The Kinsmen Cafe, located on 4th Avenue SW, will be reopening it's doors on June 16, after being closed for three months thanks to the pandemic regulations.
Located on 4th Avenue SW, the Kinsmen Cafe is just a few doors down from parent organization Moose Jaw Families for Change (MJFFC) at the Kinsmen Inclusion Centre, and members are really looking forward to being back in the Cafe.
“We didn’t want to go ahead and reopen too soon; we wanted to ensure that we had all the proper protocols in place to ensure we’re taking extra precautionary measures,” said community coordinator Katie Statler. “But it is very exciting, [to be back].”
Reopening will require a few changes, including fewer tables in order to maintain physical distancing, a reduced menu to make the comeback easier, and an increase in safety practices for both staff and customers.
The changes at the cafe aren’t the only things looking a bit different for the MJFFC at the moment, as the Kinsmen Inclusion Centre has been closed to the public and likely will be for a while yet.
Regardless, MJFFC has been keeping busy as of late with lots of programming for its in-house clients.
This includes the usual inside activities like crafts, games, cooking and sewing classes, and more — but the staff have also been getting creative in planning outdoor activities as well.
Clients have been enjoying the good weather by exploring the local landmarks in town, visiting the parks, canoeing, gardening, and playing drive-by bingo.
MJFFC has also been doing some virtual programming on its Facebook page, with clients starring in craft videos and a virtual book club series, which has been well-received so far.
The goal has been to keep things feeling as normal as possible amid the chaos of pandemic shutdowns, said Statler, and to continue providing the needed supports to clients that the MJFFC has always offered.
“We’ve been working very hard to ensure that our folks are staying active and healthy, but also while maintaining their health and safety,” said Statler. “In regards to inclusion and diversity, we’re still working hard at that too, just in-house with clients that live with us residentially.”
For the MJFFC, it has been a bit tough to have things essentially shut down. Clients taking part in the employment program at the Kinsmen Cafe were especially disappointed to see the cafe put on hold for so long.
“I think one of the biggest things our clients have struggled with is that not only was it a job, but it's also a social aspect for them,” said Statler. “And for some folks, they’re not quite sure of the severity of the virus itself, so it's a bit hard to understand, so we’ve done our best to ensure that everyone has a bit of an understanding.”
The MJFFC chose to take their time, rather than joining other restaurants on June 8, in order to make sure their clients would be safe and comfortable returning to work.
The reopening of the cafe is an exciting announcement, continued Statler, and MJFFC is looking forward to being back in business on June 16.
The Kinsmen Cafe will return to its regular business hours, open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To keep up with the Kinsmen Cafe or Moose Jaw Families for Change, make sure to check their respective Facebook pages for updates.
