Posted: Apr 21, 2021 4:00 AM CT | Last Updated: April 21
Charles Tooke owns Lakeview Fine Foods, an independent grocery store in Regina. Last week, the province announced grocery store workers would receive priority access to vaccinations if there is an on-site pharmacy. Workers at stores without pharmacies, including Lakeview Fine Foods, will not get priority vaccinations.(Matthew Howard/CBC)
For a few moments last week, Charles Tooke breathed a sigh of relief on hearing the news Saskatchewan grocery store workers would be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines.
Tooke owns Lakeview Fine Foods in Regina, a small independent grocery store anchoring a strip of shops on Hill Avenue. For the past year, he and his 11 staff, most under the age of 40, have worked in constant contact with members of the public and each other, stocking shelves, bagging and delivering groceries, and constantly sanitizing the store.