Cold spring weather puts damper on Maritime businesses

Many Maritime businesses are hoping the weather heats up soon.

Jeff Farwell was on the Halifax waterfront Monday getting his business shipshape for the upcoming tourism season.

“Certainly, once the season is underway, the weather does play a huge impact in filling up those extra seats that may not be booked in advance,” says Farwell, who runs a sailing tour company.

Weather plays a big role with other businesses too. When its wet and cold, patios are empty.

That’s been par for the course for much of the spring where winter jackets and toques have been a must for some.

“I walk down here on the boardwalk every single day at lunchtime, and I found it’s been a bit rainy and a bit bleak,” Liam Smith says.

“If you’re dressed for it, it’s still walkable everywhere here and I don’t feel it... We’ve had other days where we get a good soaking, but it’s spring, that’s what we need,” adds Linda Branderhorst.

The mood shifts quickly however when the sun is out. Farwell says bookings seem to be linked to good weather.

“This time of year, when you have a great little run of weather, we do notice that the phones and the emails do pick up and people start to think about their summer plans and what they’re going to do. They start making those plans and booking with us,” he says.

A popular Nova Scotian saying goes “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.”

“I think the rainy days make the sunny days a bit better, so I don’t mind a slow start to the season as long as mother nature makes up for it,” says Smith.

That was true on Monday, as the wind died down and the temperature warmed up people were quick to head to those once empty patios.

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