Some London recreational facilities, shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic, will begin reopening their doors to residents beginning late next month with enhanced cleaning and screening protocols, city officials announced Thursday.
Arenas in the city will begin opening on Sept. 28 with Argyle, Carling, Earl Nichols and Lambeth, followed by Bostwick, Kinsmen, Medway and Stronach on Oct. 10.
Farquharson and Silverwood arenas will remain closed until further notice, while Oakridge Arena is still being used as one of the city’s two COVID-19 assessment centres.
Community centres will begin to reopen on Oct. 5 with Byron, North London and South London, as well as the Kiwanis Seniors’ Centre. Further community centres, including Lambeth, Kinsmen, Medway and Stronach, will open Oct. 19.
Civic Gardens and Springbank Gardens community centres, along with the Hamilton Road Seniors Centre, will remain closed, as will Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre, which is being used as a COVID-19 assessment centre.
City officials say hockey, figure skating, ringette and other groups will be able to rent ice at the arenas once they have been opened — all while following required return-to-play protocols —
while public skating and learn-to-skate lessons will resume in late October.
At community centres, “free, structured, pre-registered modified programming” will be offered upon reopening, the city says, adding that many recreation programs are still expected to be offered this fall. Further details will be posted to the city’s website beginning Sept. 21.
- What is a halal mortgage? How interest-free home financing works in Canada
- Ontario doctors offer solutions to help address shortage of family physicians
- Capital gains changes are ‘really fair,’ Freeland says, as doctors cry foul
- Budget 2024 failed to spark ‘political reboot’ for Liberals, polling suggests
Schedules for municipal aquatics programs will be posted starting Friday on the city’s website. Londoners will be able to register for the programs starting on Sept. 2.
As per the city’s mask bylaw, face coverings must be worn indoors but can be removed when swimming or exercising — a measure expected to remain in effect through the fall.
“Please note that private indoor rentals at all recreation facilities will not be accepted for September or October,” the city says.
Comments