Following the Government of Ontario’s announcement today, Mississauga, as part of the Region of Peel, has been given the green light to enter Stage 3 of Ontario’s Framework for Reopening Our Province on Friday, July 31.
“Mississauga wouldn’t be entering Stage 3 if it wasn’t for the collective efforts and hard work of our healthcare professionals, our business community and most important, our residents who have sacrificed so much to stop the spread of COVID-19. We always said that we would take a team Mississauga approach to tackling this virus, and I’m proud those efforts are reflected in our progress,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “This is also exciting news for our business community, with more businesses opening their doors to the public, as well as for residents who have been looking forward to using our City facilities, including our libraries, community centres, playgrounds and more. While we are all eager to see life get back to normal and our city further reopen, we cannot get complacent. Each and every one of us must continue to take personal responsibility and practice COVID-19 prevention. Until a vaccine is developed, this will be a part of our daily lives. When you leave the house, don’t forget your keys, your wallet and your mask. Continue to keep a safe distance and practice proper hand hygiene. We need to continue to work as a team and keep up the good work to help reduce the severity of a second wave this fall.”
Stage 3 brings new restrictions on social gatherings. The limit on indoor gatherings increases from 10 people to 50 people and the limit on outdoor gatherings increases to a maximum of 100 people. In addition, businesses and public spaces will also be allowed to reopen with proper health and safety measures in place, including movie theatres, gyms, fitness studios, casinos, indoor dining and bars. For the full list of reopenings, visit ontario.ca/page/reopening-ontario.
“The news that Peel Region is moving into Stage 3 this coming Friday highlights how our collective community efforts have turned the tide on COVID-19 in our community. We must remember, however, that our victory lies in continued vigilance. The Core Four behaviours remain critical: washing your hands, social distancing, wearing a mask where mandatory or where distancing is difficult, and staying home and getting tested if we are sick,” said Dr. Lawrence Loh, Medical Officer of Health. “As businesses reopen it will also be critical for them to have a reopening plan and put precautions in place to protect staff and customers. These steps will keep us moving forward, and ensure that the sacrifices of the past few months will bear out in our continued recovery.”
Just as all businesses that reopened in Stage 2 were required to adhere to the guidelines put in place by the Government of Ontario and the Region of Peel, businesses that reopen as part of Stage 3 will be required to adhere to the same guidelines. In Mississauga, businesses must also create and implement a face covering policy, as per the City’s mandatory Face Covering By-law. Guidance and resources to help Mississauga businesses navigate reopening and recovery can be found online at mississauga.ca/business-covid-19.
Several City facilities may also reopen in Stage 3, including arenas, the Civic Centre, libraries, community centres, culture facilities, playgrounds and outdoor fitness equipment.
“We’re working to safely reopen all of our City facilities and amenities, including our community centres, culture facilities, libraries, the Civic Centre and playgrounds and outdoor fitness equipment,” said Paul Mitcham, City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer. “As we enter Stage 3, the health and safety of our residents and staff continue to be a top priority. We will work closely with Peel Public Health and will adhere to all guidelines and regulations put out by the Province and the Region. Just as when we entered Stage 2, our reopening process for Stage 3 will be thoughtful and deliberate. We are asking the community for their continued patience.”
City Facility Reopenings
Arenas
Limited access is currently available for ice rentals and additional facilities will reopen as demand increases. Booking requests can be directed to the Customer Service Centre at 905-615-4100.
Banquet Halls
Harding Waterfront Estate is currently available for event bookings that align with gathering limits. C Banquets will be available for bookings in the fall.
City Hall, Community Centres, C Café
The City is working toward a phased reopening of these facilities this fall, including fitness centres, indoor pools and rentals. Details will be communicated through our website and social media channels as they are confirmed.
Culture Facilities
Benares Historic House, Bradley Museum and Small Arms Inspection Building will be open starting August 4 with modified access and services. More information will be available on our website and social media channels.
Meadowvale theatre will be open to receive inquiries and issue rental agreements.
Living Arts Centre
Meeting rooms will be available as of August 17. Church group bookings, RBC Theatre, studio rentals, info desk, reception and box office will all reopen on September 8.
Hammerson Hall will reopen for rental bookings that meet provincial guidelines as of October 1 and community courses are set to resume on October 13.
Film Office
The film office is open and accepting film permit requests.
Libraries
Most library locations currently offer curbside pickup by appointment and book returns. Library due dates and fines continue to be suspended until July 31. Customers can continue to use their library card or virtual card to explore our vast collection of ebooks, audiobooks, our online programming and other virtual resources. The library is actively planning for the gradual introduction of additional services permitted in Stage 3. Details on these changes and timelines will be communicated through our website and social media channels as they are confirmed.
Mississauga Provincial Offences Courthouse
The Courthouse will be open to the public as of August 4 to offer select administrative functions.
Playgrounds and Outdoor Fitness
All of the City’s playgrounds and outdoor fitness equipment will open by end of day Friday, July 31.
Sport Field and Park Picnic Area Permits
As of Friday, July 31, sport fields and picnic areas will be able to be booked to accommodate larger outdoor gathering numbers as permitted by Provincial Orders.
Closures that Remain in Effect
Major Festivals and Large Events
All large events taking place at City facilities and parks continue to be cancelled until September 7, 2020.
Find the full list of City reopenings and closures and to stay informed on COVID-19 impacts on City services, please visit: Mississauga.ca/recovery.
