Long weekend dismayingly busy, say cottage country mayors
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Empty shelves in cottage country.
Residents in Clearview Township — about 145 kilometres north of Toronto — had to contend with a cleared out grocery store this long weekend, after visits by cottage-bound out-of-towners who disregarded pleas to stay home.
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It was disappointing for Clearview Mayor Doug Measures, one of dozens of cottage country mayors who this year are dreading the return of cottage season.
“The Creemore Foodland location is small and serves local residents,” Measures told the Toronto Sun, saying the small store limits shoppers to maintain social distancing.
He recalled how the line went down the block one day.
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“When the couple did get in, the shelves were emptied of product — the argument is that these visitors should have stayed and shopped in their home stores for Easter weekend.”
The parking lot, he said, was full of SUVs from Toronto (dealership plate frames are often a dead-giveaway for cottage country residents.)
The situation is so dire that many municipalities are even disconnecting utilities for cottages.
“This is not a vacation or a holiday — this pandemic is serious,” said Mitch Twolan, mayor of the township of Huron-Kinloss — located more than 200 kilometres northwest from Toronto, near Lake Huron.
In late March, his township cut off water service to seasonal dwellings. Anybody who can prove permanent residence will have their water service restored, he said.
Last week, Ontario Premier Doug Ford told cottage owners to stay home over the Easter weekend.
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Collingwood Mayor Brian Saunderson said his town’s population balloons by about 8,000 during cottage season.
He also reported long lines town grocery and liquor stores, an “extremely frustrating” situation.
“Ninety-five per cent of the population is working hard to flatten the curve, and 5% of the population cannot do that,” he said.
Angela Hayes, who lives north of Belleville in Tweed, said she was dismayed at the steady stream of vehicles — packed with groceries and many towing boats — headed to the cottage.
“They aren’t being team players,” she said.
”They could have the virus and not even know it. They stop at gas stations, grocery stores and beer stores, adding to the potential exposure of places they visit.”
A team leader at an essential business, she’s frustrated that inconsiderate holiday seekers are giving the outbreak a chance to spread.
“Canadians are better than this.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @bryanpassifiume
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