Before government orders, Vaughan citizens spurred action on coronavirus

GoodLife Fitness closed its doors on its own

Yorkregion.com
March 19, 2020
Dina Al-Shibeeb

On the morning of Tuesday March 17, Ontarians woke up to Premier Doug Ford's announcement that he was ordering high-density places such as restaurants and bars to close, in hopes of curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.

“The City of Vaughan supports the Ontario government’s recommendation on the closure of private schools, churches and faith-based settings, licensed child-care centres and bars and restaurants — except for those that can offer takeout or delivery,” said Vaughan’s Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua.

Vaughan also decided, effective Wednesday, March 18 at 8:30 a.m., that its city hall and all other city facilities would be closed to the public until Monday, April 6, 2020.

Like some other businesses that are allowing their employees to work from home, the city has shown support to its own employees by “encouraging” those “who can work remotely to do so. This will ensure people are safe and that city business can continue,” Bevilacqua said.

But municipalities, as well as citizens, were using their discretion and decision-making on shutdowns even before the federal government took steps. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday, March 16 that he was closing the Canadian border to non-citizens, with the exception of Americans, and keeping only four airports in the country open.

“Last week, Vaughan closed its community centres and library branches. City and library March break camps and daycare programming were also cancelled to ensure the safety of the public,” Bevilacqua said.

GoodLife Fitness, which claims one in 35 Canadians is a member, also made its “difficult” decision to close all of its GoodLife Fitness and Fit4Less clubs across Canada “effective immediately,” as stated in an email sent to members late Sunday, March 15.

"We have made the decision to continue to pay all of our people for the next two weeks to help lessen the financial burden of this tremendous change," the email read. "We look forward to welcoming them all back when we reopen," it added without being specific.

There are at least three GoodLife Fitness gyms in Vaughan.

Even before toilet paper became the official token currency known as TP, parents in York Region decided in January they wanted more stringent action, as some expressed heightened-concern over the lack of proper scrutiny on travellers coming from high-risk areas.

Marcus Kolga, a parent from Unionville, told Yorkregion.com that YRDSB should have acted “independently” and his questions about placing proper “protocol” on COVID-19 went unattended.

YRDSB’s first communication about COVID-19 was on March 8, Kolga said, adding that his concerns dated back to January.

Before YRDSB's March 8 communication, Kolga expressed concern over the lack of "protocols" put in place in schools to "address this obvious threat.”

Some Canadians also expressed criticism that the government wasn't thoroughly screening arrivals at airports and urged Trudeau to shut down the border.

In response to a tweet by Trudeau telling people there would be more updates on COVID-19 on March 15, Jason Riddell replied, “I went to Costco yesterday and I ran into some people that just returned from another country and they said there was no screening or nothing.”

Another Twitter user wrote, “Why the heck are travellers coming back to Canada through Pearson airport not being screened?!?!?! Too little too late now, absolutely ridiculous, we’re more at risk now for sure.”

But after pressure, the Ontario government announced on March 12 it was closing schools for two weeks following March Break. Soon after, Ontario’s top doctor warned citizens not to leave the country unless it was absolutely necessary and recommended the “immediate suspension” of all events with more than 250 people to fight COVID-19.

As people hoarded toilet paper and emptied store shelves of canned foods, pastas, bread and Lysol wipes, there were some unpleasant incidents.

“We had one washroom that’s being used by clients — they stole the toilet paper and toilet paper holder,” said Peter Wixson, Vaughan Food Bank executive director.

Clients are no longer allowed inside the food bank. The 81-year-old Wixson decided to go into “emergency mode” as of early Monday, March 16 at his food bank by having fewer volunteers help him box food items. His registered clients can now pick up food boxes as opposed to shopping inside the food bank.

“We had to turn around, put it in boxes and so they can come at the door and get a box,” said Wixson, who wasn’t impressed with the way people hoarded food.

Working remotely

On the positive side of things, people are using creativity in finding solutions.

Safwan Choudhry, a spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at in Canada, said Baitul Islam Mosque in Vaughan is going to “leverage technology” to hold prayers and sermons virtually.

On Tuesday, March 17, Choudhry said a decision was made the night before to have a “remote, live broadcast from our mosque” for people to access from the “comfort of their homes.” This was before Ford’s announcement.

He said in these difficult times, “more people turn to faith,” and need to be connected to their “places of worship.”

GoodLife, too, is bringing technology to the fore. On March 16, it sent emails to its members saying that they can access up to 100 workouts available on its website.