Few options available in Saskatoon as museums, theatres, libraries allowed to reopen

Another round of reopenings are being celebrated in Saskatchewan as libraries, museums, art galleries and theatres are allowed to reopen Monday.

The province announced additional reopenings last week as part of Phase Four of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan, but with less than a week of notice, many of the businesses won’t be ready to open for at least a few days.

The first to open will be the large movie theatre chains in Saskatchewan, Landmark Cinemas and Cineplex, on Friday.

“We’re excited to have some certainty on the structure that we can open with,” Landmark Cinemas CEO Bill Walker said.

At both chains you can expect a limited offering of concession items and staff greeting you wearing masks.

As part of the regulations laid down by the province, capacity is limited at 30 per cent of the available seating or 150 people, whichever is less.

That stipulation is enough to make Broadway Theatre think twice about reopening.

“In our room, it’s viable at the max to get 80 or 90 people in,” executive director Kirby Wirchenko said.

“It doesn’t make financial sense. It’s what business people call business suicide.”

Broadway Theatre hasn’t nailed down a date as of yet, but Wirchenko said they are finalizing a limited opening for later this summer.

The Roxy Theatre in Riversdale will open it’s doors on July 11th for a special screening of Empire Strikes Back.

As for museums, there won’t be many options — at least not this week.

The Western Development Museum (WDM) is keeping all of its four locations in the province closed for now.

“The safety of our visitors, volunteers and staff is our primary concern. As difficult as this is, the WDM must remain closed until we are confident that all the requirements outlined in the libraries, museums, art galleries guidelines (of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan) along with all other applicable provincial regulations are being met to the highest standard,” CEO Joan Kanigan said in a media release.

Remai Modern won’t be open either. The art gallery is in the process of hiring staff back and implementing new health and safety measures before opening up again.

“Our reopening date and additional information will be shared on our website and social media as soon as possible,” a statement sent to 650 CKOM said.

All nine Saskatoon Public Library locations will continue its pickup service for the time being.

“We look forward to welcoming patrons back into the library, but we will not be ready to reopen on June 29,” a statement posted to the library’s Facebook page said.

“We are doing everything possible to help ensure the health and safety of our employees and patrons.”

The library an internal five-step plan to reopening. On June 15, the second stage of the plan that allowed book returns, virtual programming and online services.