Monday night in Aldergrove saw Twilight Drive-In welcome more than 100 cars in its lot to see Indiana Jones projected high upon its 40-foot screen.
That afternoon, owner Jay Daulat found out an amended provincial health ban 鈥� restricting events to no more than 50 vehicles 鈥� also applied to his business.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry was probed more than once during Monday鈥檚 COVID-19 briefing, asked whether drive-in theatres were supposed to limit moviegoers.
After replying yes, Henry said 鈥渋t becomes a very challenging situation when you have large numbers of vehicles, to be able to monitor and ensure you don鈥檛 have those multiple numbers of connections,鈥� possibly transmitting the virus.
When the ruling came into effect on Friday, Daulat was under the impression that the drive-in 鈥� being 鈥渁n established business, not a pop-up event鈥� 鈥� was exempt.
The owner said he figured the ban swung down to address a number of pop-up drive-in movie theatres and concerts planned for the summer.
As such, Twilight continued selling movie tickets online and kept concession stands up and running.
Bylaw approval for 200 cars early spring
Daulat is still reluctant to accept that his business of 15 years, licensed by the Township of 91原创, is the one affected.
Prior to Phase 1 of B.C.鈥檚 Restart Plan, Twilight voluntarily halved its car occupancy to 200, ensuring a 20-foot radius between each parked vehicle, Daulat said.
Normally up to 400 cars would swing by for a movie showing.
鈥淲e are better than guidelines,鈥� Daulat told the Aldergrove Star about the distancing.
Plus, he said, people are socially isolating inside of vehicles.
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Reliant upon concession sales to stay float
In a joint statement released from Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix May 22, refreshment sales are also restricted for drive-in events.
鈥淎nyone attending these events must stay in their cars unless they have to go to washrooms, which must be serviced with running water for proper hand hygiene,鈥� the statement read.
Daulat said that without the sale of refreshments, the Twilight Drive-In, simply put, 鈥渨ould not run.鈥�
鈥淲e would have to close,鈥� he said, mentioning overhead costs.
鈥淐oncession stand sales are a major part for us. It鈥檚 just not feasible [to remove them],鈥� the owner elaborated. Especially if only 50 cars are able to purchase movie tickets each night, he said.
The drive-in was initially approved to operate by 91原创 Township, and Daulat said Dr. Henry鈥檚 office also gave the business the go-ahead after seeing its social distancing protocol early March.
The owner said he had faxed her office the plans.
鈥淏ut in Phase 2, we鈥檙e all of a sudden no good, but other businesses are?鈥� Daulat questioned.
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Petitioning to stay
Earlier this week, he sent the health ministry files that requested an immediate exemption be granted for Twilight 鈥� so that he can continue operating.
鈥淲hat we are doing is putting a reconsideration of the exemption in her hands [Tuesday] morning and getting the answer by end of the day,鈥� he said, optimistically.
Meantime, the Twilight Drive-In has begun a public campaign asking for signatures and written letters and emails of support from its community of customers.
鈥淒rive-ins across Canada are being allowed to open under their province鈥檚 Phase 1 of reopening 鈥� with identical protocols we have in place 鈥� and now we are being restricted more than them, in Phase 2,鈥� Daulat posted on
As of Tuesday morning, the public plea had close to 900 shares.
鈥淲e are asking you to tell them that you do not agree with these new restrictions being placed on permanent drive-in theatres,鈥� it reads.
created Monday, May 25, garnered more than 3,000 signatures overnight.
In a recent COVID-19 provincial health briefing, Henry has said there could be a time this summer when the number of vehicles allowed at events is expanded, but she stood firm the current restriction, saying 鈥渢his is what we need to do right now.鈥�
The order currently does not have an expiration date.
