AHS orders Jennie’s Diner and Bakery closed

Jennie’s Diner and Bakery in Bonnyville has been ordered to close by Alberta Health Services (AHS).

A sign was placed on the diner today by AHS which reads, “By an Order dated, October 26, 2021, an Executive Officer of AHS has ordered these premises, Jennie’s Diner and Bakery, closed until the nuisance has been removed or corrected to the satisfaction of an Executive Officer of AHS.”

According to the AHS website, Jennie’s Dinner had several inspections over the past months and was ordered to close on October 15th, 2021. The dinner was visited and citied with violations on October 5, 15, 21 and 22, 2021.

On October 5 the following violations were noted:

• During the site visit on October 5 PHI did not observe the facility meeting any of the requirements for the REP.
• On September 28 owner/operator informed PHI that the facility was implementing the REP.
• On September 29 operator was sent an email from AHS Safe Healthy Environments team outlining the key points and requirements of the REP.
• None of the staff at the facility were masking at the time of inspection. Owner operator stated that some had medical exemptions and the some working in their own area.
• PHI was not shown the medical exemption letters. PHI observed that the staff previously indicated as “working in their own area” were not able to maintain consistent separation while working.
• Masking requirements had already been discussed with owner/operator on September 28.
• Quats surface sanitizer in the spray bottles measured to be 400ppm.
• As discussed with owner/operator, Quats is an excellent sanitizer at appropriate concentrations; however, when concentrations are excessive, it can become a risk for chemical contamination when used on food preparation surfaces.
• Quats solution should be 200 ppm.

On October 15 the following violations were noted:

• Vaccination status of dine in customers were not being verified. The REP program was not implemented – no proof of vaccination was required to sit down or enter facility.
• None of the staff at the facility were masking at the time of inspection.
• Vaccination status of dine in customers were not being verified. The REP program was not implemented – no proof of vaccination was required to sit down or enter facility.

On October 21 the following violations were noted:

• Vaccination status of dine in customers were not being verified. The REP program was not implemented – no proof of vaccination was required to sit down or enter facility.
• None of the staff at the facility were masking at the time of inspection.
• Facility is in contravention of an Executive Officers Order – Closure for Dine in Services.
• PHI observed several tables of patrons dining inside facility.
• The posted order indicating the closure was still present at the entrance to the facility.

On October 22 the following violations were noted:

• Facility is in contravention of an Executive Officers Order – Closure for Dine in Services.
• PHI observed several tables of patrons dining inside facility.
• The posted order indicating the closure was still present at the entrance to the facility.
• Facility does not have a valid food handling permit. Food handling permit was suspended October 21.
• Despite the permit suspension, the facility remains operational.
• None of the staff at the facility were masking at the time of inspection.

 

Over 12 months, Jennie’s Dinner and Bakery has been in violation of several AHS health mandates, including staff not masking, insufficient physical distancing, no masking requirements implemented and in-restaurant dinning when prohibited. A list of the violations and explanations can be found on AHS website.

 

Lakeland Connect has contacted AHS and Jennie’s Diner and Bakery for more information on the order, we are waiting to hear back.