Businesses have been stuck between what feels like a massive boulder and a hard place since the Alberta government announced the Restrictions Exemption Program.
 
The Restriction Exemptions Program, which came into effect on September 20th, gave businesses two choices: either a business would ask patrons to provide proof of vaccine, a negative COVID-19 test result, or a medical exemption, or if they opted out of the program, many businesses, especially restaurants and bars, would be forced to limit their capacity; which for most business owners means likely a shuttering of their locales.
 
Since the mandate came down, scores of voices, both for and against the program have been feverishly debating it. Social media has been inundated with new groups popping up, especially among small business owners, who feel that it is not their place to ask for the vaccine statuses of patrons. The cacophony of voices has also spilled into the dining room floors of restaurants. Numerous people who work for various eateries have reported being harassed by customers who do not agree with the government's mandate. 
 
Amid the rising displeasure of both customers and business owners, there is a local Airdrie voice, a voice of pragmatism and compassion during a time of chaotic government mandates and their respective exemptions.
 
Rhys Eckardt, the owner of the Wild Card Shack in Airdrie, decided to opt into the exemption program. 
 
"We [went] the way we did, not because we necessarily believe in the vaccine and the vaccine passport," he said. "We chose to, ultimately [implement it], because we wanted to alleviate the pressure off the health system."
 
Eckardt underlined that for him, this issue has nothing to do with tyranny or government control, but everything to do with, as he wrote, "protecting our brother and sisters (also known as) our 'community and beyond'".
 
With patrons now needing to provide proof of vaccine if they want to grab a bite to eat at the Wild Card Shack, there has been a change in the buzz around the dining room.
 
"People are enjoying their meals as they used to in silence," Eckardt said. "It's almost politics-free when you're in there [the dining room]."
 
Sheena Berstad, a server at the Wild Card Shack, knows better than anyone how to gauge the mood of patrons. 
 
"I think a good portion of the people coming out now, are the ones who were afraid before, but now they feel comfortable to come out because they are there," she said.
 
Though the faces at the Wild Card Shack may be new, Eckardt said that doesn't mean that the tried and true patrons are gone for good.
 
"We've got some pretty good community support even from people that can't make it in," he said "They're still supporting us by posting us on social media, by ordering out food."
 
While both Berstad and Eckardt noted that very few people who come to their establishment are making a fuss over the vaccine requirements, those that take issue with it are not doing it in an obnoxious way. But Sheena did underline that if anyone has a problem with the current mandate, taking it out on servers is not the right way to go about it.
 
"I would tell them, unfortunately, this is what we have to do to survive as a business during COVID," Berstad said. "It's not fun, but we need to do it."
Eckardt explained that he is also looking into implementing an in-house rapid testing program. He added that he is pro-choice and isn't about to cajole others into getting vaccinated, but he did underline that while most people are fixated on the vaccines, there are ways to still go out on the town and be safe.
 
"Get a rapid test, come out vax-free. Taking one night off from the pub saves you more than enough money to pay for a test. We justify our spending all the time. Why not justify it in the safety of others? Especially our health care workers," he wrote.
 
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