Waterdown dance and fitness studio staying open despite provincial COVID-19 rules

A dance and fitness studio in Waterdown is thwarting the provincial COVID-19 rules and staying open.

The owner of The Dream Centre studio in Waterdown posted a video to social media showing Hamilton by-law officer visiting the business after the city received complaints about the studio remaining open despite being ordered to close by the province.

In the video, a voice can be heard telling the by-law officers, “It’s my place of business, we are going to stay open.  We are going to operate. You can leave. You know where we stand.”

According to a post on its Instagram account, the fitness centre is planning on hosting a “Fitness Rebellion” event on Thursday.

City councillor Judy Partridge says her office has been bombarded by complaints about businesses staying open despite the restrictions. “In Waterdown alone, we have been flooded with complaints about a local dance studio that operates a gym as well as a daycare studio that has been fully operational for the past week,” said Partridge.

Some residents in the community say they support small businesses doing whatever they can to survive the impacts of the restrictions.

“Absolutely. I can’t imagine what it would be like, the stress for them. They are just like you and I. They have mortgages they have bills to pay. Their company is their bread and butter,” said one community member at a local skating rink.

Another resident said she supported the centre’s decision to stay open because of the mental health benefits exercise can have on young children.

CHCH News reached out to The Dream Centre several times for an interview, our calls and emails weren’t returned.