Many Waterloo region businesses plan to ditch vaccine passports Tuesday, but not all

Ontario has liftedproof of vaccination requirements for all settings and capacity limits in indoor public spaces as of Tuesday;however, businesses still have the option to check proof of vaccination.

Many businesses in Waterloo region are welcoming the changes, but remain a little anxious, while others are holding off completely.

Queen of Hearts Tea House and Gift Shop in Kitchener won't be requiring proof of vaccination. Owner Alyshia Bestard said it comes down to efficiency.

"The extra steps of having to have the app having to remind people to bring [the QR code] and the whole process that goes along with that It's just time consuming and a lot of extra work," she said, noting that dropping the mandate "makes life a little bit easier."

Bestard said she's holding off on increasing capacity to 100 per cent, but may add a few additional tables.

"My plan is to give people more space than they might get at other places And that's really not just about COVID, but that tea experience," she said.

Seven Shores, a caf and eatery in Waterloo, is also doing away with proof of vaccination for similar reasons.

Steve Tulloch, one of the owners, said it speeds things up, but on the other hand, he worries it may leave people with concerns.

"We'll have people whose fears will be increased because of that, both staff and guests. And so we feel badly about that reality," Tulloch said.

He added the business has taken steps to ensure safety, such as maintain Plexiglas dividers and an air purification system. The caf will also take a gradual approach to increasing capacity. Instead of 50 per cent, it'll operate at 60 per cent starting Tuesday.

"We're grateful for the opportunity to increase our business. We're grateful for the opportunity to streamline people's ordering process without some of these extra things," Tulloch said."But we really do want to take care of our people who work for us and also who are the guests in that place."

Checkingproof of vaccination

Smile Tiger Coffee Roasters in Kitchener will continue to require proof of vaccination for customers who dine indoors.

Brynn McIntyre, general manager and manager of operations, said this was a decision made with customers and staff in mind.

"Safety is our top priority for both our staff and our guests and many of us currently wouldn't feel safe going to eat somewhere like a restaurant or a caf or something like that and knowing that there are still patrons there that are unvaccinated," McIntyre said.

McIntyre said there will be additional support for staff in the days to come as they navigate the mandate.

"I don't think our expectation is that every single person is going to agree with our decision and we understand that there's people who are not vaccinated and that's their choiceand we respect that as well," McIntyre said."I just hope there's respect."

McIntyre said customers who are not vaccinated will have the option to dine on the outdoor patio once it's available later in March.

People will also have to be vaccinated to watch a film atApollo Cinema in downtown Kitchener. The businesssaid it will continue to require proof of vaccination in an online post last week.

"While the provincial mandates have been lifted, we've decided, for the safety of both our community that we will continue to require proof of two doses," the business said in the post, noting that this was a "difficult decision to make."

Meanwhile, Play-A-Latte Caf in Kitchener has come up with a unique approach for people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated.

It has designated open play dates on Mondays for vaccinated families and families who are not vaccinated can visit all other days of the week. For private play dates, it's really up to the hosts to choose who can join, said co-owner Ronak Patel.

"This is a way for us to actually meet those needs of people who are just not comfortable with it, but still accept everyone who wants to come through now those mandates are being dropped," Patel said.

Patel said the caf will slowly increase capacity limits.

Business operators remain anxious

Whether they're keeping measures or lifting them, businesses owners remaina little anxious about the province's decision.

Bestard said it may be too early to lift measures, but it was going to happen sooner or later.

"We're going to have to figure out a way to live with this and manage it. So yeah, let's just do it and get on with it and figure out how to live with [COVID-19] because I don't think it's going anywhere," she said.

"The more things that open and the more out and about people get, the more comfortable they'll be. So I think generally for businesses, I think it's definitely needed and it's good," she added.

Tulloch also questioned whether now was a good time, but with the uncertainty of COVID-19, who really knows when a "good time" will be.

"There areso many variables and so many unknowns that I think a decision has to be made The truth is that we really don't know what the future will hold. I think we feel like it is time and we're prepared to move forward," he said.

For Patel, who said the unexpected lockdowns businesses were hard to face, the next few weeks are uncertain.

"I guess time will tell if this is the right decision or not," he said.