Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Quadra Island Boat Tour Contest
    • Vacay in Victoria Contest
    • Amateur Photographer of the Year!
    • Amateur Video Creator of the Year
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Quadra Island Boat Tour Contest
    • Vacay in Victoria Contest
    • Amateur Photographer of the Year!
    • Amateur Video Creator of the Year
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
You are here: Home / news / B.C. extends pandemic patio program until next spring as summer season looms

The province has extended its pandemic patio program until next spring. The patios in the 1300-block of Gladstone Avenue serve as a pilot program as Victoria explores permanently allowing street and sidewalk dining spaces. Photo courtesy Build Back Victoria

B.C. extends pandemic patio program until next spring as summer season looms

April 8, 2022 //  by Jake Romphf

Share this:

Victoria’s mayor credited the province for answering the call and extending the allowance of pandemic patios at restaurants, cafes and bars across B.C.

The province’s temporary expanded service areas (TESA) program was set to expire on June 1, but on Thursday, B.C. extended the program until March 31, 2023, for businesses with existing authorizations. Some people might have concerns about entering a crowded restaurant as the province drops its proof-of-vaccination system, but will still want to gather with friends and family, Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said in an interview.

“For businesses, it’ll mean that they can focus on serving their customers rather than filling out paperwork,” Helps said.

The province said the extension will provide time for local authorities to update their patio policies and for licensees to apply to make areas permanent. Victoria council called for the move last month as it was concerned businesses wouldn’t be able to serve liquor on their temporary patios past the June end date.

“This extension will give everyone time to pursue permanent patios and the permanent expansion of licensed areas in an orderly way without feeling the crunch,” Helps said. “That’s what we were pushing for, just to give everyone a bit more time.”

READ MORE: Victoria leads Canadian cities in restaurants, pubs, bars per capita

B.C.’s public safety minister echoed the capital city mayor’s comments, saying the extension eliminates the risk of disrupting patio service during the busy summer season – set to be the first in years without a host of health measures in place.

“Some local governments needed additional time to make the needed policy changes and assess applications for permanent structural changes in their communities,” said Mike Farnworth

Expanded service areas looking to stick around for good still need to meet local bylaws, so the province is encouraging businesses to submit applications as soon as possible.

Victoria businesses will have to work with city staff if they want to keep their pandemic-risen structures, the mayor said, noting how some will have to be reigned in as certain set-ups look more like outdoor restaurants than patios. She applauded the province’s local business support amid the now two-year-plus pandemic.

READ MORE: Your guide to vegan dining in Washington’s Snohomish County

“Everyone is going to ease out of the pandemic at their own pace and this gives more space for people to do so but not be cut out of a social setting,” Helps said.

Businesses wishing to make their current TESA permanent must apply through the Liquor and Cannabis Licensing Portal.

Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!

Share this:

Category: news, TravelTag: Food, Restaurants

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

Singletrack or cross-country, your 2-wheel Cariboo adventure starts here

Boasting a spectacular mix of rides, from steep mountain trails to epic cross-country routes, few…

Singletrack or cross-country, your 2-wheel Cariboo adventure starts hereRead More

World invited back to Parksville beach as sandcastles poised to make a return

Parksville Beach Festival Society has unveiled a list of seven teams and 15 individual sand…

World invited back to Parksville beach as sandcastles poised to make a returnRead More

UPDATE: Endangered American badger raising kits in Williams Lake

Brandi Magnus and her husband Jim McIntyre are grateful to be off from work, but…

UPDATE: Endangered American badger raising kits in Williams LakeRead More

Canadians hold nose at gas prices as they hit the road, skies once again

Even as gas prices hit record highs, Canadians are fanning out across the country for…

Canadians hold nose at gas prices as they hit the road, skies once againRead More

Holy haggis! 159th Victoria Highland Games Celtic Festival is back

It’s time to don your tartan, tune the bagpipes and warm up those haggis-hurling muscles:…

Holy haggis! 159th Victoria Highland Games Celtic Festival is backRead More

Kelowna Tasting Passport is your ticket to the city’s craft breweries

The Okanagan may be renowned for its wines, but more and more, there’s craft beer…

Kelowna Tasting Passport is your ticket to the city’s craft breweriesRead More

Go, baby, go! Baby Western Painted Turtles are emerging from their nests

By Janice Strong For Rocky Mountain Naturalists On Friday, April 29, the Rocky Mountain Naturalists…

Go, baby, go! Baby Western Painted Turtles are emerging from their nestsRead More

Washington hiking guide offers a new way to find accessible trails

Washington Trails Association The Washington Trails Association’s Hiking Guide has a new filter — one…

Washington hiking guide offers a new way to find accessible trailsRead More

Did you know TSA prohibits these items from being in your carry-on bag?

By Evan Santiago, The Charlotte Observer Going through the TSA line at U.S. airports comes…

Did you know TSA prohibits these items from being in your carry-on bag?Read More

Previous Post: « A town in transition: Finding balance in Powell River
Next Post: Sip & Savour: New Yakima Valley wine pass debuts »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

Singletrack or cross-country, your 2-wheel Cariboo adventure starts here

May 16, 2022

World invited back to Parksville beach as sandcastles poised to make a return

May 15, 2022

UPDATE: Endangered American badger raising kits in Williams Lake

May 13, 2022

Canadians hold nose at gas prices as they hit the road, skies once again

May 13, 2022

Recent Posts

Singletrack or cross-country, your 2-wheel Cariboo adventure starts here

May 16, 2022

World invited back to Parksville beach as sandcastles poised to make a return

May 15, 2022

UPDATE: Endangered American badger raising kits in Williams Lake

May 13, 2022

Canadians hold nose at gas prices as they hit the road, skies once again

May 13, 2022

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and and 125,000+ social followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Northwest Territories
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Visit Our Companion Sites

I Love Saskatchewan
I Love Manitoba
I Love Nunavut
I Love Ontario
I Love Quebec
I Love Newfoundland and Labrador
I Love Nova Scotia
I Love New Brunswick
I Love Prince Edward Island

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon

Copyright © 2022 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved