As COVID-19 continues to limit public gatherings, the Engineering Society announced Clark Hall Pub will remain closed for the 2020-21 school year.
The pandemic has brought many unprecedented difficulties to the Queen’s community and changes to the services available to students. The pub, which initially closed March 18, didn’t get the chance to open its doors to the public at all this year because of the pandemic restrictions.
Run by the Engineering Society, Clark Hall Pub is the oldest student-run pub in Canada and has contributed to many of the longstanding traditions in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.
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Some engineering students think of this location when reminiscing some of their favourite memories at Queen’s.
“Clark’s really closing, huh?” Nate Nethercott, Sci ’21, said in an interview with The Journal. He said the Pub has had an impact on his Queen’s experience.
“It was a cool feeling to see all alumni and students gathering there on Homecoming or St. Patrick’s Day.”
Since the Pub is so community-oriented and relies on interpersonal connections, the operations would not have been able to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines.
“The management team and prospective staff were kept in place in hopes that we would be able to operate in the winter semester,” Spencer Lee, EngSoc President, told The Journal. “The announcement of continued remote delivery throughout the academic year meant that operations would not be permitted.”
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Lee also spoke about the impact the closure has had on student-staff.
“The students who were selected to become Clark Hall Pub staff in 2020/2021 never were able to be trained and become employees of the pub. Our management team were employed on a part time basis until the closure announcement was official.”
From weekly trivia night to promoting student bands, Clark Hall Pub was a hub for Queen’s students.
“What’s not to miss about the centre of the universe!” Lee said.
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Tags
Clark Hall Pub, Covid-19, Engineering Society
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