A Langley caterer and food store owner is shaking her head at the people hosting gatherings in defiance of Public Health Orders.

owner Angie Quaale said the requests are for sizable events including a baptism.

鈥淚t鈥檚 24, 28 people for a Super Bowl party,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had three [event requests] in the last week.鈥�

She said the three events were for at least 18 people each.

鈥淚 just can鈥檛 believe we have to still have this conversation,鈥� she said.

Her reply to the party hosts was sending the .

鈥淭hey鈥檙e very clear guidelines,鈥� Quaale said.

She鈥檚 irked that the events are frivolous, noting people can鈥檛 hold funerals and visit loved ones in hospitals, while others decide it鈥檚 important to watch a football game.

鈥淢ost people get it and are trying their best,鈥� Quaale said.

She noted that she鈥檚 like so many, wanting to get back to 鈥渘ormal鈥� life and shares people鈥檚 frustrations but that鈥檚 no reason to ignore the rules set out to protect people.

鈥淧eople are fed up. They鈥檙e tired, all of those things,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 quit now because we see the light at the end of the tunnel.鈥�

Quaale said she is like so many other business owners, significantly impacted by the pandemic, and said there will be businesses out there that would cater to such clients because they are on the brink but most try to be responsible to protect customers and staff.

She is concerned that people willfully violating the rules to hold parties will prolong the pain for all and put more people at risk.

鈥淧eople have made sacrifices,鈥� she commented.

And there鈥檚 been a terrible price to pay for society, she added. B.C. has had 1,172 deaths while Canada鈥檚 death toll sits at 19,626.

owner Steve McCaw said his Walnut Grove based business is still able to do some specialized catering following COVID protocols, such as single serve, individually sealed meals but has not been contacted about events.

鈥淎s far as large parties, I鈥檝e received no calls,鈥� he said.

But McCaw said caters are also dealing with online scammers making large food orders, an unwelcome annoyance during difficult times. Scammers have contacted him about placing orders for large numbers of items such as wraps. He said they insisted in paying upon delivery but he insisted on prepayment with a credit card and they tend to hang up.

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Email: heather.colpitts@langleyadvancetimes.com
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