Finally, we can all get our hair cut again
They were lined up early and often as barber shops and hair salons reopened in downtown Penticton for the first time in just over two months, Tuesday.
A group of local senior men, including Murray Kolberg and Leonard Martin, were sitting in chairs on the sidewalk outside the Legion Barber Shop, located in Tiffany’s Boutique Mall, waiting their turn as veteran barber Rick Winstanley reopened his doors for the first time since March 18.
For Kolberg, 68, getting his hair cut was much-welcome relief.
“It has been more than two months and I couldn’t wait any longer,” he said with a smile. “I felt like a hippie and I wanted to get rid of it (long hair). I need a hair cut real bad after two months.”
Describing the past two months as “very weird and bizarre” since the City of Penticton — and most of the world — went into a lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Kolberg said he’s thrilled many businesses are re-opening as it signals there will be a return to some semblance of normality in the coming days and weeks.
“Not being able to get something like a basic haircut makes you realize we all take certain things for granted,” he said.
Besides hair salons and barbers, other businesses allowed to open included restaurants, cafes and pubs, retailers, recreation facilities, libraries, museums, gyms, pet groomers and child-care facilities. Many more will be allowed to open later this week or next week.
Kolberg said he’s proud to live in a province that took lockdown measures so seriously and praised the majority of B.C. residents who stayed home and seldom went out to ensure the virus wouldn’t spread.
He had particular praise for the provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, and her reasoned approach in fighting this pandemic.
Kolberg said too many people have spent too much time looking to lay blame for causing the pandemic, but his focus has been more on doing his part to ensure he and others he knows don’t get sick.
“This is something that happened and we all have to deal with it,” he said. “It’s one of those things. A hundred years ago we had the Spanish Flu and millions died. This isn’t nearly as bad, but it has still been tough.”
History has proven humans have to deal with a serious health crisis once every several decades, and Martin — who is in his late 70s — is not shocked by COVID-19.
“I really wasn’t surprised . . . these things tend to come around in cycles,” he said.
Martin said dealing with the loss of his wife just before COVID-19 broke out has made the past two months extremely difficult.
“I’ve been hit pretty hard by both sides of the stick,” he said.
Winstanley has been cutting hair at the Legion Barber Shop for more than 25 years. His father ran the same shop for 40 years before he took over the business.
“We opened at 8:30 and there were three guys waiting outside and it has been really busy ever since,” he said. “It’s been a tough go. But, I’m just happy to be open again.”
While some businesses have had to spend significant money to make changes and alterations to their operations in order to meet provincial safety standards, Winstanley said running a small barber shop with only one chair and no other employees will be relatively easy.
He placed the chairs outside his shop on the Main Street sidewalk several feet apart and had no issues with people staying a safe distance apart on re-opening day, he said.
“I never thought I would be told to shut down my business because of a virus,” he said. “But it happened and I’m glad to be up running again and clipping hair.”
Peter Beauchamp of Okanoggin Barbers joked that he saw “a lot of wife jobs” on his first day back cutting hair and trimming beards.
“We are booked solid, solid, solid and man I love being back cutting hair, it couldn’t come fast enough,” Beauchamp said.
“We are only using three barbers, well distanced and not putting anyone at risk. We wear gloves and a mask and for face work, we have shields. … And everyone has been happy with our safety and sanitation.”