Customers at P.A.'s Mr. Mikes shortly after COVID restrictions were lifted. (Facebook/Mr. Mikes)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Back in Business

‘We’re in business again’: northern businesses seeing numbers close to pre-pandemic levels

Apr 25, 2022 | 5:00 PM

More and more people across northern Saskatchewan are getting out and enjoying the things they love.

Businesses and city facilities have been seeing an uptick in customers ever since COVID restrictions were lifted back in February.

Davinder Singh, general manager of P.A.’s Mr. Mikes Steakhouse, said they’ve been steadily seeing an increase in numbers over the past several weeks.

The biggest change has been in the mental health of his staff.

“Whenever somebody comes in, they like to stay for a longer time. We chat, we talk, and next thing you know it’s closing time.”

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The P.A. library has also been seeing a jump in users.

Checkouts are on par with pre-pandemic numbers, while social media and website hits are seeing huge jumps.

Physical trips to the library remain low, however, that may be due to a lack of seating as the library still needs to finish its renovations which were halted due to the pandemic.

“People are aware of us; they’re using the services,” said Alex Juorio, director of Library Services. “They’re just slowly trickling back in.”

P.A. residents aren’t the only ones getting out in their community.

In North Battleford, city facilities have seen a roughly 50 per cent increase in people using their services.

Cheryl DeNeire, director of Parks and Recreation, believes they would most likely be matching pre-pandemic levels, however, they don’t have enough staff.

“The pandemic caused training in a lot of my facilities to stop, so that job pool has to be started again.”

She noted it will probably take around a year to fill and properly train all the positions.

Lastly, many people living in Melfort have been hitting the bowling lanes.

Rick Lang, co-owner of Melfort Bowl, said they’ve been overwhelmed with the number of customers of late.

“The last month and a little bit, things have really picked up… it was something that certainly made us feel we’re in business again.”

This comes after they could only stay open for a couple of months each of the past two years.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow