If you haven’t heard about The Rio Theatre becoming a sports bar because of the pandemic let me fill you in.
The Rio Theatre is the #1 voted independent theatre in Vancouver, they are a multimedia venue for the premier independent cinema of feature films and live entertainment.
Unfortunately, because of the pandemic The Rio Theatre is one of many cinemas to close down due to the restrictions, but that has not stopped them this year. It is said that under restrictions places like indoor/out activities, musical/theatre performances, galas, silent auctions and movie viewings in cinemas, are suspended.
The very unclear restrictions have caused controversy among Canadians wondering about how they even came up with these rules.
Now what is allowed to operate are restaurants, pubs and bars as long as they are following all Covid-19 protocols. The Rio Theatre has found a loophole in the restrictions, well it isn’t really a loophole. The government themselves said no movies well if you can’t have movies, they did one better with hockey games on the big screen. The City of Vancouver has stood behind the Rio’s effort to work around the government regulations.
Theatre owner Corinna Lea has stated that “Because movies are not allowed to be played in B.C we have decided to open up as a Rio sports bar”
And that is exactly what they did posting many pictures of the brand-new concept to Instagram with the support of many Vancouverites behind it.
But this begs the questions of should be open to what cannot be open. Should we go back to full lockdown or keep staying afloat?