Winnipeg music venues hopeful for rebound after pandemic closures
The COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to almost all live events, leaving Winnipeg’s music venues empty, but now they are finally starting to rebound.
Despite the pandemic, it has been a busy summer for John Scoles, the owner of Times Changed on Main Street.
While his main venue has been shut down due to the pandemic, he's been finding ways to support the music community through other projects.
He launched Blue Note Park earlier this year, an outdoor concert venue next door to Times Changed.
"We have actually managed to put $200,000 into the hands of musicians in this town through different projects like Blue Note Park, the beer can last year, an album we released and a video we did," said Scoles.
But with Winnipeg winters, Scoles is forced to close Blue Note Park, its last show coming Saturday.
Though, with an improved outlook on COVID-19 and an ease in restrictions, he plans to reopen his indoor venue on Oct. 22.
"It's what we've always done and what we love and everyone says 'oh my god, we have to be back in the club' and then when we open the door let's see how the feel," said Scoles.
It's a similar story at The Good Will Social Club. The venue is also making a return on Oct. 22 after being closed for almost 19 months.
"It's not easy but we've had a lot of support from the community and that's what helped keep The Good Will going. We are really grateful for that," said Jeremy Haywood-Smith, who does the booking for The Good Will.
One of the biggest challenges the venue faces now is ensuring everyone stays safe.
"It's going to be a fully immunized building, so everyone coming in performing and booking needs to be vaccinated just to be extra safe," said Haywood-Smith.
At The Park Theatre, owner Erick Casselman made the best of the pandemic closure.
“I took the opportunity to start gutting the place in January. Redo it so coming out of the pandemic bigger, stronger, have a larger capacity to be able to host bigger shows," Casselman said.
With the final touches being put in place, the theatre is slated to reopen on Oct. 8.
No matter the venue or staff member, they all share the same feelings toward holding events again.
"Oh super excited. I can't wait. I've been sitting on pins and needles for 18 months looking forward to having live music back in the room again," added Casselman.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Evacuation order issued for some Fort McMurray neighbourhoods as wildfire nears
Four Fort McMurray neighbourhoods were ordered to evacuate as a wildfire gets closer to the city.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
BREAKING 'A remarkable time': After 8 years at Toronto Public Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa announces resignation
The doctor who led Toronto through the COVID-19 pandemic as the city’s top public health official is stepping down.
BREAKING Sask. man faces 60 charges in child exploitation investigation, with crimes dating back to 2005
Saskatchewan RCMP have revealed that a historic sexual assault investigation has led to the discovery of alleged crimes against children dating back to 2005.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
American sought after 'So I raped you' Facebook message detained in France on 2021 warrant
An American accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and later sending her a Facebook message that said, 'So I raped you,' has been detained in France after a three-year search.
Full List Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
1 killed, 3 injured in head-on crash on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.