Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
Subscription Form

Get notified of the best News

Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 0 Likes
Twitter 0 Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn 0
22K Followers
0 Likes
0 Followers
1K Followers
Mountain Life
Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
  • Ontario

The New Blue: Ontario’s Largest Resort Retools to Boost Public Safety

  • August 27, 2020
  • Ben Osborne
Total
1
Shares
1
0
0
0
0
0
Total
1
Shares
Share 1
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0

The New Blue Ontarios Largest Resort Retools to Boost Public Safety Village

words :: Laura Raimondi // photos :: Allison Kennedy Davies.

Cottages, beaches, camping and outdoor adventures are a few things that come to mind when we think of summertime in Ontario. However, this year is different. We find ourselves on an unexpected adventure navigating the uncharted and murky waters of a world in the midst of a pandemic. Our lives are overlain with physical distancing and incessant hand-washing; face masks have become commonplace. How we act now, as a society, will slow the spread of the virus and protect those who are most vulnerable. Our actions must also show respect and gratitude to essential workers and the medical community. As a new normal emerges, businesses are cautiously and carefully undertaking a phased reopening. In our peaceful corner of the world this means that a summer favourite, Blue Mountain Resort, is in the midst of its “green season”.

Many adjustments in operations have already happened at Blue. The added challenge is that making informed decisions on what to do and exactly how to do it is in a state of flux as new information and messaging about the virus emerges. What this means for summer 2020 at Blue is enhanced monitoring or closing of certain activities and attractions, and operating at a reduced capacity. “We want people to get outside and have the resort experience but we need to assess the risk and do it safely,” says Tara Lovell, Public Relations Manager at Blue. “We have been reimagining what the Blue Mountain experience will be, with safety top-of-mind,” she adds. Blue staff are working hard to make sure guests and staff have a positive and safe experience. They are facing the same challenges as the rest of us—working remotely, homeschooling, braving the grocery store and struggling to find a slice of sanity. They are also tasked with the job of finding a common ground between outdoor access, business operations and public safety.

Resort staff are facing the same challenges as the rest of us—working remotely, homeschooling, braving the grocery store and struggling to find a slice of sanity.

Blue will provide a much-needed outlet for those of us craving outdoor time and community this summer. What you can expect is a shift in operations to support government-mandated physical distancing guidelines and to keep health and safety concerns of guests and employees top priority. To reduce large group gatherings and prevent a situation where people are gathering en masse, Village events and concerts have been postponed. That said, there is the possibility of roaming entertainment to keep a positive and fun atmosphere in the Village. The cleaning regimes and sanitization on frequent touch-points and washrooms will be upped and hand sanitizing stations set up throughout the Resort. In situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained you can expect requirements to wear facemasks. Other enhancements in site operations include Resort ambassadors and ticket checkers who will be supporting the monitoring of health and safety efforts.

The New Blue Ontarios Largest Resort Retools to Boost Public Safety COVID Sign

There are a few other changes you should know about if you’re an outdoorsy type who heads to Blue for some time well spent biking and hiking the trails. The logistics and safety measures around downhill biking proved too much of a challenge to work around this year. The good news is that hiking is still on, with a few modifications to help with monitoring trail-user numbers.

An admission system will be put in place with options including a Play-All-Day Pass, Explore Pass or a Play-As-You-Go Basecamp Attraction ticket—or a 5×7 or IKON 2021 season’s pass. All tickets and passes include access to the open-air gondola so you can hike up and ride down if you choose. Charging for trail use is not new and has been done for years at resorts and parks across Canada. It covers the costs of keeping trails in good shape and this year will also keep people safe. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets or passes online prior to their visit which will guarantee their access and help to reduce ticket queues.

The New Blue Ontarios Largest Resort Retools to Boost Public Safety Woman Coffee

Saying the task of reopening and operating with these new measures in place will be tricky is an understatement. Blue is walking a fine line between being part of the economic restart and keeping a high level of health and safety. To support all of this Blue has put into place an assigned task force for each area of the Resort including attractions, activities, lodging and Blue–owned restaurants and retail, with the responsibility of tackling considerations such as physical distancing and sanitization. Overall, operations at Blue are running a bit differently this year with a few more prerequisites—but isn’t that true of everything now?

I wanted to leave the reader with a warm and fuzzy feeling. The thing is, there’s not much warm and fuzzy about life during a global pandemic. Fortunately we haven’t lost our opportunities to explore outdoor spaces where we can feel safe to connect. It just might take a few more added must-dos. —ML

Total
1
Shares
Share 1
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0
Ben Osborne

Previous Article
  • The Great Outdoors

Boating or Sailing? The MacGregor 26 is Part Floating Camper, Part Sailboat and All Versatility

  • August 27, 2020
  • Ben Osborne
View Post
Next Article
  • Videos

Must Watch: Short Film Intimately Dives into Environmentalists Past, Present, and Future

  • August 27, 2020
  • Ben Osborne
View Post
You May Also Like
John-Haines-Simcoe-Street-Collingwood2-at-CreativeSimcoe-Street
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Ontario

Tribute: ML’s Map Artist John Haines

  • Ned Morgan
  • June 1, 2023
Kathryn-Corbiere-artist-Indigenous-Ontario-Blue-Mountains
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Ontario
  • The ML Interview
  • Women

Artist Profile: Elevating Awareness 

  • Editor
  • May 29, 2023
Leslie-Timms-Devils-Glen-Nutcracker-Colin-Field
View Post
  • CLIMBING
  • Ontario

Behind the Devil’s Glen Climbing Route Closures

  • Mountain Life Media
  • May 25, 2023
ML-Blue-Mountains-cover-trilliums-crop
View Post
  • In This Issue
  • Mountain Biking
  • Mountain Lifer
  • On The Trail
  • Ontario
  • Paddling
  • Photography

ML Blue Mountains 20th Anniversary Issue Out Now

  • Ned Morgan
  • May 18, 2023
Colin-Field-Three-Stage-MTB-Emily-Batty
View Post
  • Mountain Biking
  • On The Trail
  • Ontario

Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign: Behind the Trail Closures at Three Stage

  • Mountain Life Media
  • May 16, 2023
jeremy-Down-artist-surfing
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Ontario
  • Surfing

Artist Profile: Jeremy Down’s Georgian Bay Series

  • Mountain Life Media
  • May 8, 2023
Bruce-Peninsula-home-Ontario
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Ontario

At Home in the Woods

  • Editor
  • May 2, 2023
Simcoe-County-Cycling
View Post
  • Mountain Biking
  • Ontario

Cycling Ontario’s Simcoe County

  • Editor
  • April 12, 2023

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Featured Posts
  • Kathryn-Corbiere-artist-Indigenous-Ontario-Blue-Mountains 1
    Artist Profile: Elevating Awareness 
    • May 29, 2023
  • Mike-Traslin-Andy-Traslin-ski-touring-KootenaysBC 2
    The Traslin Brothers: 200 Months of Earned Turns
    • May 30, 2023
  • Leslie-Timms-Devils-Glen-Nutcracker-Colin-Field 3
    Behind the Devil’s Glen Climbing Route Closures
    • May 25, 2023
  • Fisher-Monahan-illustration-illustrator 4
    Sweetgrass Chronicles: Walking from BC to San Francisco
    • May 26, 2023
  • Paul-Manning-Hunter-Kananaskis-River-surf 5
    Mountain Life Takes Home Multiple Awards
    • May 23, 2023
RECENT POSTS
  • John-Haines-Simcoe-Street-Collingwood2-at-CreativeSimcoe-Street
    Tribute: ML’s Map Artist John Haines
    • June 1, 2023
  • benno_bikes-46er-sea-otter-tour-web2
    Gear Shed: Picks for Spring & Summer
    • May 24, 2023
  • Baptism By Gravel: Rab Equipment Enters The Adventure Cycling Game
    • May 19, 2023
Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 0 Likes
Twitter 0 Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn 0
INSTAGRAM

Warning: preg_match(): Unknown modifier '0' in /home/customer/www/mountainlifemedia.ca/public_html/wp-content/plugins/powerkit/modules/lazyload/helpers/helper-powerkit-lazyload.php on line 146
avatar
mountainlifemedia
Mountain Life
25K Followers
Just your average day on the trails…nothing to see here. #mountainlifer #onewheel 23 4
How many turns did you earn last winter? Most skiers and boarders would be proud to say they logged a week with no chairlifts and zero auxiliary help to the top—or toured exclusively for a month. 43 2
onekwe didn’t set out to become an artist. She first became a welder with the intention of establishing herself in the trade. But, as good welding jobs are few and far between where she lives on Manitoulin Island, she began doing commissions for architectural pieces and modern furniture. “From there, I found the opportunities and the abilities in myself to create art,” she says. 74 1
ML and partners offer a gear list curated for spring-summer stoke, including the latest sunnies, trail shoes, sun shirts, e-bikes, headlamps, racerback tanks, Rollerblades and sun hats. In alpha order. #linkinbio to check out all picks! 21 0
"Alright—where to begin? Between the months of July and November 2022, I walked about 2500 kilometres from British Columbia to San Francisco. Yes—I walked." 46 4
🚫The sweet sound of the wilderness at Devil’s Glen… 76 5
✨It's time for another giveaway! 66 124
☝️Ahem, so … we’re officially “award-winning” again. Yup: ML Rocky Mountains and ML Coast Mountains both received awards recently at the 2023 Alberta Magazine Publishers Association Conference. 80 9
We hope your long weekend was filled with adventure! Now sit back and relax while you enjoy episode 28 of Live It Up with Mountain Life featuring scottparentphoto! You’ve earned it 😉 #linkinbio 42 3
When you live in #Whistlerbc it’s that easy to change with the seasons 🌞 #mountainlifer 124 4
Follow

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

Just your average day on the trails…nothing to see here. #mountainlifer #onewheel 23 4
How many turns did you earn last winter? Most skiers and boarders would be proud to say they logged a week with no chairlifts and zero auxiliary help to the top—or toured exclusively for a month. 43 2
onekwe didn’t set out to become an artist. She first became a welder with the intention of establishing herself in the trade. But, as good welding jobs are few and far between where she lives on Manitoulin Island, she began doing commissions for architectural pieces and modern furniture. “From there, I found the opportunities and the abilities in myself to create art,” she says. 74 1
ML and partners offer a gear list curated for spring-summer stoke, including the latest sunnies, trail shoes, sun shirts, e-bikes, headlamps, racerback tanks, Rollerblades and sun hats. In alpha order. #linkinbio to check out all picks! 21 0
"Alright—where to begin? Between the months of July and November 2022, I walked about 2500 kilometres from British Columbia to San Francisco. Yes—I walked." 46 4
🚫The sweet sound of the wilderness at Devil’s Glen… 76 5
Mountain Life
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising

Input your search keywords and press Enter.