MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Summer 2020

22 NEWS AROUND BLUE 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 shaping up to be a bit 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, has reopened for the 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 Mountain Resort. “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. 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 THE NEW BLUE Ontario’s largest resort retools its green season to boost public safety ALLISON KENNEDY DAVIES