THE WAKKER WEEKLY
Issue #1600 – Posted on: 27-September-2021
On September 16th the government of Saskatchewan announced that mandatory masking would return immediately to all indoor spaces. We have found that our customers have been very respectful of this health order. Please be sure you are wearing a mask upon entering and leaving Bushwakker and even if you just need to get up to use the washroom. Masks are not required when you are seated and are eating or drinking. If you forget to bring a mask, we can provide you with a new one.
The government also announced a proof of vaccination or a government recognized recent negative Covid test will be required for in-house dining throughout the province beginning October 1, 2021. Don’t delay and get your vaccination passport activated today! The government has promised more details and acquiring the approved QR Code in short order.
We now are open until 11:00 PM Mondays to Thursdays. Live music fans can enjoy our Monday Night Jazz & Blues and Wednesday Folk Night performances from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
BREWERY “HOP”PENINGS! Bushwakker Head brewer, Michael Gaetz, reports a tank of Blood Orange Blonde Ale is making its way through the brewery. Our Summer Wheat and new Pink GuavaBuster Ale are on tap and in our offsale cooler. Our Mango Radler and even some two litre bottles of Sarsaparilla are currently available in our offsale cooler. There are also many other Bushwakker beers available including a West Coast IPA, Irish Red Ale, Brown, Blonde, Pilsener, Vienna, Pale Ale and a Porter.
Growler fills are also available! Please note keg fills are not available at this time but customer orders for kegs of all Bushwakker ales will resume on Monday, October 4th. Our lagers needs a bit more aging time before being ready for keg sales. We had to suspend our brewing for a number of weeks while we replaced the brewery boiler. The new boiler is performing great and we have certainly been putting it to work lately. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Our GUEST TAP is currently pouring the NO 1 DURUM WHEAT ALE from 9 Mile Legacy Brewing. Next up is an OATMEAL STOUT from Nokomis Craft Ales.
In addition to taking our beer home in glass bottles and 2 litre jugs direct from our pub, you can find a varying selection of 650 ml bottles of Bushwakker beer in ALL SIX REGINA SLGA stores.
Our September PREMIUM WINE FEATURES celebrate California wines! The red is Sterling Vintner’s Collection Pinot Noir. $7.95 for a glass and $21.95 for a half litre. The white is Three Thieves Pinot Grigio. $8.95 for a glass and $23.95 for a half litre.
Our Weeeknd Special on September 24th and 25th will be a SEAFOOD BOUILLABAISSE for $21.95. Our Saturday CLASSIC STEAK & A PINT SPECIAL will also be available. Our Monday and Wednesday WINGS & A PINT SPECIAL and Tuesday PIZZA & A PINT SPECIAL are also a great value deal.
Bushwakker Oktoberfest Week returns October 4 – 9. Things will be a bit tamer this year and the focus will primarily be on our very popular house-made schnitzel! This week of German-themed dining would more aptly be named SchnitzelFest!
The sixth Rider home game of the shortened 2021 season is just two weeks away! The Green & White WILL host the Stampeders at Mosaic Stadium at 5:00 PM ON October 9th. Enjoy our gourmet CALGARY BURGER & A PINT for only $21.95. Come “devour” the competition
Saskatchewan is home to some of Canada’s best craft beers. Craft breweries have revitalized Saskatchewan communities and neighbourhoods, and become a vital part of the province’s economy and culture. Plan your tour and visit one of the many breweries listed at https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/exploresask-craft-beer-flight Check in to all 13 locations and get a custom designed Little Town Apparel t-shirt.
Our new Bushwakker Online Ordering Page is now live on our website! You can order everything from our food menu as well as our Bushwakker brews and even select the time you’d like to pick up your order. Visit https://bushwakker.com/shop-2021/ and give it a try! Of course, you can continue to place your orders by calling us at 306-359-7276. We still love to hear your friendly voices.
BUSHWAKKER “PHASE THREE NEW NORMAL” NOTES
NEW! We are open Monday – Thursday from 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM. The kitchen closes at 9:30 PM and last call is at 10:15 PM. On Fridays and Saturdays our hours remain unchanged and we are open from 11:00 AM until 1:00 AM. The kitchen is open until 11:30 PM and last call will be at 12:15 AM.
We are very appreciative of your business. We do apologize for some of the delays in service you may have been experiencing. As our new staff gain more experience we certainly expect our team to once again be the well-oiled machine you are accustomed to seeing. The new provincial health mandates will also present a few new challenges for our staff. We thank you for your patience, understanding and continued support.
Reservations are accepted and encouraged. We accept a limited number of reservations as late as 6:00 PM every day except Fridays. Fridays we accept reservations as late as 3:00 PM. Call us at 306-359-7276 to secure your table. We are now also able to accommodate larger groups. Our two banquet rooms are also available for private parties. Call Kelly at 306-359-7276 to book either our main floor Arizona Room or basement Clubroom.
Please continue to practice safe health measures. Remain connected to one another and to us! In addition to this weekly newsletter, we are very active on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Check-in with us often as we navigate these continually evolving times together. Try to support local businesses whenever possible. Be vigilant in your resolve to protect yourselves which in turn will protect others.
BUSHWAKKER SEPTEMBER EVENT CALENDAR
Sept. 27: Monday Night Jazz & Blues. CALL ME MILDY. Original jumpin’ blues, diggin’ rock and sweet reggae. 8:00 PM.
Sept. 29: Wednesday Night Folk. SASKMUSIC & THE REGINA SINGER/SONGWRITER’S ASSOCIATION PRESENTS: Two local songwriters perform featuring: Adeoluwa Atayero and Dale Mac. 8:00 PM.
Sask.’s new Proof-of-Vaccination Program ‘small inconvenience’ but ‘worth the price,’ Business Advocate Says
Province’s proof-of-vaccination program coming Oct. 1
Yasmine Ghania · CBC News · Posted: Sep 17, 2021
Grant Frew, bar manager of Bushwakker Brewing in Regina, says there are many unanswered questions on how businesses should enforce the province’s proof-of-vaccination program, which will be implemented on Oct. 1. (Sheila Coles)
Saskatchewan’s hard-pressed businesses that have fought to stay afloat during the pandemic say the province’s proof- of-vaccination program that will be implemented in a few weeks might pose some challenges for them, but is a better alternative than shutting down again.
On Thursday, Premier Scott Moe announced that effective Oct. 1, a provincial requirement for proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test will be implemented to access indoor dining, restaurants, nightclubs, bars, movie theatres and other establishments.
Some businesses are exempt, including grocery stores, fast food restaurants, hotels, salons and places of worship.
Masks are also once again mandatory in indoor public spaces, as of Friday.
Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve McLellan says proof of vaccination might be an “inconvenience” for some businesses, “but much less of an inconvenience than having to close down or to restrict hours, and certainly a lot less than having some of their staff or some of their customers get COVID.”
“A small inconvenience is certainly worth the price,” he said.
Restaurants uncertain how to enforce proof of vaccination
McLellan says businesses will face challenges such as dealing with customers who refuse to wear a mask, show proof of vaccination or provide negative COVID-19 tests.
That’s the main issue that Daniel Ford Beavis, co-owner of O’Shea’s Irish Pub in Saskatoon, is struggling with.
“Things get complicated when you have to start checking more things … you need more staff and staffing is very difficult right now,” Beavis said.
The province’s press conference on Thursday didn’t mention what consequences, if any, a person who declined testing or showing proof of vaccination would face.
Saskatchewan will unveil a QR code system for proof of vaccination next week, similar to what Quebec and other provinces have in place in order to access certain indoor locales. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)
However, the government said it’s developing protocols on proof of negative test requirements and will launch a QR code system for proof of vaccination next week.
People will be responsible for paying for COVID tests, according to the premier.
Beavis says the ideal scenario would be for the province to employ people to scout businesses and ensure patrons show their proof of vaccination or COVID tests.
“That’s great because then I don’t have to worry about employing people and adding staff to an already strained industry,” he said.
Grant Frew, bar manager of Bushwakker Brewing in Regina, also has many questions about how businesses will have to enforce the new measures.
“Some of the staff are asking questions like, ‘How are we going to do this?’ And I quite frankly at this point I don’t know how to tell them they should be handling this,” he said.
Frew says it’s also uncertain whether the proof of vaccination requirement will see more people coming to the pub.
“Most of our clientele, especially because they’re a little bit older, they’re vaccinated,” Frew said.
“But as to whether or not they’re going to come out, that’s the big question. Even if they’re feeling more comfortable going to a restaurant, if the cases continue to rise in general, they may make the decision that they want to stay home regardless.”
Music venue already requiring proof of vaccination
Saskatoon’s live music venue Amigos Cantina announced in mid-August that it would require all fans, staff and artists to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and provide proof of vaccination when it started hosting live shows in September.
Erin Mooney, one of the venue’s managers, says feedback from customers has “mostly” been positive.
“I think that the decision that we made really appealed to our really loyal customers. We have a lot of regulars, a lot of people that have been coming here for as long as it’s been open,” Mooney said. “It’s very much a community and I feel like our community really supported us.”
She said the three music shows that Amigos has hosted so far have drawn crowds of about 100 people each.
Mooney acknowledges that the venue’s safety measures won’t completely remove the risk of transmission, but “I think it’s just the best that we can do with what we have.”
TIME OUT – So You Think You Know Everything
A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.
A dragonfly has a life span of from 1 day to 8 weeks.
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
A “jiffy” is an actual unit of time: 1/100th of a second.
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
A snail can sleep for three years (zzzzzzz).
Gangster Al Capone’s business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.
Babies are born without kneecaps. They don’t appear until the child reaches 2 to 4 years of age.
Butterflies taste with their feet (yuck!).
Seeing as masks are again required in Saskatchewan restaurants and pubs for the time being, let’s try to have a little fun with it.
