Brockville Railway Tunnel opens for 2021; businesses, patios welcome patrons back
Coinciding with Ontario's reopening plan, the Brockville Railway Tunnel opened up on Friday morning, after a shortened season in 2020.
"We haven't been through it yet and we've been looking forward to it and waiting so we're excited," said the Deroche family, newcomers to Brockville.
Other families were already enjoying a cool walk through the tunnel around noon.
"It's nice that we can get the kids back out, especially after a long year of school and stuff online," said the Casselman and Code families, walking together. "It was awesome."
Masks are still mandatory while inside the tunnel, and guidelines are posted on both entrances.
In 2020, the railway tunnel didn't open until mid-August, and quickly closed for the season on Oct. 2.
The Brockville Railway Tunnel opened on Friday for the first time in 2021. (Nate Vandermeer/CTV News Ottawa)
Up on King Street, traffic was noticeably busier, as Step One of reopening allowed businesses and restaurant patios to open.
"I am excited, so excited, and perfect timing," said Laura Phipps of Heather and Crow.
"The effect that (the pandemic) is having on people's livelihoods and quality of life at this point is pretty substantial," she said. "I kind of feel like I have been more focused on just trying to survive."
Next door at Finnigan's Tavern, the patio was quickly filling up for the lunch time rush.
"We're happy to be open again, that's for sure," said owner Dale Donnelly. "It was a hard struggle for the winter, and now it's time to try to make some money again, get the employees back."
Finnigan's Tavern in Brockville. (Nate Vandermeer/CTV News Ottawa)
Donnelly said he lost some employees during the shutdown, but has recently hired three servers and two cooks with the reopening.
He purchased the property in April 2020 and has not been open 100 per cent since the pandemic began.
"We've had some kind of restriction on us for the whole time. There have been 20 per cent capacity or we're only patio or only takeout," Donnelly said. "We couldn't survive on the takeout alone just because we're mainly a pub. It was very difficult, but we struggled through it."
Although he is happy to be open, Donnelly wishes he could have more capacity.
"It's the right move to open, for sure, but I think they could have given us a little bit of minimal capacity inside," Donnelly said. "Even if they said 20 per cent that gives us something, especially for small places like this."
Donnelly added the phone has been ringing non-stop for customers wanting reservations, but with only four tables and a maximum of 16 people allowed on his patio, it's only open to walk-ups for the time being.
"We have to keep this patio rolling as fast as we can and try to make up some money again," Donnelly said.
Sam Cowan of Downtown Brockville reminds shoppers to remember their masks and bring their patience
"Obviously, there's going to be a lot more people down here, but there might be a little bit of waiting," Cowan said. "I don't think anyone's going to be too mad about it, we've got parking lots all over the downtown, so come on down."
"All of the businesses are just over the moon about reopening," Cowan said. "It feels so great to be back open, honestly. The spirit of summer is back in the air and it's definitely just a big day for downtown and for all of Ontario."
Some restaurants are taking reservations over the phone, but most were already booked solid through the weekend.
The Railway Tunnel on Blockhouse Island is open daily, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.