While the region's medical officer of health has lifted an order directing municipalities to close all beaches in Grey and Bruce counties, the area's most popular stretch of shoreline won't be opening anytime soon.
South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Janice Jackson says Sauble Beach will remain closed until at least June 9 — the current date the province has extended its emergency orders until.
“We are going to monitor the province and if they lift the state of emergency and relax portions of the orders, then we will absolutely make some changes,” Jackson says.
Jackson says the town has been enacting its public nuisance by-law to enforce the closure of the beach at Sauble. It prohibits anyone from attending a town facility that is closed.
Some municipalities in Grey Bruce have already elected to permit access to beaches and shorelines for walkthrough purposes following the end of the medical officer of health's closure order.
But that's not going to happen at Sauble Beach.
“We either open the beach or we close it,” Jackson says. “There is no way to open the door a little bit. And that's the thing I think people have a very difficult time understanding. If we open it up for exercise we could end up with 30,000 people on that beach all saying: 'Hey, I'm exercising.'”
Jackson notes the town's Emergency Management Group is due to meet on June 1 to further plot a course for re-opening, and expects Sauble Beach will be part of that discussion.
South Bruce Peninsula's mayor acknowledges seasonal business owners reliant on tourism at Sauble Beach only have a short window to earn income to live on for the year, but reminds the town's leadership is responsible for the health and well-being of 14,000 people.
“And that is paramount,” Jackson says. “Businesses across the country have tragically suffered. Some have closed already and we're fully aware of that. This pandemic has affected an awful lot of people right across the country. Sauble Beach and our businesses are no exception.”