The Bradenton area is just south of St. Petersburg and is usually a popular winter-home choice for more than 22,000 Canadians.This winter will likelynot be usual. In fact, although property taxes are still due on all of those Canadian snowbird winter homes, there’s no doubt that Bradenton life in 2021 will be a bit iffy. From the Dakin Dairy Farm in Myakka to the Asolo Repertory Theatre, there are precautions. Restaurants, bars and pubs are at limited capacity, there’s social distancing and other cautious protocols such as disposable, single-occasion paper menus. “Lakeland is slightly inland from the Gulf, but thousands of Canadian snowbirds flock here each year,” says the upbeat Cory Skeates, president & CEO of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce. “It’s hard to tell what this winter will be like. The Lakeland area has a small-town feel, but the proximity to beaches, theme parks and the wonders of ‘Old Florida’ beauty make us a big-drawCanadian snowbird destination. As of November, masks are not mandatory and most previous municipal COVID-19 restrictions are no longer enforced, leaving it up to businesses about specific safety measures. Restaurants, bars and retail are now fully reopened and at 100% capacity.” The Port Charlotte area (on the West Coast between Sarasota and Naples) is a sprawling Florida-snowbird favourite stretch. It includes Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and Englewood. “It’s difficult to guesstimate exact numbers,” says Teri Ashley, executive director of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, “There are 46,000 Canadian snowbirds, about seven per cent of our total seasonal visitors.” From the significantly reduced departures and arrivals at the small but convenient Punta Gorda Airport to the beaches, restaurants and boating at Stump Pass, she points out that “Port Charlotte businesses were less impacted thanmany other Florida areas and, while public health guidelines are followed, all businesses are open and fully operational. We do have a face mask requirement for indoor settings, when social distancing is not possible. Luckily for us, we have plenty of wide-open space to work with,” Teri smiles. Indio, in California’s Coachella Valley, is a western Canadian snowbird hot spot. While Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Joshua Tree National Park and the trendy, world-famous (but cancelled for 2020) Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival are big draws, some 1.4 million people visit Indio each year and call it a winter home-away-from-home. “The main economic driver in our area is tourism and our snowbirds play a significant role,” says Joshua Bonner, president and CEO of the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce. “California has taken a very aggressive approach to containing the COVID-19 situation. Many businesses have been heavily impacted by closures and have reopened with significant reductions in capacity.” He explains that restrictions and the situation are fluid. Inside restaurants have 25 per cent capacity and retail (including malls) and personal services, such as hair and nail salons, are at 50 per cent. Stump Pass and Englewood Beach in the Port Charlotte area Teri Ashley, executive director of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce Port Charlotte condos on the intracoastal leading out to the Gulf COVID-19 CSANews | WINTER 2020 | 41
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