Seventeen years before the world adjusted to B次元官网网址榯he new normalB次元官网网址� of pandemic health, Mike Gravelle was already taking precautions in his everyday life to not get sick.

Before every shift at the West Shore Barber Shop, heB次元官网网址檇 make sure to wash his hands so thoroughly they became dry and raw. Between customers, heB次元官网网址檇 do his best to avoid touching his face. Since 2003, heB次元官网网址檚 made every effort to stay healthy because he is immunocompromised.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 live in fear because I know I take care of myself,B次元官网网址� said Gravelle, co-owner of the Langford barbershop. B次元官网网址淚f you ask my family, maybe thatB次元官网网址檚 a different story.B次元官网网址�

The 47-year-old was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was just 18 months old. In the B次元官网网址�70s, the average life expectancy for someone with CF was 30 years. By the time he received a double lung transplant at 30, he was rapidly closing in on his last breath.

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B次元官网网址淲hen I got on the operating table I was down to 118 pounds and my lung function was at 18 per cent,B次元官网网址� he said.

Although he must stick to a daily regimen of three prescriptions twice a day for the rest of his life, Gravelle said itB次元官网网址檚 a B次元官网网址渟mall price to pay.B次元官网网址�

Now, theyB次元官网网址檙e back to their shaving and snipping duties, but with a revised set of pandemic guidelines.

Sean Le Gras (right) only cuts hair for customers that comply with WorkSafe BC guidelines and wear a face mask in the West Shore Barber Shop along Goldstream Avenue. (Aaron Guillen/B次元官网网址 Staff)

Only four customers are allowed in the shop at any given time. Anyone who walks through their doors will have to wash their hands before they sit down on the barber chair and wear a mask too. Nine chairs that once lined the walls for waiting customers have been reduced to two at six feet apart B次元官网网址� the remainder are stacked up in the corner of the shop.

Notably, no beard trims or neck shaves are being given until further notice and their operating hours are also being reduced by a half-hour at the end of the day to give them time to blitz the shop with sanitizer.

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On their first day of re-opening, Gravelle was met by eight customers waiting outside for a trim.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 glad they opened B次元官网网址榗ause I couldnB次元官网网址檛 rock a mullet,B次元官网网址� quipped Kenny Baker, a regular customer for the past 15 years. B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter whether I would have to lineup outside because these guys are the ones that cut my hair. I wonB次元官网网址檛 let [just] anyone touch it.B次元官网网址�

Going forward, Gravelle said he and Le Gras are considering an online booking service for appointments instead of strictly walk-ins. Although he misses watching Netflix with his wife and counting how many times a character touches their face, heB次元官网网址檚 glad to be back in the community again, seeing regulars and meeting new faces.

B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 just say IB次元官网网址檝e seen a lot of people out there that need a haircut,B次元官网网址� he added.

B次元官网网址� with files from Rick Stiebel

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aaron.guillen@goldstreamgazette.com