Some business owners in Timmins say there may be an increased interest in watersports this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether you want to hit the water wakeboarding or paddling, seasonal businesses offering ways to get active on the water have made changes in response to the pandemic.
Watersports provide an opportunity for people to keep their distance while being outdoors, said Jeannette Johnstone, who co-owns Pro Tackle and Timmins Adventure Tourism with her husband Shawn.
"Being in the water, it is really a very low risk when it comes to virus exchange as well as you can create distance when you're paddling or when you even load or unload," she said.
Since the bait shop opened again just before May Run, there’s been less in-store shopping but the business has been doing good since people are going back to fishing and getting more outdoors, she said.
For safety precautions, customers who aren’t wearing masks or gloves are served one at a time in a designated area.
Those wishing to shop in the store will have to wear a mask and gloves. There’s also a hand sanitizer available in the store and debit machines are frequently wiped down.
“Generally, people are patient,” Johnstone said.
“This is the new norm. We’re going to be using a lot of these precautionary measures for, I think, at least the next six months.”
Johnstone said light bait has been the most in-demand item so far and Shawn shops every day to make sure there is enough bait available.
As for the Timmins Adventure Tours, which is located on Mattagami River, renting kayaks, standup boards, water bikes and canoes will be available at the beginning of June.
Once it's open, rentals will be rotated and sanitized after each use and customers will be required to maintain distance.
“There will be a little bit more manual work for people renting. They will be handling their own product,” she said. “It will be set out in designated areas when they come in and put their products back.”
Timmins Wake Park is also expected to start operating by May 30. The business recently got the green light from the Mattagami Region Conservation Authority and is now having an annual spring sale.
“It’s not much of an adjustment for us,” said Jonathan Bonney, who co-founded the business with his brother Justin. “We’re well set up for this kind of thing… Everything takes place outdoors, there are no tight spaces, there's no cramping.”
The new safety measure will include sanitizing rental equipment and common spaces between customers.
There will be a hand sanitizer station on-site and all employees and clients will be asked to clean their hands before entering or before eating. A group of a maximum of five people will be allowed although Bonney expressed hope the occupancy cap will eventually be extended to 10 people.
“In the midst of this uncertainty, we’re fortunate we can do our sport and give people an activity to do outdoors and stay active, stay healthy,” Bonney said. “We just got to ensure people feel safe and comfortable.”
With overnight camps cancelled for the summer and schools still closed, Bonney said they might see an increase in demand from families and children.
The wake park usually provides over 1,000 rides to up to 300 participants in the summertime but the owners are unsure if their target market this year will include tourists and visitors due to travel restrictions amid the pandemic.
