Bingone! Pandemic officials withdraw bingo approval for Lions Club

After six months of no bingo because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and two months of bingo approved by the P.E.I. Chief Public Health Office, the game is off once more at the Parkdale Sherwood Lions Club.

Allan Hughes, chair of the Charlottetown club's bingo committee, told Island Morning host Mitch Cormier they got word of the revoked approval last week.

"We felt that we had a pretty good setup," said Hughes.

"We had an operational plan approved back in early September."

The plan included barriers at every table, hand-constructed by Lions Club members to save money. The barriers were meant to make up for the inability to seat two people to a table and still maintain a two-metre distance between patrons.

'We identified an issue'

According to P.E.I. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison, as time went on details of that operational plan became more clear. 

"We identified an issue and it had to do with both the density of ... people as well as the barriers," she said.

Hughes said the club did look at two-metre distancing but found it could fit only 60 people in the hall under those restrictions.

"It's not viable. We would be losing money every night with 60 patrons in the facility," he said.

Capacity allowed by the plan approved in September was 100 players.

Online option not ideal

The club has discussed online alternatives, but hasn't really looked into the logistics.

"We're not sure how well that would be received," said Hughes. "A big part of the bingo from our perspective, for the patrons, is the getting-together part."

Bingo is also an important fundraiser, he said, so not having it affects the amount of community work the Lions Club can do.

Morrison said the "important work" the organization does has not gone unnoticed. And said an inspector will be working with the club to try to find a solution. 

"I know the Lions Club and certainly health officials want everyone to be able to do it safely," she said.  

"If they can function safely, that's what everyone's goal is."

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