Wearing face masks will be mandatory for non-participants at the Claresholm Arena for the upcoming season.
The town will also promote education on wearing them in all public buildings to promote health and safety to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus until the threat of the pandemic eases.
The decision was made at Claresholm town council’s Aug. 17 meeting, where Chief Administrative Officer Marian Carlson said administration had been receiving messages about making wearing masks in public spaces mandatory.
She also wanted to talk about the arena where the province allows up to 100 people to gather.
However, it is difficult to social distance and police that.
Carlson recommended staying with the 100 people in the arena but make wearing masks mandatory for the 2020-2021 season.
Mayor Doug MacPherson said he has talked to some businesses in town and they are split 50-50 on wearing masks.
Carlson said the economic development officer and chamber of commerce did a survey where four were against mandatory masks and two were in favour.
Coun. Kieth Carlson said making everyone wear masks was too difficult and he was not comfortable making it mandatory.
He would like to see education increased on personal care such as masks and handwashing.
Coun. Brad Schlossberger said he estimated mask wearing has gone up 30 per cent in town already.
MacPherson said some people just need a nudge to wear masks.
Schlossberger said just because you mandate it, it doesn’t mean you have to police it.
Marian Carlson said she questioned implementing a bylaw the town had no intention of enforcing.
Enacting a bylaw will mean increased compliance.
“We will be forced to respond to every complaint,” she said.
Kieth Carlson said his concern was that if a customer is abiding by a mask wearing bylaw, and sees someone not complying, now the expectation is for the business owner or staff to do something.
Plus, he added, some staff just cannot work with a mask on.
“I would strongly push education,” he said. “But mandating it in a municipality our size, I can’t speak strongly enough against it,” Kieth Carlson said.
Schlossberger said some people are asking for education.
Coun. Mike Cutler said he thinks local education from the municipal government and emergency services would be effective.
“I think it would go a long ways with the community,” he said.
Council then agreed to promote education of the public in all ways possible that wearing masks and face coverings is highly encouraged in public buildings in the Town of Claresholm to promote the health and safety of the population until the threat of the pandemic eases.
Council also decided that face coverings/masks be mandatory in the Claresholm Arena for non-participants for the entire 2020-2021 ice season due to the inability to maintain physical distancing in all areas, unless something changes when it comes to public health in a significant way.