In a little over a week, the province of Saskatchewan will be reopened.

Mask mandates will be lifted. Gathering size limits will be abolished. And life will get back to some sense of what it once was as residents and businesses all move back into regular life at their own pace.

For local businesses, especially food & drink establishments like restaurants and cafes, it's a cause for celebration and excitement. Hit hard by capacity limits, many barely made it through the COVID-19 economic fallout and are looking forward to welcoming more of their clients back as more tables are allowed.

Amy Tynning is the President of the Downtown Business Community and a business owner herself. She's been speaking with her members to get their thoughts on the pending opening and says that while excitement is the overwhelming emotion, there is naturally some apprehension about the potential repercussions of lifting the restrictions while COVID-19 still very much exists.

"I think there may be some (apprehension) for some people. Luckily people are still able to wear them if they feel uncomfortable and maybe certain businesses will choose to lean into that a little bit slower than others. But there are other safety measures that can still be in place to kind of help or alleviate some of the concern or anxiety about removing masks. We can still ensure that we're all staying six feet or two metres apart."

Tynning added that as business owners, the last year has been one where they have all been forced to think on their feet with constantly changing direction from the government, and as a result, they're ready for anything that the reopening might bring.

Many stores, she believes, will still maintain some of those guidelines privately, like sanitization and potentially distance requirements; essentially doing what each of them needs to do to make sure that their staff and customers are as comfortable with the lifting of restrictions as possible.

She isn't aware of any businesses in her membership that are going to be keeping the mask requirement in place for their businesses (which they do have the right to do), but she hopes that if some do, residents understand that decision as everyone moves through the reopening at their own pace.

"As business owners, we know that we can't always please everyone. We can do our best to keep our staff and our customers safe and do what we think is right. So I would hope that if any store chooses to continue with some of the safety measures that the community would be more gentle with them and realize that they're trying to do the best they can and give those businesses time to adapt."

Residents have been patient through the pandemic, and both Tynning and the members of the downtown business community have been thankful for that.

"We're excited to move forward just as everyone in the community is. I think it's a perfect time. Summer is a great time to have these mandates lifted."