Even in health emergency, Mother's Day takes the cake for B.C. bakers and florists

At Sam Solis' flower shop in North Vancouver's Lonsdale Quay Friday afternoon, the phone is ringing off the hook.

He doesn't pick up.

"There's no use answering it, anyway," he said, arranging a bouquet.

That's because he can't complete any more custom orders. Even if he could,all the delivery capacity is spoken for.Solis said in 21 years of business, he's never seen a busier Mother's Day.

"A lot of folks cannot visit their moms personally," Solis said. "The best thing they can do is send flowers to her."

Physical distancing means no fancy brunch in a restaurant this Mother's Day it might even mean family dinner at home is impossible.

But many flower shops are bakeries are still open and are working double time to help fete the mothers of British Columbia.

'It's just something happy'

Solis said other florists are dealing with an unprecedented rush, but as many businesses struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand is welcome.

One of his customers, Derek Major, comes by to pick up an arrangement.

He said he used to live near Solis's shop who washis go-to neighbourhood florist.

"We're pretty loyal to local small businesses," Major said. "It's really important to us, especially with all that's going on."

The flowers are for his wife, he said, who gave birth to their daughter 19 months ago.

"It's just something happy," Major said. "It's just a nice thing to do."

'It's been overwhelming'

In Vancouver, Shauna MacNeil, co-owner of Trafiq bakery in Vancouver has been delivering bad news to customers all week: they're sold out, too.

Since Monday, she said, every item has been spoken for as people get ready for Mother's Day.

"It's been overwhelming," MacNeil said, adding that her staff normally 20 employees, but now down to six at most will box up as many as 600 items on Saturday.

"It's something we're all looking for: comfort food, Mother's Day cakes, things that makeus happy as a family."

MacNeil said other bakeries along Main Street are busy as well, but meeting demand has been a challenge with what she describes as exacting standards for baking and ingredients.

"Cakes are not made in a day," she said. "It's a process to make beautiful, mousse-layered cakes."

She said anyone who missed out on picking up cake or flowers shouldn't stress too much.

"You can celebrate mom any Sunday."