Fire ban brings hazy outlook for businesses in provincial parks

After Saskatchewan was blanketed in a fire ban announced Tuesday morning, businesses in provincial parks wonder if sales will be impacted over the May long weekend.

Laurie Leigh is the co-owner of The Rockin’ Horse Cookhouse and Bar in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. For her, fire bans turn out to be a positive.

“It’s very lucrative for us when there’s a fire ban because people can’t cook easily,” she said.

“They can’t start fires out at the park so a lot of times they’ll come into town and eat instead.”

Leigh doesn’t think the fire ban will deter people from camping. “They’ll still come camping, absolutely, and it’s the first weekend of the year where everything opens up so they’re all gearing up to go and get back out into nature.”

Janelle Coutin, manager of the Prairie Dog Drive-In Theatre in Moose Mountain Provincial Park, doesn’t think the fire ban will dampen campers’ spirits either.

“There’s more to do than just sit around a campfire,” she said. “If they can’t have a fire, then maybe they’ll come to the drive-in instead, so maybe (business) will increase.”

Over in Rowan’s Ravine Provincial Park, Michelle Gotch, owner of the restaurant Mama Bear’s Den, thinks differently. “If you don’t have a fire, what’s the point of camping ?” she said.

But she hopes campers won’t be deterred.

“They’re probably 80 per cent of my business,” said Gotch. “If no one’s here camping, I don’t get as busy as I usually do.

“I’m hoping (the fire ban) won’t impact my business too much.”