Waterloo Region (Updated May 27, 2020 - 11:15 a.m.)
Based on updated provincial directions around COVID-19, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Region of Waterloo Public Health’s Acting Medical Officer of Health, has recommended an increased emphasis on physical distancing in order to slow the spread of the virus within the community.
As of March 23rd, the Provincial Government has provided a list of what it considers essential services. Those not included in this list are closed as of midnight March 24, 2020
In response, the Region is making significant changes to services and programming, effective immediately. These changes will remain in effect until May 31, and will be evaluated for potential extension beyond that date.
The Region and area municipalities are making tentative plans to begin reopening their administrative buildings and City/Township halls to the public in the coming weeks. The gradual reopening of facilities will align with provincial direction to reopen more office workplaces in Phase 2 of the Ontario recovery plan, expected to be implemented by mid-June.
Read the full release issued on May 27, 2020 .
You can also find COVID information on your city or township website: Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, North Dumfries, Wilmot, Wellesley and Woolwich.
Essential construction, operations and maintenance during COVID-19
In the coming days and weeks, residents will begin to see some essential construction projects resuming or starting. Residents will also see essential maintenance and operations work undertaken by the Region of Waterloo.
This work will be carried out with the health and well being of residents and workers as a priority. More information, including a Frequently Asked Questions section visit the Construction and Road Closures page.
Community Services programs
For more ways we are supporting the community please visit our Community Supports page.
Welcome Spaces
The Community Services Welcome Spaces (formerly called the Employment Resource Centres) in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge are temporarily closed, but staff are still available to serve you. More details on the service changes and on how to access services are provided below.
Ontario Works
- To apply, visit our Ontario Works webpage or call 519-883-2100.
- If you need to reach your caseworker and you have their name, call 519-575-4100.
- For all other Ontario Works inquiries, please call 519-740-5700.
Child care subsidy
Questions related to child care subsidy can be directed to ccs@regionofwaterloo.ca.
Rent payments for Waterloo Region Housing
Due to the coronavirus, we cannot accept rent payments in person at this time. Visit our Living in Community Housing webpage to find alternative ways to pay your rent.
Community housing applications
You can apply for community housing online. If you have questions about your community housing application, please email chac@regionofwaterloo.ca.
Employment support
Our employment services team continues to provide support to job seekers and employers during COVID-19. Please visit the Employment Support webpage for information.
Child care centres
The Region of Waterloo’s five directly operated child care centres will be closed until May 31, 2020.
Regional Museums
The Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum, Joseph Schneider Haus and McDougall Cottage with be closed to the public effective Monday, March 16.
Region of Waterloo Library branches
All Region of Waterloo Library branches will be closed to the public beginning Monday, March 16, 2020. This includes all Library programming.
Grand River Transit
Fare collection
Fare collection on all GRT buses, ION light rail and MobilityPLUS will resume June 1, 2020. Contactless payment with an EasyGO fare card is preferred, but cash will still be accepted.
Customer service
GRT customer service locations will reopen Tuesday, May 19.
- 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday to Friday
- 10 a.m. – 4 p.m,, Saturday and Sunday
Physical distancing procedures will be in place. A maximum of three customers will be allowed in the Customer Service Centre at one time.
Managing Physical Distancing
GRT will now be managing physical distancing on buses. Once a bus reaches the point where physical distancing can't be maintained, the bus will not pick up more passengers and another bus will be sent.
We are regularly monitoring boardings, and have added additional trips on routes at times that are busier. If you are waiting at a stop and the bus is no longer picking up passengers, please call customer service at 519-585-7555.
Service reductions
Effective Monday, May 18, further service reductions will go into effect.
View the full list of routes affected
Sunnyside Home
As directed by the Ministry of Health, all non-essential visits to Sunnyside Home long term care and Sunnyside supportive housing have been suspended. Visits will be limited to those who come to see very ill residents or residents who are at end-of-life. All non-essential programs and services are also closed until further notice. View the protocols for essential visitors and the full list of closures.
Garbage collection
- Have questions about waste collection due to COVID-19? Have a look at their Frequently Asked Questions page.
- Yard waste collection to begin April 13
- The Region of Waterloo will re-open the Waterloo and Cambridge waste transfer stations for residential waste drop-off, starting on Monday, May 4. The sites will re-open for regular residential business hours: Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- The every-second-week garbage bag/can limit will be temporarily extended from four to six bags beginning March 30 until further notice. This is to assist residents unable to drop off diapers at the transfer station, and to allow anyone who is sick to put recyclables that have touched their face in the garbage. Small apartments will have their limit increased from 10 to 12 bags
- Even with extended garbage limits, residents are being asked to limit the number of bags of waste they put out as much as possible.
- Regular recycling and green bin collection will continue as normal.
- Garbage tags are available for purchase online (link to https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/living-here/garbage-tags.aspx)
As of end of day March 17th, the Waste Management Administrative Building (925 Erb St. W. in Waterloo) will be closed and there will be no green bins or blue boxes available for pick-up.
Customer service staff will continue to be available to address curbside issues, and the best way to report those is via the online form.
Region of Waterloo International Airport
Details are changing rapidly. We ask that passengers use your flight number to check your flight status online before heading to the airport. Passengers with questions should contact your airline. Please note airline call centre volumes are high: Please call only if your travel is within 72 hours.
Operational Update:
- The Air Terminal Building will continue to operate with enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures in place.
- WestJet Airlines Calgary, Alberta service continues to operate with a reduced schedule, and enhanced cleaning and sanitization measures. As flight details may change, WestJet ask that you use your flight number to check your flight status online before heading to the airport.
- Transport Canada new domestic transportation measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. Effective March 30, 2020 air operators must conduct a health check of travellers before they can board an aircraft with 10 or more seats within Canada. This includes a series of health questions, looking for visible signs of illness and directing travellers to local health authorities.
- Canada Border Services Agency continue to process private aircraft. Travellers returning to Canada are being instructed to self-isolate for 14 days.
Closures and Service Suspensions:
- The Airport Administration office is closed until Monday, May 31, 2020. Please contact 519-648-2256 or email pdlairportadmin@regionofwaterloo.ca if you have questions or concerns.
- Aviator Café is closed. For a list of CATSA approved food and drink items you can bring through security, please visit https://bit.ly/2UwHHGb. We encourage the use of refillable water bottles and our touchless filtered water stations.
- Aviation Fun Day 2020 has been cancelled
- Sunwing Airlines have suspended all southbound flights to concentrate on returning customers home safely. This includes our Cancun, Mexico, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic flights.
- Our Secondary Runway and Taxiway B are closed to accommodate parking of commercial aircraft grounded in response to the global pandemic.
- Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre and Great Lakes Helicopter non-essential operations suspended.
Provincial Offences Court Closures
The Provincial Offences Court Office is closed to the public until June 9, 2020.
All Provincial Offences Act matters scheduled in Waterloo Region from Monday, March 16 to Friday, July 3, 2020 will be adjourned and rescheduled to a later date. If you have a matter scheduled during this time, you do not need to attend court. A notice for your new court date will be sent by mail to the address on file with the court.
For more information, please contact Region of Waterloo Provincial Offences court by emailing POA@Regionofwaterloo.ca.
Licensing and Enforcement
Licensing and Enforcement is postponing the renewal date for Salvage Shops and Yards from May 31st, 2020 to June 30, 2020. If you have any questions please contact us.
Emergency Services
All emergency services including Paramedic Service and critical regional and municipal services will continue.
Water Efficiency programs
Naturescaping Seminars:
Due to COVID-19 physical distancing protocols, all in-class Naturesaping seminars were cancelled.
However, there’s great news - the Water Efficiency team have relaunched their Spring 2020 Naturescaping as Zoom webinars! There will be four webinars, each running on Wednesday nights, from April 22 to May 13.
Registration is still required and is now open!
New dates and information: www.regionofwaterloo.ca/conservation
Registration and information on EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/region-of-waterloo-water-efficiency-6070728703.
Rain Barrel Distribution scheduled for April 25 has been postponed. We hope to hold the sale at a later date.
WET Home Program is paused. Our partner Reep Green Solutions is not conducting home audits or scheduling new home visits at this time. The program will re-start at a future date. For more information please contact Reep Green Solutions at 519-744-9799 ext 1 or by email.
Community Gardens
Over the next week, area municipalities will begin to reopen the over 80 community gardens that exist in the region. Municipalities will follow a coordinated approach to reopening by working together with the Community Garden Council and in consultation with Region of Waterloo Public Health to ensure a safe transition back to operating these valued spaces. For full details read the news release issued on May 4, 2020.
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