The Ontario government's three-step reopening plan is coming a little too late for some struggling businesses.
The on-and-off-again lockdowns and restrictions on outdoor and indoor gatherings have put a strain on the wedding industry.
Since the pandemic began, Paradise Acres in Innisfil, Ont., has barely been operating as couples have cancelled their weddings and events have been postponed.
"We had one small gathering last summer. It was really sad," said Candice Cole, the wedding and event coordinator for Paradise Acres.
Since late 2018, the business has been operating out of a century-old barn on the property. Over that time, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the company was thriving, but that came to a screeching halt last spring and summer.