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Vancouver barber has cut hair for 71 years, then came COVID-19. Now he’s back on the job

Click to play video: 'Legendary Vancouver barber back in business after COVID-19 closure'
Legendary Vancouver barber back in business after COVID-19 closure
WATCH: Legendary Vancouver barber George Chronopoulos has sheared the locks of Hollywood royalty and the city's business elite, and on Tuesday, he gave his first post-quarantine haircut to a client who's been with him since the 1960s. – May 19, 2020

George Chronopoulos started cutting hair when he was just 14 years old, and during his 71-year career he has sheared the locks of Hollywood royalty and the city’s business elite.

The 85-year-old, who came to Canada from Greece as a young man, had to take a break after his salon closed in March due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Click to play video: 'Salons prepare to reopen amid the coronavirus outbreak'
Salons prepare to reopen amid the coronavirus outbreak

He says the time away from work made him a “bit crazy.” His free time was spent walking; he says he covered about 171 kilometres last month.

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On Tuesday, he finally returned to his barber chair at Vancouver’s Jason David Hair Studio, a salon that looks substantially different than it did prior to the pandemic.

Every station is now two metres apart and clients are being asked to wear a mask. A contact-tracing form also needs to be filled out.

Click to play video: 'Many businesses charging COVID-19 fees to cover reopening costs'
Many businesses charging COVID-19 fees to cover reopening costs

Chronopoulos’ first haircut was with a client who has been with him since the 1960s.

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He said his first day back gave him an “injection of hope” that he may be able to put in another five to seven years on the job.

“I felt like a young kid again,” he said.
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