COLLINGWOOD, ONT. The Craigleith Manor Bed and Breakfast owner says once Ontario gave the green light, the phones started ringing off the hook. We saw a skyrocket in reservations, said Guy Laporte. He said his Collingwood business was hit especially hard by the pandemic in an industry hit even harder. All told our business was down about 80 per cent over 2019, Laporte added. Since last year, the tourism sector has lost more than $18 billion in revenue, which meant job losses. Now, what we found, is we are facing an acute labour shortage, said Blue Mountain Village associate president Andrew Siegwart. So many businesses that are now preparing to reopen are short-staffed dozens of employees.
BARRIE, ONT. Simcoe Muskoka is ramping up vaccinations with children 12 to 17 eligible to book their second Pfizer vaccine shot starting Saturday. Currently, 56 per cent of kids in the region have had their first shot, with an effort on getting students fully vaccinated before returning to school in September. Simcoe Muskoka is one of 10 Delta hot spots in the province fast-tracking vaccinations as pharmacies try to keep up. People are calling, and they re booking appointments with us, and we re giving doses as soon as we get the vaccination available, said Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacist Abdul Albach. The Barrie pharmacist said they are providing roughly 80 to 100 doses each day.