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Despite the new provincial restrictions introduced this week, large crowds descended on the Chinook Center during the Black Friday sales, and Calgary police say a couple of cases quickly spiraled out of control.
More fights broke out on Friday night, police confirmed, and officers escorted a “whole group” of unruly patrons out of the facility. No accusations were made.
At this point, the Calgary police sergeant. Mike Calhoun said the emphasis remains on education rather than application, but that could change.
“We are starting to give warnings,” Calhoun said. “If we are starting to see [people] not respecting, we will pass to the application “.
Cadillac Fairview, which owns the mall, said a group of young people “blocked the flow of traffic and caused disturbances” throughout the mall, which led to numerous police officers frequenting the site to escort them out of the facility. .
“We will continue to work closely with CPS, who will be on site again today, and will support our efforts to ensure that the shopping experience and customer safety are not hindered,” Cadillac Fairview said in a statement.
The company said it was actively monitoring capacity levels during the holiday shopping season to align with the province’s new restrictions.
The facility also implemented additional measures such as improved cleaning protocols, signage, directional arrows and installation of barriers where necessary.
‘Makes me feel awful’
Taylor Tuffnell, who works at the mall, said she saw several “large gatherings” of shoppers moving through the aisles.
“Suddenly, another huge wave started happening,” Tuffnell said. “So I thought, that’s awful! So I’ll do something [about] this, because this shouldn’t happen right now. “
In a recording shared on social media, Tuffnell captured the crowded hallways within the facility, a scene that wouldn’t seem out of place in a normal year.
“It’s Black Friday, so we expected the mall to be pretty busy,” he said. “[But we had] people hanging out, talking in the corridors, blocking the entrances and lines. This is basically what it is [the posts were] showing how many people were relaxing in the mall. “
Tuffnell said it’s hard to say how this year could compare to previous years’ Black Fridays, but said it “felt so much more” because many were chatting and going out instead of shopping.
“It made me feel awful. I love my shop, I love my job, I love going to work every day,” she said. “But I am also filled with this overwhelming anxiety when I see these situations, because I too have a family.
“Seeing people taking it lightly and going to malls instead of going out for the essentials for holiday shopping, for the holiday season, is so daunting.”
Tuffnell said he hopes people who frequent the malls follow the security protocols implemented.
“[If not], I would just like to say, guys, stay home, “he said.” If you’re not going to buy stuff at the mall, stay home. “
New provincial restrictions
Justice Minister Kaycee Madu said Friday that about 700 peace officers in Alberta would be given the authority to enforce the province’s health orders.
Madu said the province is ready to enforce the new rules, but added that Alberta does not ask officers to “harass responsible Albertans in their daily lives.”
“My expectation is that those who violate the measures we have put in place must be held accountable,” Madu said at the press conference.
“I think you will see an increase in the level of enforcement in cases where there are individuals who are clearly not compliant with health measures.”
WATCH | Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces new COVID-19 restrictions for Alberta
Alberta on Tuesday introduced new restrictions that ban all social gatherings in people’s homes and make masks mandatory for all indoor workplaces in the province’s two largest cities. 3:57
The new mandatory restrictions announced by the province this week require companies that can remain open to limit their capacity to 25% of the fire code occupation.
Speaking earlier this week, Prime Minister Jason Kenney said his government will reassess the new restrictions on December 15 and impose tougher measures if case numbers continue to rise at the current rate.
“We will continue to evaluate it, but we will not let political pressures or ideological approaches cause indiscriminate damage to people’s lives and livelihoods,” Kenney said.
“We will protect the health system by using targeted measures. We will have to be more restrictive if they don’t work.”
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