User Group Updates

Last Updated: June 30, 2021

BC Restart - Step 3

On June 29, the Province of BC announced a transition to Step 3 of the Restart Plan on July 1.

An important change that is underway is the transition from a required COVID-19 Safety Plan to a Communicable Disease Plan (“CDP”). For user groups that use Township facilities, the Township will be sending some revised guidance regarding CDP’s to streamline the process as much as possible based on the information released on June 29.

Last Updated: June 15, 2021

BC Restart - Step 2

On June 15, the Province of BC transitioned to Step 2 of the Restart Plan. The following quick reference has been prepared for inside and outside sports user groups.

Please remember: The intention of the Restart is to slowly return to activities. Organizations are asked to turn the dimmer slowly when planning sport programming.

Note 1: Contact tracing requirements for participants and spectators remains in place subject to clarification from the PHO

Note 2: Indoor fitness opportunities subject to specific facility re-opening plans. Please check https://www.tol.ca/covid19/recreation-facilities-status for more information

May 27, 2021

December 4, 2020

This notice is intended to provide an update to all organizations that have received approval to use a Township facility. Please note that some local sports organizations have been issued activity suspensions by their respective governing body/association. The requirements and rules described in this notice do not apply to these organizations until such a point that they resume sporting activity.

On November 19, the Public Health Officer (PHO) issued a verbal Province-wide public health order and on December 3, the formal written order was released. As the order contains a number of restrictions and revised guidance that was not in place previously, the Township’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is providing notice of the following rule changes with respect to Township facilities.

As the facility owner, it is the Township’s prerogative to establish rules that it deems necessary to ensure the health and safety of our community. Facility rules may impose restrictions over and above what is stipulated in a public health order or sport-specific guidance.

Mandated by the Public Health Order:

• All indoor and outdoor team sport activities for adults (ages 19 years of age and older) are suspended immediately.
• All organized indoor and outdoor team sports for people under 19 years of age must follow viaSport's Return to Sport Phase 2 guidance with respect to maintaining physical distance for participants. This means games, tournaments and competitions are temporarily suspended for all teams.
  • Individual drills and modified training activities can continue.
  • Physical distancing of three (3) meters must be maintained at all times with zero physical contact (during activity as well as handshaking, high fives, hugging or similar behaviour).
• Team travel to, from, and between communities for training and practice is prohibited.
• Any patrons attending an event (e.g. parents picking up athletes) must disperse immediately. No gathering is permitted whatsoever and physical distancing must be maintained at all times.
• It is the responsibility of each sport organization to ensure their respective Return to Sport (RTS) plan is compliant with both the public health order and Township facility rules.
• No spectators, unless the presence of a spectator is necessary in order to provide care to a child or youth (for example, providing first aid).

Township Facility Rule Changes:

• Effective immediately, participants must maintain a physical distance of three (3) metres from one another at all times (i.e. before, during, and after activities).
• For mask usage requirements at Township facilities, please click here.

Enforcement:

The public health order states that the owner must be satisfied that a sporting group understands and remains compliant with their approved RTS. While some groups are putting in an extraordinary effort to ensure all health and safety protocols are strictly adhered to, the Township is aware of many instances of purposeful non-compliance by a number of groups.

These acts of non-compliance are occurring with both participants and spectators. Township staff tasked with enforcing facility rules are also routinely dealing with individuals who feel that rules designed to keep our community safe do not apply to them. Unfortunately, some of these interactions include behaviour being directed at Township staff that is far from being acceptable.

• The rules are in place to keep our community safe. Please do not seek to identify and exercise ‘loopholes’ that may exist in health orders and guidance to engage in an activity that circumvents the purpose of the rules.
• The rules that are in place must be strictly followed at all times.

Given the above, The Township will be moving towards a zero-tolerance policy with respect to compliance. In the event that a group (or individuals associated with the group) is found to be purposefully behaving in a manner that is not compliant with public health orders, and approved RTS, or facility rules, actions may be taken including the revocation of a facility booking.