White House bar reopens after violations

Health unit closed club over noncompliance with measures to prevent COVID

The White House bar on Charlotte Street reopened Friday, a week after the health unit closed it over noncompliance with Ontario safety measures meant to protect people from COVID-19.

The bar at 175 Charlotte St. in downtown Peterborough was ordered closed Nov. 26.

Operators had been charged for exceeding the 25 per cent capacity limit set out by the Ontario government for bars and clubs that include dance floor.

That ticket under the Reopening Act Ontario carried a fine of $880.

But, on, Friday the bar was reopened after Peterborough Public Health officials rescinded the Section 22 Order under the Health Protection and Promotion Act that had required the closure.

At the health unit’s pandemic news briefing Thursday, public health inspector Julie Ingram said The White House would not likely remain closed for much longer.

“We are working with the establishment on their COVID plans to ensure that they are able to operate safely for their patrons in our community. So, we will continue to work on that, and the order will be rescinded when we are satisfied with their plans,” Ingram said of The White House bar.

Another local restaurant, Peterburgers, has not been closed by order of the health unit.

The restaurant at 25 George St. N. (at Lake Street) was served with a Section 22 order on Nov. 25 requiring its owners to either comply with the Reopening Ontario Act or shut down.

The Section 22 order means that the restaurant owners — who’ve been vocal on social media about their opposition to mask mandates and other COVID-19 protocols — can either start following those protocols or voluntarily close.

If they do neither they face an “escalation of measures” that could include a fine of up to $5,000 a day that they remain open and the offences continue or they too could be ordered closed by health officials — though they have not been ordered closed.

Peterburgers was the first business in Peterborough to be ticketed for noncompliance under the Reopening Act Ontario.

The charges were for not complying with the rules on proof of vaccine and identification, masking and face coverings and collection of patron contact information, with $880 fines for each of the three tickets.

Operators had been charged for exceeding the 25 per cent capacity limit