Covid-19 Updates

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CORONAVIRUS

COVID-19

Local Bulletins | Closures | Updates

Town of Wasaga Beach facilities are open to serve the public.

Offices are open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Residents are encouraged to make an appointment or utilize online options for service where available. Please note that due to high call volume you might not have your call answered immediately. We apologize and ask that you try calling again.

See available online options.

See our contact directory.

Our COVID-19 Information Page is your one-stop resource for information about the Town of Wasaga Beach's response to the pandemic.

Status for our region is: Stage 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen.

Get details on provincial regulations.

Get details on reopening.

On this page you will find our Community Information Bulletins, e-newsletters, federal and provincial announcements, links to upper-tier government websites, and much more. This includes a link to our Business Recovery Portal, information about visiting Wasaga Beach, and the status of town services.

Questions? Please contact us:

705-429-3844 x2237
E-Mail

Close contact and gatherings

What you need to know

A look at what is allowed:

Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 100 people with limited exceptions;
Indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people;
Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted with physical distancing;
Indoor dining permitted with no limits on the number of patrons per table with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect;
Indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities to open subject to a maximum 50 per cent capacity of the indoor space. Capacity for indoor spectators is 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity or 1,000 people, whichever is less. Capacity for outdoor spectators is 75 per cent of the usual seating capacity or 15,000 people, whichever is less;
Indoor meeting and event spaces permitted to operate with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect and capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity or 1,000 people, (whichever is less);
Essential and non-essential retail with with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
Personal care services, including services requiring the removal of a face covering, with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
Museums, galleries, historic sites, aquariums, zoos, landmarks, botanical gardens, science centres, casinos/bingo halls, amusement parks, fairs and rural exhibitions, festivals, with capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity indoors and 75 per cent capacity outdoors;
Concert venues, cinemas, and theatres permitted to operate at:
- up to 50 per cent capacity indoors or a maximum limit of 1,000 people for seated events (whichever is less)
- up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum limit of 5,000 people for unseated events (whichever is less); and up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum of 15,000 people for events with fixed seating (whichever is less).
Real estate open houses with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres; and
Indoor food or drink establishments where dance facilities are provided, including nightclubs and restobars, permitted up to 25 per cent capacity or up to a maximum limit of 250 people (whichever is less).

Face coverings in indoor public settings and physical distancing requirements remain in place throughout Step Three. This is in alignment with the advice on personal public health measures issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada, while also accounting for Ontario specific information and requirements. Face coverings will also be required in some outdoor public settings as well.

Please view the regulation for the full list of public health and workplace safety measures that need to be followed.

Learn more about the reopening on the Government of Ontario website.

Visiting the beachfront - what you should know until we get beyond the pandemic

Planning a visit to the beachfront? There are a few things you should know:

The "beach" is not owned or operated by the Town of Wasaga Beach. The beach is in fact owned and operated by the Government of Ontario. The beach is managed by Ontario Parks and is part of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. The provincial park, including its beachfront property, is open for public use. See our Q&A.
You can learn more about the beach and the rest of the provincial park by visiting the Wasaga Beach Provincial Park website. Check out the related blog.
The town offers municipal parking near the main beachfront. See map.
The sand-covered portion of Beach Drive is open. This is municipal property.
Remember to respect physical distancing and all other provincial orders that apply.
Masks must be worn inside public spaces per the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit.

If you have physical distancing concerns while at the beachfront, or you are concerned about gatherings, you have a few different options:

If you are in Wasaga Beach Provincial Park (the beach is part of the park) you can contact the OPP non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122 or visit their online portal. Or speak with an officer if you see one nearby.
If you are in Wasaga Beach Provincial Park you can speak with a park staff member or contact the park at 705-429-2516 or Email.
If you are in a municipal parking lot or on the sand-covered portion of Beach Drive (municipal property), contact the OPP or our Municipal Law Enforcement Department.

Please note the sand-covered portion of Beach Drive - this is the land at Beach 1 in front of the commercial buildings and south of the black light standards - is owned by the Town of Wasaga Beach. Municipal law enforcement officers patrol this area, helping enforce provincial orders and town bylaws.

Beyond the black light standards and up to the water's edge is part of the provincial park.

Thank you for choosing to spend time in our community.

Municipal Facilities - Status

Town hall, the RecPlex, Wasaga Stars Arena, Public Works, the library, and the office at Fire Station 1 are OPEN to the public.

Civil marriage services are available through our Clerk's Department. COVID-19 restrictions apply. Contact Clerk's Department for details.

To reach staff during regular business hours, please see the contact directory. Regular operating hours for most departments are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri.

Town services at a glance

Arena - OPEN.
RecPlex - OPEN. No in-person programs. Some virtual programs available through Recreation, Events and Facilities Department.

Youth Centre/Seniors Active Living Centre - OPEN.
Town Hall - OPEN.
Library - OPEN. See website.
Public Works - OPEN.
Fire Halls - OPEN.
Outdoor facilities - Outdoor facilities include:
- Tennis courts - OPEN
- Dog parks - OPEN
- Skate park - OPEN
- Soccer pitches - OPEN
- Baseball fields - OPEN
- Pickle ball courts - OPEN
- Horseshoe pits - OPEN
- Playgrounds - OPEN

Parking - All municipal parking lots are open. Parking pass information.
Transit - Operational
Community Garden - OPEN.
Yard Sales - ALLOWED. See Yard Sales page.
Municipal boat launch - OPEN. Launch information.

Parking Passes

For parking pass information, see our related webpage.

Municipality is an essential service provider

The Town of Wasaga Beach continues to provide important public services to the community during the pandemic.

The town is an essential service provider as deemed by Ontario Regulation 82/20 (2.1) and as a result, the stay-at-home order does not apply to municipal employees.

Our staff continue to report to work and are available by telephone and e-mail. Most town facilities are open to the public for counter service, however, we encourage people to conduct as much business as possible through remote means.

To ensure the safety of our workforce, employees will continue to perform COVID-19 symptom screening before the start of each shift. Staff are also continuing to practice physical distancing and wear face coverings where appropriate. Enhanced cleaning protocols continue at all town facilities.

Community Information

Information Bulletins

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 22, 2021

Town of Wasaga Beach implements temporary financial relief measures to help community

In response to the financial burden that many people are experiencing due to the provincial stay-at-home order and the shutdown, the Town of Wasaga Beach is implementing certain financial relief measures.

Council approved the measures during a virtual Committee of the Whole meeting held earlier this morning.

“We know that people are struggling right now and we hope these steps will provide a measure of assistance during what is a very difficult time,” Mayor Nina Bifolchi said.

The following fees and charges are suspended (effective May 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2021):

Reprint of tax or water bill account statements;
Payment transfer fees;
Returned cheque charges;
Penalty/interest on current year water and sewer arrears;
Penalty/interest on current year tax arrears;
Penalty/interest on current regular accounts receivable accounts;

Interest and penalty charges will resume on all unpaid balances owing starting Oct. 1, 2021.

All interest and penalty payments applied to accounts for the period Jan. 1, 2021 to April 30, 2021 will remain owing as charged.

In addition, the town will continue to offer a business licensing fee deferred payment plan and will continue to waive late penalties for those businesses that cannot fully operate due to provincial restrictions. Town supports are in addition to those offered by senior levels of government.

Finally, council directed staff this morning to ask the County of Simcoe and the school boards to defer payment remittance arrangements.

For more on the new financial relief measures, see the related staff report. The report also highlights federal and provincial supports available for businesses. Additional information for businesses is on the town’s Business Recovery Portal.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 11, 2021

Statement from Mayor Nina Bifolchi

Today, Mayor Nina Bifolchi issued a statement on the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“After the year we have been through, it is important we take a moment today to remember the loved ones we have lost. Each one of these people mattered. Their deaths represent a great tragedy.

In recognition of those no longer with us, we have lowered our flags at all town facilities.

While today is an opportunity for remembrance, it is also a chance to recognize the many people who have stepped up throughout this public health crisis.

On behalf of council, I extend heartfelt appreciation to all members of our health care community for the brave and diligent efforts they have made and continue to make today.

We also commend our community’s many frontline workers for the important role they have played throughout this trying period. Retail workers, truck drivers, production workers – so many different professions have kept goods and services moving and available for the benefit of us all.

Our business leaders deserve praise too, for they have experienced so many challenges since the pandemic started. Your tenacity, your kindness, your creativity, and your attention to keeping people safe, and to keeping your livelihoods operational – and people employed – is truly inspirational.

And it is key on this day that we recognize educators and students in our community for finding new and innovative ways to continue teaching and learning through such a disruptive period.

To those families in our community struggling because of the pandemic, know you are in our thoughts and there are supports in place to help. If you are not sure where to turn, please reach out to someone you know and trust. You can find resources on our COVID-19 Information Page. You can also contact Ontario 211 and they can help connect you to the appropriate resource.

I am so proud of our community and the many ways we have supported each other over this past year. The stories I have heard reflect our caring and compassionate nature, and I am confidant this spirit will continue for as long as this crisis lasts and beyond. In Wasaga Beach, we have a long history of looking out for each other.

While the vaccine rollout continues, we must remember to observe all of the public health protocols. Now is not the time to let our guard down.

Finally, a special message to our town staff, who throughout the pandemic have ensured that public services continue for our residents and businesses: thank you for your crucial contributions to Wasaga Beach.”

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COVID-19 e-newsletters

COVID-19 Updates