Lower Mainland event planners say thousands of jobs at stake because of 50-car drive-in limit
Posted May 26, 2020 3:03 pm.
Last Updated May 26, 2020 8:49 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The operators of a production company based in Vancouver are calling a public safety order that limits drive-in events to 50 cars or less detrimental to the entertainment industry.
Promosa’s director of business development, Scott Emslie, says he hopes Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry loosens up restrictions by mid-June.
“We’ve kept all of our staff on, so we have 40 full-time staff and our primary objective right now is to get the drive-ins up and running. We can run a safe site of 400 cars. I don’t think the number of cars is the determining factor on how much risk is involved.”
He says dozens of summer-time festivities including concerts and outdoor movie features are now at risk of cancellation if the 50 cars or less restriction isn’t expanded to at least 150 cars.
“It would be great if there was just some open dialogue on how we can create an event venue that does meet all of the requirements. For some of the opportunities, it’s going to be too late. I’m hopeful that Dr. Bonnie Henry will amend the 50-car maximum.”
"Detrimental to our industry." How Vancouver-based Promosa Management's Scott Emslie describes 50-car limit to drive-in events. He tells @NEWS1130 1000's of jobs are at risk if Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry doesn't ease #COVID19 limits by mid-June. #bcpoli @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/lokpav71ZB
— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) May 26, 2020
Emslie tells NEWS 1130 his company already has events ready to go in Richmond, Langley and Vancouver next week.
“It doesn’t make sense to me. It’s detrimental to the event industry and I think for our communities, it also has a major negative impact because we need to be able to get out and we need some type of social interaction and again, I actually think it increases the risk by not having these safe options.”
He says Promosa’s community partners include Live Nation, the Vancouver Jazz festival, Cineplex, Rocky Mountaineer, Abbotsford Tradex, Vancouver Pride Festival and the PNE, as well as the Vancouver International Film Festival.
Similar concerns have been raised by the operators of the Twilight drive-in movie theatre in Langley which has been accommodating up to 200 cars every night and is now seeking a special exemption to keep operating with more than 50 cars allowed on-site.
