by: dalson chen
rick limoges is grateful that most of the customers of sandy’s riverside grill are people he knows — and no one has given him any grief about having to prove they’ve been fully vaccinated against covid-19.
“our customers are also our friends,” said limoges, proprietor of a cozy restaurant at 7021 wyandotte st. east in windsor’s riverside area.
“so far, all of them that have come in have been prepared with their documentation… we don’t expect any altercations. our customer base is really neighbourhood-generated.”
sandy’s riverside grill is just one of the hundreds of businesses across windsor-essex that dealt with the first day of the province’s new proof-of-vaccination requirement on wednesday.
as of sept. 22, attendees of “higher-risk indoor public settings” in ontario must be able to show vaccine receipts confirming they are fully vaccinated (two doses plus 14 days), along with their photo id.
the new rule applies to restaurants, bars, nightclubs, meeting spaces, convention centres, gyms, sporting events, music venues, theatres, cinemas, gaming establishments, strip clubs, and more.
while limoges said he and many other owners are not happy that enforcement of the vaccination requirement has been thrust upon them, he understands the government’s reasons.