Our COVID-19 Information Page is your one-stop resource for information about the Town of Wasaga Beach's response to the pandemic. Current status for region is: Shutdown.
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, the status of town services, parking information, and the status of local events.
Questions? Please contact us:
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Mask wearing - what you should know |
Masks must be worn inside public spaces per the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health UnitBy order of the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Simcoe-Muskoka, face masks must be worn at all public indoor spaces and on public transit. To learn what this means see the letter from Dr. Charles Gardner, Chief Medical Officer of Health. Should you have questions about the direction on masks contact the health unit. Should you have enforcement concerns please contact the health unit or the Ontario Provincial Police. * Please note there are certain exemptions that apply to mask wearing. Please see the letter from the health unit for details. |
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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:
If you have physical distancing concerns while at the beachfront, or you are concerned about gatherings, you have a few different options:
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. |
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Municipal Facilities - Status |
Impact of province-wide shutdown on town servicesTown hall, the RecPlex office, Wasaga Stars Arena, Public Works, Youth Centre, and the office at Fire Station 1 are CLOSED to the public. Indoor recreation and arena programs are suspended. Civil marriage services are permitted with restrictions. Contact Clerk's Department for details. The Wasaga Beach Public Library is CLOSED to the public. Curbside services available. See library website for details. To reach staff during regular business hours please see the contact directory. Regular operating hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mon-Fri. Services by appointmentBus passes are available by appointment at town hall (30 Lewis St.) and the RecPlex (1724 Mosley St.). To make an appointment at town hall, call 705-429-3844, x2231. To make an appointment at the RecPlex, call 705-429-3321, x2503. To learn more about bus service see our Transit page. Additional in-person services are available by appointment. Please phone or e-mail the appropriate department to discuss your needs.
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Town services at a glance |
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Parking Passes |
| To obtain a parking pass please visit town hall, Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Passes are available at a cost of $28.25. For general information on parking |
Community Information
| Information Bulletins |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 4, 2021 Call or e-mail us during province-wide shutdownDuring the provincial shutdown, our offices are closed to the public but staff are working and available to help. If you have a question about town services or need assistance please see our contact information. For more information on town services, see our COVID-19 Information Page. Bus passes are available by appointment at town hall (30 Lewis St.) and the RecPlex (1724 Mosley St.). To make an appointment at town hall, call 705-429-3844, x2231. To make an appointment at the RecPlex, call 705-429-3321, x2503. To learn more about bus service see our Transit page. Additional in-person services are available by appointment. Please phone or e-mail the appropriate department to discuss your needs. -30-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 24, 2020
Wasaga Stars Arena closed to spectators, but livestreaming service rolling out
Wasaga Beach – In order to comply with the new ‘Orange’ COVID-19 status for the region, effective immediately spectators will no longer be allowed in the Wasaga Stars Arena. The exception to this is the town will permit one parent or guardian to enter the arena if they are supervising a child age 8 or younger. The town is also permitting parents and guardians to enter the arena to complete COVID-19 screening for their children and to tie skates, if required. Parents and guardians must then depart the facility immediately. The new rule prohibiting spectators at the arena applies to all on-ice programs, including games, practices, and training. In addition, at the recommendation of the chief medical officer of health for Simcoe-Muskoka, the town will not allow individuals from ‘red or ‘grey’ zones to utilize any municipal recreation facilities. At the same time, the town is planning to roll out a new free livestreaming service so that our community can watch on-ice activity at the arena. The service will be accessible through the town website at www.wasagabeach.com. The town anticipates launching the new live-streaming service soon. Please watch our website and social media channels for the launch date. “The continued health and safety of all facility guests, as well as our staff, is paramount to the town,” said Deputy Fire Chief Craig Williams, a member of the town’s COVID-19 Command Team. “This temporary measure addresses public health guidelines and helps to ensure that our arena remains safe and open during the current stage of the pandemic.” The rule prohibiting spectators from the arena will remain until the region returns to the province’s ‘Yellow’ status level. “We thank all users of our facilities for their cooperation and we look forward to welcoming people back inside when it is safe to do so,” said Chris Roos, director of recreation, events and facilities. -30-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 1, 2020
Beachfront pod use winding down for this year
Wasaga Beach – Now that the summer season is winding down the town is scaling back the staffing of its pods on the sand-covered portion of Beach Drive, effective Tuesday, Sept. 8. The town established the four pods in July to facilitate the safe use of the makeshift beach during the pandemic. Town employees, working as beachfront ambassadors, welcomed people to the pods and asked them to self-screen for COVID symptoms. If people were not exhibiting signs of COVID, staff allowed them access to the pods. Staff monitored the number of people in each pod to ensure appropriate physical distancing. If a pod reached capacity, staff referred beach goers to one of the other pods. After Labour Day, the town will only staff the pods on weekends, weather permitting. This is because the town expects weekday visits to drop off substantially now that the summer season is over. People can still use the pods on weekdays, but staff will not be on hand to monitor the space. Weekday pod visitors must still self-screen for COVID and observe physical distancing at all times. At the end of September, the pods will close and the town will have the fencing removed. The pods have helped facilitate the safe use of the sand-covered portion of Beach Drive. The town wishes to thank people for their cooperation with this initiative. -30- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 13, 2020
Wasaga Beach Pleased at Receiving $883,780 in COVID-19 Funding Assistance from the Provincial and Federal GovernmentsWasaga Beach – Today Mayor Bifolchi received letters from provincial Ministers Clark and Mulroney advising that the Town is being provided $883,780 in federal-provincial funding under the Safe Restart Agreement. The Town will receive $806,660 allocated on a per household basis to assist with operating pressures and costs associated with COVID-19 and $77,180 to address operating pressures relating to transit services. “On behalf of Council, I want to express our appreciation to Premier Ford for negotiating on municipalities’ behalf for this funding support. The Federal Government stepped up as well, which is nice to see. The two letters outline how the money is to be spent and how the Town is to make use of it. Since the emergency was declared in March the Town has been tracking expenses and lost program revenues related to COVID-19 and will apply the money to these areas. The Town took a number of steps to reduce costs, but also addressed needs in the community. For example, we provided free transit service to our residents for several weeks, which had an impact of fare revenues. Staff will be presenting an accounting of the Town’s expenditures and projected lost revenues at a future meeting of Council. This funding is good news for Wasaga Beach taxpayers.” stated Mayor Bifolchi. The Town will be required to report back to the province on the use of the funds in March 2021. Any funds not required for 2020 are allowed to be reserved for COVID-19 costs that may be incurred in 2021. A second phase of funding will be available to municipalities that have experienced greater financial impacts arising from COVID-19 than others. To be considered for this phase an additional report is required to be submitted by October 30, 2020. The Town will asses its needs in the coming weeks. -30-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 16, 2020
Wasaga Beach council takes additional steps to support business community
Wasaga Beach – Members of Wasaga Beach Town Council are advocating for changes to the Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program so that commercial tenants can apply directly for rent relief. Under the program’s current stipulations, only commercial property owners can apply to the program on behalf of tenants. In addition, the program prohibits municipalities that own commercial properties from applying for relief on behalf of tenants. As a result, the town is ineligible, under the existing rules, to seek relief for its tenants in town-owned buildings at the main beachfront. “We need to level the playing field for commercial businesses including our tenants,” Mayor Nina Bifolchi said. “They should not be penalized in terms of access to relief because the town owns their buildings.” Council today approved Mayor Bifolchi writing the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario, asking for the required changes to the program. Town council is also calling on Simcoe-Grey MP Terry Dowdall and Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson to support changes to the rent relief program so tenants can apply directly. Mayor Bifolchi will send a letter to both members asking their assistance. As well, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario will receive a letter from the town, asking it to support the changes to the rent assistance program. Letters will be going to the town’s tenants too, advising them of the steps council is taking to have the rules changed. Council also agreed to waive the one percent annual “event fee” that is applied to its beachfront tenants. “Due to COVID we are not able to have any events and so we are removing this fee,” Mayor Bifolchi said. Council also approved, for the 2020 season, a temporary exemption to the sign bylaw that allows beachfront-area tenants to place town-approved advertising on the fencing that surrounds the pods along Beach Drive. “We will continue to advocate for our business community as we always do,” Mayor Bifolchi said. “Recent steps we have taken to support the business community include our Shop Local marketing campaign, our Flavours of the Beach restaurant campaign, and our Wasaga Open For Business Recovery Portal on our website.”
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| Municipal initiatives |
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| Additional Resources |
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