Stores in Gatineau, Que. will be allowed to stay open later on weekends this summer, as part of a pilot project in Quebec to see if extended hours could benefit shoppers and businesses. Like many weekend shoppers, Penelope Baker sometimes finds herself rushing to beat closing time. “I find Saturdays, you start working on a project at the house, and then you realize at 4 p.m., ‘Oh, I really need more flowers. I could use seeds,’” said Baker. Starting later this summer, a pilot project will allow non-food retail stores in Gatineau to stay open until 8 p.m. on weekends rather than closing at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Non-food businesses include stores, boutiques, markets and other establishments. “It’s a good idea,” Baker said. “I like that they’re piloting it so they can probably get the feedback and see whether or not it’s worthwhile.” “Happy, I think,” said Kass Wistaff, manager of Boutique Spring in Gatineau. “Because I don’t mind working more.” Inside Boutique Spring, staff say they’re open to working longer if it means helping customers. “I like having my weekends off, but I also like what I do,” Wistaff said. “I like seeing people. So, more hours is not necessarily a bad thing.” The Retail Council of Canada says what’s important is that stores can still close early if they want to. “It’s a voluntary approach,” said Michel Rochette, Quebec president of the Retail Council of Canada. “So, if as a retailer, you don’t have the capacity of having employees or any kind of benefits of opening more, they just won’t do it. So, I think it’s the right way.” Some shoppers think the change could also help boost employment. “All the students, they don’t have jobs,” said Gatineau resident Dorothy Savoie. “And a lot of people need a job. So, by being open later, this way, the extra people will be new people. So, the ones that work there can have their weekends off. And the new people, they’ll take hours they can.” Others say they’re just happy to shop when it’s more convenient. “It would be a good idea because, well, more people are not doing anything on the weekends at night. People work during the week,” said Ellie Lafrance of Gatineau. “I live like an hour from here,” added Marielle Otis. “So it’s nice to stay till supper and to be able to go in the store after.” And store staff say they’ve seen the demand firsthand. “Some pull on my door as soon as we’re closed and they want to keep shopping,” said Wistaff. “So, I think they’d like it.” The one-year pilot project will start in late August or early September. With files from CTV News Montreal’s Joe Lofaro
