West Edmonton Mall management has reversed an unpopular decision to open early, which would have prevented staff from attending Remembrance Day ceremonies.
Unlike Southgate, Kingsway, City Centre and Londonderry malls — all of which are opening at noon — West Edmonton Mall was scheduled to open at 10 a.m. this year. It would have marked the first time the mall opened before noon on the holiday.
Several employees talked to Global News, expressing their shock at the decision.
They said, while there would still be a ceremony at the West Edmonton Mall Ice Palace, employees would be working and shoppers would pass by on their way to make purchases, instead of stopping to pay their respects.
READ MORE: Staff at West Edmonton Mall upset shopping centre to open early on Remembrance Day
People who work at the mall said a letter from management suggested ways stores could mark Remembrance Day, included turning their music off at 11 a.m. for a moment of silence. Mall workers said that was unrealistic.
The move certainly disappointed Robert Tory, who is president of Branch 175 (Kingsway) of the Royal Canadian Legion.
“No one should be that impatient on Remembrance Day.”
“It’s awful hard to stop for two minutes at 11 a.m. if someone is cashing out or serving a customer,” he said before the decision was reversed. “I don’t know how they’re going to stop for two minutes. That’s all it takes. Everybody stops for two minutes… wherever they are.”
The story also generated many disapproving comments on social media.
On Tuesday, morning the mall released a statement changing its decision and acknowledging the backlash.
“After careful consideration, West Edmonton Mall will be reverting back to our noon opening in Remembrance Day, as we have done in previous years. We received a lot of feedback and apologize to anyone who felt we were not properly honouring Remembrance Day by opening earlier than in past years,” part of the statement read.
Before the mall changed its plan, employee Yvone Joubert said she and her colleagues were shocked, “very angered and upset.”
Now, in light of the mall’s reversal, they’re ecstatic. She said they feel the mall listened to their concerns.
The ceremony at the Ice Palace runs until noon, at which time stores will open.
Global News made multiple attempts to contact West Edmonton Mall about the decision but did not receive a response.
Here are ways other businesses are public facilities treat Remembrance Day:
- Edmonton Transit: Just before 11 a.m., a page is sent out to all buses. If it’s safe to do so, drivers pull over for a moment of silence.
- Edmonton Public Library is closed.
- All City of Edmonton recreation centres are open but will ask patrons to stop what they’re doing and observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m.
- Movie theatres are open 365 days of the year, including Nov. 11 but show times do not start until the afternoon.
With files from Sarah Kraus, Global News