Posted
07/07/2020
The health, safety and wellbeing of all our stakeholders is our utmost priority and we continue to monitor and act according to direction provided by the federal, provincial and municipal governments to control the spread of COVID-19.
RioCan is well positioned to navigate this challenging time, as our pre-eminent major market portfolio and solid balance sheet helps mitigate the impact of economic volatility. Desirable locations and a necessity-based and service oriented tenant mix, comprised largely of National retailers provide inherent income stability, which, combined with the strength of our experienced leadership team, have made us successful for 26 years. These same factors will see us through this unprecedented crisis and fuel growth long into the future.
Our shopping centres are community pillars and have been critical to delivering essential services throughout the pandemic. Per government announcements regarding the gradual reopening of the Canadian economy, all RioCan shopping centres have reopened.
RioCan has implemented several protocols to protect our employees, tenants, guests, and our business as our properties reopen. This is still a highly dynamic situation and we continue to monitor direction from government and public health authorities and will implement appropriate actions and provide updates as they become available.
We are actively supporting our tenants and employees through the process of reopening, and ensuring they have the information required to reopen safely, in compliance with public health measures. For the foreseeable future, our tenants will establish and adhere to a range of heightened health and safety protocols such as full employee compliance with all mandated sanitation, physical distancing and self-screening measures to name a few. Details regarding our reopening plans are as follows:
Commercial Operations:
We have proudly welcomed our guests back as we reopened properties as approved by our provincial and municipal governments and public health authorities.
Retailer reopenings will continue to occur gradually over a transition period. Some businesses have been allowed to open before others, and some have chosen to adjust their operating hours. We encourage guests to check shopping centre websites and social channels or contact retailers directly for up-to-date information on hours of operation.
RioCan has diligently prepared to safeguard our guests by implementing enhanced safety protocols that follow the guidance of our provincial and municipal health authorities. Similar to the precautions we put in place prior to closure, we have taken appropriate steps to protect and support our guests, tenants and employees as we reopen. These include:
- Providing retailers with flexibility with respect to adjusting their operating hours
- Prominent signage and markers to enforce respectful physical distancing and facial coverings where mandated by municipal authorities
- Increased cleaning of frequent touchpoints, such as entrance door handles, and washroom fixtures
- Increased number of hand sanitizer units
- Common seating areas such as food court tables and chairs have been removed or access has been restricted
- Certain shopping centre services, such as stroller rental, typically provided by our Guest Services teams have been eliminated
RioCan also announced on May 4, 2020 its plans to enhance the shopping experience at its centres across Canada by launching RioCan Curbside Collect™ (“Curbside Collect”), a safe and convenient way for retail tenants and consumers to transact as businesses re-open. Curbside Collect is a RioCan initiative designed to respond to the evolving retail landscape. It offers designated areas for customers to easily access their pre-ordered items from participating stores at applicable RioCan centres in a contactless way. The program assists businesses to safely serve returning customers. Longer term, Curbside Collect is expected to make it easier for merchants and shoppers to coordinate transactions on a regular basis, mitigate the cost of “last mile” logistics for RioCan tenants and drive consumer traffic and repeat visits.
Tenant Support:
We recognize the unexpected financial challenges our tenants may be experiencing due to business slowdown and interruption. As a result, we have adapted our business practices in real-time to responsibly balance our tenants’ needs with the well-being of all our constituents, in the near and long term.
From the outset, we knew we needed to protect the smaller independent tenants who are the backbone of the economy. RioCan subsequently offered those qualifying independent commercial tenants who have requested rent relief, an automatic 60-day, interest-free rent deferral, payable in the subsequent 12 months.
The Canadian Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program (CECRA) is designed to provide further relief to independent retailers. As a responsible Canadian landlord and industry leader, we believe it is incumbent upon us to participate in the program. We are working with qualifying tenants to apply for the program.
RioCan Living Residential Rental Buildings:
The professional third party property management teams that RioCan has engaged for our RioCan Living residential rental portfolio have implemented a number of initiatives to ensure the health, safety and security of employees and residential tenants including:
- Increased cleaning intensity and frequency
- Cancellation or postponement of all tenant gatherings and closure of amenity spaces
- Adjustments to leasing tour strategies, including enhanced virtual tour capability
RioCan Development Projects:
RioCan’s construction projects remain underway. RioCan continues to monitor development progress daily, ensure worker safety and accommodate labour limitations, and will make necessary adjustments as the circumstances arising from COVID-19 develop.
RioCan Employees:
The health and safety of our people is paramount, and we continue to follow public health direction. Our offices have reopened for employees to return on a voluntary basis. Employees have been encouraged to consider their personal care responsibilities, comfort and logistics as they choose to return to the office, or continue to work from home. We have adjusted our workplaces as needed to comply with physical distancing, hygiene, and sanitization measures. Restrictions on all business travel and in-person interaction remain in effect until employees are notified otherwise. We have also facilitated access to RioCan’s Employee Assistance Program to help employees manage any anxiety and stress they may be experiencing.
We provide frequent communication from the leadership team through a number of channels including email updates, FAQs and conference calls. The communications provide real-time information, updates regarding protocol and keep RioCan employees connected to the business and each other, by providing insight into how RioCan is supporting tenants, employees, our communities.
As the COVID-19 situation evolves, RioCan will continue to monitor direction from the World Health Organization, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and federal, provincial and municipal governments, and we remain committed to implementing appropriate actions and providing updates to all stakeholders, guests, tenants and employees as they become available.