The following page has been provided as a resource to residents and visitors regarding COVID-19. During this, and all Declared Emergencies, the Municipal Emergency Control Group (MECG) has an ultimate goal to Protect our People, Protect our Property.
The following provides information on what Municipal Services and locations are available in Grey Highlands. Please be aware that even when provincial limitations are lifted, Municipal limitations may continue for the safety of our community.
| Parks, Trails and Playgrounds |
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January 14, 2021 - Outdoor recreational amenities remain open under the Stay At Home Order as long as rules are followed including (but not limited to) that physical distance of at least two metres from any other person is maintained and team sports or any other games that are likely to result in individuals coming within two metres of each other are not practised or played. |
| Arenas |
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All Arenas will reopen upon return to the colour-coded framework with an updated policy in place. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ All 4 arenas will open with specific limitations in place. Specific limitations include:
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| Community Halls |
| All Municipal Halls are Closed - Rentals are unavailable at the present time. All current bookings cancelled through February 1, 2021. |
| Municipal Facilities |
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Municipal Administration Office - The Municipal Office will re-open to in person service upon return to the colour-coded zone. No more than 3 people will be allowed to enter at any time. Covid screening and tracking, masks and social distancing required for entry. Museum - Closed Libraries - Flesherton and Markdale open for curbside pick-up. See https://www.greyhighlandspubliclibrary.com/ for more information. |
Updates
| Grey Highlands COVID-19 Updates - General |
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February 13, 2021 - Update On February 16, 2021, Grey Highlands will return to the yellow zone of the provincial colour-coded chart. Upon return, the Municipality will re-open the Municipal Office and the Municipal Arenas. Both with specific limitations in place including masks, screening and social distancing. The Municipal Office shall only permit 3 persons inside at a time, and Municipal Arenas will only be permitting residents of Grey County to enter (with limited exception). Read the new COVID-19 Arena Use Policy Here. The Province of Ontario declared an Emergency on January 12, 2021. Premiere Ford also announced a Stay at Home Order effective 12:01 am on January 14, 2021. Under this Order, every individual shall remain in their place of residence at all times unless leaving their place of residence is necessary for one or more of the purposes outlined in the Order. For the duration of the Order, the Municipal Office will remain closed to the public and staff that are able to work from home will be required to do so. Staff will remain available by telephone and email. Outdoor recreational amenities remain open under the order as long as rules are followed including (but not limited to) that physical distance of at least two metres from any other person is maintained and team sports or any other games that are likely to result in individuals coming within two metres of each other are not practised or played.
December 21, 2020 - Update Province-wide shutdown announced effective December 26, 2021 at 12:01 am through January 24, 2021 - All Arenas ordered closed - Funerals limited to 10 persons - All meeting or event spaces remain closed - Libraries open for contactless curbside delivery and pick-up - Museums remain closed General • Ontarians should stay home to the fullest extent possible • Trips outside of the home should be limited and only for essential purposes (accessing health care and medication, grocery shopping, child care, exercise alone or people in your household (the people you live with) and in the community where you live, walking pets when required, and supporting vulnerable community members to meet the needs above) • Remote work should happen in all industries to the greatest extent possible o Employers should enable and support workers to work remotely and accommodate household needs related to virtual education and dependent care • Face coverings should be tightly fitted to cover the nose, mouth and chin. Scarves and bandanas are insufficient Close Contact, Gatherings and Events • Indoor organized public events and social gatherings are not permitted except with members of the same household. Limit close contact to your household (the people you live with): o Families should not visit any other household or allow visitors in their homes o Individuals who live alone and single parents may consider having exclusive, close contact with another household to help reduce the negative impacts of social isolation o Virtual gatherings or events are the safest way to visit or recognize occasions with people outside your household, especially during the holiday season • Maintain two metres of physical distancing from everyone outside of your household (who you do not live with) • Wear a face covering indoors; outdoors if physical distancing cannot be maintained; or if wearing one is required Travel within Ontario • Stay home. Travel outside your region should be limited to only essential purposes. Inter-Provincial Travel • Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others. Travel out of province should be limited to only essential purposes • Individuals and families who arrive or return to Ontario during the Provincewide Shutdown period should self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival
December 8, 2020 - Update Municipal Halls remain closed through to February 1, 2021. Municipal Office remains open with contact tracing and limited persons permitted to enter. Limited staff in office. Grey Highlands currently in stage Yellow of the Covid-19 Ontario Framework. Precautionary measures in place in all departments.
November 24, 2020 - Update Arenas: Arena operators have been directed to only accept contracts from previous users of the facility or those who reside within Grey and Bruce. Municipal Administration Office: Currently open with limitations in place to accept payments etc. now that safety barriers are in place. Covid-19 Framework Map Municipal Halls Municipal Halls remain closed at the present time and all booking cancelled through to January 2021. This closure is reviewed regularly based on current numbers.
November 20, 2020 - Update Grey Bruce Public Health will be moved from stage green to yellow. For information on what that means, please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-response-framework-keeping-ontario-safe-and-open#levels
November 17, 2020 - Update Halls remain closed at the present time. All bookings have been cancelled through to January 1, 2020. Arenas remain open for bookings only to organized sport within Grey Bruce and contracted rentals for previous contracts and residents of Grey Bruce. Masks are required for entry. Municipal Office front counter covid guard to be installed this week to allow for opening of the Municipal Office in the coming week with restrictions on capacity and contact tracing required. Once all guards are in place, the service window will close and residents will be able to complete transactions inside. Limited staffing remains in office to perform routine transactions.
October 27, 2020 - Update Halls: Municipal halls will remain closed to bookings through the end of November. The closure is reassessed at regular intervals. Mask Rule: The Municipality requires masks for all staff and any patrons entering any facility owned by the Municipality. Should any person meet the legislated reasons for exemption to the mask rule, the municipality will allow them to wear a shield instead, however a mask is preferred whenever possible.
October 20, 2020 - Grey Highlands COVID-19 Update - Edition 9 - Edition 9 provides current updates from all departments including arena openings, hall rental cancellations and more. Read it here.
October 14, 2020 - Update - Flesherton Arena commenced its soft opening on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. The Municipal Emergency Control Group are awaiting information on how the soft opening proceeds prior to announcing any additional phases. In the meantime, staff will be begin preparations at other Municipal Arenas to facilitate a timely response if/when any further announcements are made.
October 6, 2020 - Grey Highlands COVID-19 Update - Edition 8 - Current updates from all departments in one document. Read it here.
September 29, 2020 - No changes to announce from Edition 7 - Edition 7 provides current updates from across the departments. The MECG continues to constantly evaluate additional phases for re-opening arenas and other facilities.
September 17, 2020 - Grey Highlands COVID-19 Update - Edition 7 - Current updates from all departments in one document. Read it here.
July 22, 2020 - Grey Highlands COVID-19 Update - Edition 6 - Current updates from all departments in one document. (Posted August 11) Read it here.
July 10, 2020 - Grey Highlands COVID-19 Update - Edition 5 - Current updates from all departments in one document. Read it here.
June 5, 2020 - Grey Highlands COVID-19 Update - Edition 4 - Current updates from all departments in one document. Read it here.
April 17, 2020 - Grey Highlands COVID-19 Update - Edition 3 - All you need to know in one document. Read it here.
April 6, 2020 - Grey Highlands COVID-19 Update - Edition 2 - All you need to know in one document. Highlighted items show changes since last edition including Virtual Town Hall scheduled for April 20, 2020 and new cemetery guidelines. Read the full document here.
March 30, 2020 - Grey Highlands COVID-19 Update - Edition 1 - All you need to know in one document. Read it here.
March 26, 2020 - Mayor McQueen declares a state of emergency in Grey Highlands. “Grey Highlands is one of the strongest and most resilient communities I know, and I feel honoured to live in this wonderful place,” said Mayor McQueen. “I call on all of you to do your part, self-isolate, practice physical distancing and be there for one another, and I will do my best to help keep all of you safe as well.” Read the full media release here.
March 23, 2020 - Mayor's Address regarding COVID-19
March 17, 2020 - Grey Highlands Comprehensive departmental overview of cancellations, updates and services provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as of March 17, 2020. The full document can be found by accessing the following link: https://greyhighlands.civicweb.net/document/221005 |
| Re-opening of Grey Highlands Facilities (Halls) Reopening Plan |
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This document was created for the Municipal Emergency Control Group (MECG) as a living guidance document for recovery concerning COVID-19. Grey Highlands is gradually reopening our recreational amenities using this document as a guide. The information contained in the document is to be used as a guide and has been created based on guidance provided by Grey Bruce Health Unit, Ministry of Health as well as the reopening provisions from the Ontario Government. This approach is based on specific conditions being met prior to reopening and moving through the phases and includes general recommendations that will remain in effect throughout the reopening phase. These considerations support how, not when we will be able to move into and across the phase of reopening. The document is subject to change as the situation evolves. The current recovery document as approved by the MECG is included here: https://greyhighlands.civicweb.net/document/227487
To view details on Arena reopenings, please see the sections:
Timeline for Recreation Recovery:
Timeline for Eugenia Boat Launch Recovery (as included in appendix A):
As the Boat Launch is operated and managed by the Eugenia and District Community Improvement Association, they have discretion on operating hours and specific requirements. The appendix included in the recovery document is for guidance only. |
| Meeting Updates |
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You can now watch all of our Council meetings while they happen from the comfort of your home. Visit the Live Stream page to view the last meeting and visit the portal for the meeting calendar.
April 20, 2020 - Virtual Town Hall meeting where Mayor Paul McQueen, CAO Karen Govan and Medical Office of Health Dr. Ian Arra answered your questions related to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Grey Highlands. View on YouTube
March 25, 2020 - Council and Committee of the Whole will continue to meet virtually. All other advisory committees and working groups are on hold.
March 24, 2020 - Due to the passage of Bill 187, Council is able to resume Council meetings electronically. Grey Highlands Council will be holding a Special Meeting on March 25, 2020 at 10 am to amend the procedure by-law in order to implement the legislation during a declared state of emergency. Council will then meet at 1 pm to continue on with the business of the organization. Both of these meetings will be live streamed to the Grey Highlands YouTube channel. Links are provided below. 2020-03-25 - 10:00 am - Virtual Special Council Meeting Agenda 2020-03-25 - 1:00 pm - Virtual Council Meeting Agenda Grey Highlands YouTube Channel
March 17, 2020 - All Council and Committee Meetings Cancelled - All Council and Committee meetings have been cancelled effective immediately until further notice to ensure the health and safety of our staff, Councillors and members of the public. |
| Municipal Service Updates and Cancellations |
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February 13, 2021 - Update Municipal Arenas will re open the week of February 16, 2021. A new COVID-19 Arena Use Policy has been established. The Municipal Administration Office will re-open to in-person service the week of February 16, 2021.
January 14, 2021 - Update Provincial Declaration of Emergency and Stay at Home Order in effect until at least February 11, 2021.
December 21, 2020 - Update Province-wide shutdown announced effective December 26, 2021 at 12:01 am through January 24, 2021 - All Arenas ordered closed - Funerals limited to 10 persons - All meeting or event spaces remain closed - Libraries open for contactless curbside delivery and pick-up - Museums remain closed - Municipal Office not open to the public for walk-in service. Please call 519-986-1216 or email info@greyhighlands.ca for service.
October 27, 2020 - Arena Re-opening - All Municipal Arenas have now been permitted to open in accordance with the process approved by Public Health. Flesherton Arena - Now open. Osprey Arena - Ice is almost ready. Anticipated opening in the next week. Rocklyn Arena - Ice is almost in. Anticipated open in the next week. Markdale Arena - Ice is going in. Currently scheduling contractors required to complete ice installation. Anticipated opening in the coming weeks. The Municipality purchased disinfectant foggers as per public health approved opening guidelines almost a month ago. The Flesherton Arena was able to open by utilizing a fogger on loan by the Grey Highlands Fire Department as the arena foggers had not yet been delivered. No arena is permitted to open without the approved sanitization equipment. As such, no specific dates for opening is available at the present time. For reference, the new process for arena rentals generally includes:
October 27, 2020 - Halls Remain Closed - All Municipal Halls remain closed to bookings through to the end of November.
October 27, 2020 - Municipal Office Walk-up Service Window - The Municipal Office remains closed with limited staff on site. The Municipal service walk-up window located immediately to the left of the main office door is still available for walk-up service.
October 20, 2020 - Arena Re-opening - After a successful first week of ice at the Flesherton arena, and staff well under way preparing other municipal arenas for opening, the MECG provided approval for both Rocklyn and Osprey arena to open when the ice is ready and the safety procedures are in place. Although we can not provide a definitive date at the present time, the process is under way and we are anticipating around the beginning of November. Staff are still working at securing users anticipated ice needs at Markdale and continuing to prep Markdale arena in anticipation of future opening approval that may come from the MECG. Staff will be reaching out to current and past users in the coming days. If you know someone who may be interested in ice in Grey Highlands, please direct them to rouses@greyhighlands.ca
October 14, 2020 - Arena Re-opening - Flesherton Arena commenced its soft opening on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. The Municipal Emergency Control Group are awaiting information on how the soft opening and new process noted below proceeds prior to announcing any additional phases. In the meantime, staff will be begin preparations at other Municipal Arenas to facilitate a timely response if/when any further announcements are made.
October 6, 2020 - Arena Re-opening Discussion The Municipal Emergency Control Group (MECG) meets regularly to review new and pending Provincial legislation and Public Health guidelines related to the ongoing pandemic and how this affects the operational needs of the Municipality during the declared Emergency.
This soft opening will allow staff and the MECG to become better acquainted with the new guidelines and how they are put into practice. The MECG agreed that having this information prior to making decisions on timelines for additional arena openings would be in the best interest for the safety of the community.
The new process includes that:
The Municipality thanks everyone for their patience as we embark on this initial soft opening and look forward to providing additional updates in the near future.
September 17, 2020 - Arena re-opening The Municipality of Grey Highlands Municipal Emergency Control Group (MECG) has commenced plans for a phased in gradual approach in relation to the opening of Grey Highlands arenas. The initial phase will include the opening of the Flesherton Arena only. Decisions on opening additional arenas will be discussed as time goes on. Reopening the initial arena now will mean that community groups and organizations will be able to rent ice in Grey Highlands while adhering to all Provincial gathering restrictions, requirements from their respective sporting regulatory bodies and any COVID-19 safety measures implemented by the Municipality. We do not have an exact date yet as to when the ice will be ready, however staff will be reaching out to user groups to obtain usage needs and will coordinate in the coming weeks.
April 1, 2020 - Garbage bag tags now available to purchase online during this time and wil be mailed out to your residence. Bag tags are also available at Foodland if you are out to get your essentials. Visit our e-services page to order yours.
March 26, 2020 - Payments and Funding resolutions passed - Council met on March 25, 2020 and passed the following resolutions in relation to COVID-19 situation:
March 17, 2020 - Tender Submissions and Public Opening - Due to concerns surrounding COVID-19, the Municipality of Grey Highlands is taking proactive measures to limit the transmission of the virus and are monitoring the situation closely. The Municipality has closed all offices, facilities, and non-essential services beginning March 16, 2020 until further notice. The Municipality will accept tender submissions in the drop box at the Municipal office at 206 Toronto Street South, Unit 1, Markdale, ON. If your tender is being delivered by Courier, please instruct them to leave the envelope or parcel in the drop box. The drop box will be emptied on March 18, 2020 at 9:01 a.m. and no tenders will be accepted after this point. The tender openings will be available to the public by live stream at the following address: https://www.greyhighlands.ca/en/municipal-government/live-stream.aspx The unofficial tender opening results will be posted to the website within 24 hours of the tender opening: https://greyhighlands.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/217164. We thank you for your patience and understanding.
March 19, 2020 - Due to COVID-19, many municipal staff are working remotely or from home. Staff will be checking voicemail on a regular basis and returning calls. Please use the Staff Directory for contacts and leave voice messages or send an email. Staff are working and will provide the best service possible during this time. For general inquiries email info@greyhighlands.ca.
March 17, 2020 - Grey Highlands 2020 Home Show, originally scheduled for April 18th, 2020 has been cancelled. Municipal staff will be in touch with all vendors and suppliers to notify them of the cancellation and will make arrangements to issue refunds for any payments that have been received to date.
March 16, 2020 - Facility Closures - To maintain social distancing and minimize the spread of this virus ALL Municipality of Grey Highlands facilities including the Administration Offices will be CLOSED to the public until further notice. All current Municipal facility rentals have been CANCELLED. Staff will be contacting the person(s) who have rented the facility during the affected time. The following facilities are CLOSED to the public: - Municipal Administration Offices (206 Toronto Street and 50 Lorne Street Markdale) - All Arenas, Facilities, and Halls - All Grey Highlands Public Libraries - South Grey Museum Account payments can be made to the Municipality through online or mobile banking or by credit card. There is a drop box at the Municipal Office (206 Toronto Street South Markdale) to leave payments. At the present time, we will not be imposing penalties on any payments that come due during the office closure. There will be no interruption to essential services related to roads, water/wastewater, or waste/recycling services. For any emergencies related to roads please contact 519-986-4069. For emergencies related to water/wastewater please contact 519-986-4784. For any fire related emergencies, please call 911.
March 14, 2020 - Recreation Closures - All recreational programs and public bookings at Municipal facilities are cancelled effective immediately. Refunds will be issued to those affected.
March 14, 2020 - Library March break programs are cancelled. See the Library website for more information. |
| Other News Releases |
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May 4, 2020 - Considerations for Seasonal Residents and Visitors - Public recommends limiting non-essential travel within and outside of Grey Bruce. If you are already at your seasonal residence, please stay there and do not regularly travel back and forth. Do not invite friends and family over. Follow measures to stop the spread. The following considerations may be helpful for seasonal residents and visitors who are considering relocating to or visiting Grey or Bruce Counties. For most people, staying at your primary residence will be the safest decision. Consider the availability of supplies and essentials. Consider the availability of services. Understand the current restrictions and lack of recreational amenities.
April 15, 2020 - More testing available - Grey Bruce Health Unit expands eligibility criteria for COVID-19 testing making testing a priority for older adults, vulnerable and high-risk populations. For the general public, testing is available for those:
Assessment Centre is located at: Grey Bruce Health Services – Owen Sound Regional Hospital Location: Portable facility just outside the entrance to the Owen Sound Hospital Emergency Department Hours of Operation: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM, 7 days per week For more information, visit the Grey Bruce Health website. *As of April 14, 2020, there have been 3 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Grey Highlands.
March 31, 2020 - Ontario Extends School and Child Care Closures to Fight Spread of COVID-19. Province announces second phase of Learn at Home to support continuity of learning. Read the news release here.
March 31, 2020 - All outdoor recreational amenities in Ontario now CLOSED. The Ontario government has ordered the closure of all communal or shared, public or private, outdoor recreational amenities across Ontario in order to help stem the transmission of COVID-19. The order was issued under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act Monday evening and is effective immediately. Read the provincial newsrelease here. |
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Library Programs |
| Visit the www.greyhighlandspubliclibrary.com site for information on programs. |
| Grey Highlands Services Available Online |
| We provide many online services to our residents that allow you online access to services without having to come into the office. Visit the eServices page for a listing. |
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Additional Information - Organization Links |
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How to Protect Yourself |
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Everyone should practice good basic hygiene as a preventative measure to protect against the novel coronavirus and other viruses in this cold and flu season.
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Status of Cases in Ontario |
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https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus#section-0 |
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Status of Cases in Grey-Bruce |
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How to access help during COVID-19 |
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211 Ontario can help you find support during COVID-19 211 Ontario is your primary source of information on government and community-based social services. Things are changing quickly during this unusual time, but our team is committed to providing accurate and up-to-date information to Ontarians about responses to the novel coronavirus. Programs and services to help you through this pandemic
Live Chat is available Monday to Friday from 7am to 9pm here. Try the Search Help Tool on our website at 211ontario.ca. And Community Navigators are ready to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in 150 languages. Just dial 2-1-1. |
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What's Open? |
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A map of businesses that remain open in Grey County, including those that offer home delivery or pickup, and those that have moved to online platforms. Email ecdev@grey.ca to create or edit your businesses or service listing.
What's Open in Grey Highlands?
In an effort to assist local businesses (and residents) during this unsettled time, the Municipality of Grey Highlands is compiling a list of businesses that have identified as open to some extent (via social media updates, word of mouth, other sources).
If you represent a local business that is still open in some capacity, we want to hear from you! Please email ecdev@greyhighlands.ca or call 519-986-1216 ext. 109 with your details. This list will be updated on a regular basis.
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