven’t seen,” he said. In the past, he’s spent up to four days a week climbing and training in the centre, he said. And while it’s undoubtedly helped him keep fit, it brings even more important things into his life, he said.

“A lot of joy. A lot of purpose too,” he said. “It’s nice to have little goals that you can work on.”

Heather Taylor, a supervisor at The Hive, said being back at work felt great. It was more than just the extra money, she said.

“We have a really close-knit group,” she said. “I think that we were missing each other a lot.”

As of Saturday, 10 people can gather outdoors on private property, and 25 people can gather outdoors on public property. Retail businesses increased capacity to 25 per cent. Indoor faith-based services resumed at 25 per cent capacity. Fully vaccinated people were granted special exemptions, including being able to visit loved ones in personal care homes or hospitals.

 

cody.sellar@freepress.mb.ca