Friday, May 21, 2021

Ontario cautiously allows select outdoor recreation starting May 22

MARKHAM, ON – May 21, 2021 – As we continue through Ontario’s Stay-at-Home Order and third provincial State of Emergency, the threat of COVID-19 variants to the public and to the province’s healthcare system remains high. Everyone is required to remain at home except for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing healthcare services (including getting vaccinated), for outdoor exercise, or for work that cannot be done remotely.

In response to improving vaccination rates and key public health indicators, the Government of Ontario will change the following health measures to allow select outdoor amenities to reopen, with restrictions in place, beginning at 12:01 AM on Saturday, May 22:

Outdoor Gathering limits increased to 5 people
Outdoor recreational amenities (e.g. golf courses, tennis courts, skate parks, sports fields) open with restrictions, such as physical distancing

No outdoor sports or recreational classes are permitted.

All other enhanced public health and workplace safety measures currently in place remain unchanged and all measures for non-essential retail under the provincewide emergency brake (e.g. curbside pick-up and delivery only) continue to apply.

The City of Markham’s COVID-19 affected services are as follows:

Select outdoor recreational amenities will reopen, including tennis, pickleball, sports fields (for non-team use), skate parks and basketball courts, with outdoor gathering restrictions and physical distancing measures in place
Parks and playgrounds remain open
All park-facility washrooms will reopen on Saturday May 22
Outdoor, in-person recreation programs remain cancelled
Library, recreation and fitness programs continue to be offered virtually
City-owned community centres, arenas, pools, fitness centres, the Markham Museum and the Varley Art Gallery will remain closed
The Flato Markham Theatre is streaming select virtual performances
The Varley Art Gallery continues to offer virtual school programs and will offer online exhibitions and related programs
Markham Public Library will continue to offer select online services
Markham Public Library curbside pick-up of holds and returns will be available at Markham Village, Thornhill Village and Unionville locations
The City continues to provide critical services to residents and businesses virtually and in-person (services requiring in-person assistance require an appointment)
Markham Recycling Depots will remain open

When the current Stay-at-Home Order and third provincial State of Emergency ends, Ontario will not be returning to the colour-coded COVID-19 response framework.

This framework will be replaced by a new three-step Roadmap to Reopen that will guide a gradual reopening and the safe lifting of public health measures. The Province of Ontario will remain in each step for at least 21 days, and move forward only if vaccination rates meet targets and key public health indicators improve. Public health and workplace safety measures will continue to apply, including maintaining physical distance, capacity limits and wearing face coverings in indoor spaces and whenever physical distancing is a challenge. The Government of Ontario expects to enter Step One of the Roadmap the week of June 14, 2021.

The City of Markham continues to support residents and businesses.

Businesses that are looking to better understand COVID-19 health and safety regulations can visit markham.ca/CovidEnforcement. All local restaurants, retailers and artisans are encouraged to join Destination Markham’s online business listing at visitmarkham.ca, where they can be found quickly by a community eager to support local. Finance, tax and legal workshops, as well as pre-recorded webinars, continue to be available via the Markham Small Business Centre during these challenging times.

To protect yourself and others from COVID-19 while waiting for your vaccine, please continue to follow public health recommendations. As we navigate the pandemic together, the City of Markham continues to monitor and follow advice from public health officials at the federal, provincial and regional levels.

It is critically important that we each continue to do our part to keep one another safe. It is not the time to let your guard down. Every action counts.

Visit markham.ca/covid19 for more information.

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Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti's Office:
Bryan Frois, Chief of Staff at bfrois@markham.ca or 416.567.1177.

All other media inquiries / interview requests for the City of Markham:
Jennifer Yap, Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations at jyap@markham.ca or 437.229.2450.

For COVID-19 announcements from the City of Markham:
Visit markham.ca/covid19 or listen to 105.9 The Region – Markham’s information and emergency radio station.

About Markham: Markham, an award-winning municipality with over 351,000 residents and the largest of nine communities in York Region, is home to over 650 corporate head offices and more than 1,500 high tech and life science companies. Markham is a leader in attracting foreign direct investment with more than 240 foreign companies located in the City. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community and enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy. Markham has received the Excellence Canada Gold Award for Organizational Quality & Healthy Workplace, and multiple heritage and environmental awards.

Stay Connected: Visit our newsroom or search #MarkhamNews and #MarkhamEvents for the latest information on City programs, services and event.