Emergency Planning and Preparedness

In response to COVID-19 and to limit the spread, Building Services has made some operational changes to ensure the safety of our staff.  Building inspections will only be conducted in accordance with the following strict protocols: 

• Inspections will only be conducted provided nobody living on the property or anyone working at the property has traveled outside the province, has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or has had any of the following COVID-19 symptoms in the previous 14 days:

  • Fever, Dry Cough, Tiredness / Fatigue, Sore Throat, Difficulty Breathing / Shortness of Breath, Runny / Stuffy / Congested Nose, Headache, Lost Sense of Smell or Taste, Difficulty Swallowing, Digestive Issues, Etc.

• Physical distancing of at least 2m must be maintained at all times during the inspection. If possible, it is appreciated if persons could vacate the building while the inspection is taking place. 

• Pets / Animals (cats and dogs) must be kept away from the area that the inspection is being requested for at the time of inspection. If animals are living on the property, homeowners shall keep them in their home and not let them out while we are conducting an exterior inspection.

• Any gates accessing the property should be propped open for Building Official access to rear yard if that is where the inspection is taking place.

• Upon completion of inspection, the report will be sent electronically to applicant listed on Building Permit.

• Building Officials will not inspect any construction site that is unsafe or found to be not adhering to the above protocols.  

• Re-inspections are a low priority.  Builders and contractors are to ensure the building is ready for inspection to the best of their ability.  Repeat Re-inspections result in unnecessary contact and time.

• To book an appointment, call 519- 846-9691 ext. 907 or email building@centrewellington.ca.

Applications for Building Permits will be accepted by email.

Tarion has addressed delays in construction and closing dates, please view the Tarion COVID19 Advisory for more information.

Facility closures

The following facilities will remain closed at this time

• Elora Municipal Office
• Fergus Fire Hall Administration Office
• Fergus Grand Theatre
• Belwood Hall
  
  

• See attached assumption of risk for the re-opening of various Township facilities and amenities.

• Trails and open spaces in our parks are open and the public should continue to self-distance themselves while using these spaces. View the map for open trails.
• Phones will continue to be answered during regular business hours between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, as well as after hours at the Township’s Emergency Call-Centre for water, wastewater, and road emergencies, at 519-846-9691.
• Email will be answered by staff during regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.
• Cemetery Services - staff will only meet with families by appointment for those families who have experienced a loss.  To contact cemetery staff, please call 519-994-0218
• For those who need to drop information off to staff, there is a secure 24/7 mail drop box at the Township Municipal Office, located at 1 MacDonald Square, Elora, ON.

To ease the burden to Centre Wellington tax payers:

• The Township will waive all penalties and interest on 2020 tax levies and water/sewer payments for 60 days. 
• Residential property owners with an instalment due date of April 30th will now have until June 30, 2020 to make a payment without incurring penalty and interest charges.  Non-residential and multi-residential property owners with an installment due date of March 31st will have until May 31st to make a payment without incurring penalty and interest charges.
• Residential property owners will now have a due date of August 31 and October 30. Non-Residential/Multi-Residential owners will have a due date of September 30 and November 30. 
• The Township is encouraging business/property owners currently on Pre-Authorized Payment (PAP) to continue PAP plans.  If paying the full installment is difficult at this time, we encourage property owners to reduce their PAP withdrawal amount to half for May and June.  It is important that property owners recognize this a deferral of taxes and not a reduction of property taxes.  Anyone interested in reducing their PAP amounts are asked to contact the Township office at 519-846-9691 ext. 902.
• Postponing Planned Property Tax Reassessment - The government is postponing the planned property tax reassessment for 2021.  Postponing the reassessment will also provide stability for Ontario’s property taxpayers and municipalities.  This means that 2021 tax levies will be based on 2020 assessment values.

Changes announced by Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC)

Property taxation is based on the assessed value of properties. In Ontario these assessments are updated every four years. The next property valuation update, known as a reassessment, had been scheduled to be completed by the MPAC in 2020 for the 2021 taxation year. Therefore, MPAC would have issued new assessments for more than five million properties beginning this spring.  However the government is postponing the reassessment.

When using outdoor recreation facilities, members of the public are asked to:

• Maintain a physical distance of at least two metres or six feet, except for members of the same household
• Not gathering in groups of more than five
• Wear non-medical masks where possible
• Practice good cough etiquette
• Wash and/or sanitize their hands often

As the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic continues to unfold and new information is released so fast that it feels hard to keep up, it’s important to take a step back and focus on what you can control to best support you and your family’s mental health.  For more information on COVID-19, and tips on taking care of your mental health during social distancing and social isolation, please click here.

Visit the Wellington Dufferin-Guelph Public Health website for more information on COVID-19, testing and precautions during the pandemic.

Weekend road closures to support downtown businesses - May 27

Township opens some outdoor amenities - May 22

Outdoor Amenity Update - May 15

CW Youth Council launches #CWCares movement - May 11

Township projects moving forward - May 11

Managing the Impacts of COVID-19 - May 5

Mutual Agreement will see a section of the Elora Cataract Trail re-open - May 1

Park & Sport field maintenance to resume - April 29

Connect CW offers new virtual experiences for residents at home - April 27

New website promotes shopping local in CW during COVID-19 - April 21

Township extends facility closures and cancels programming up to Friday, July 3 - April 20

Economic Recovery Efforts have begun in CW - April 16

COVID-19 Update - Thursday, April 2

Community Services Update - Tuesday, March 31

Finance Services Update - Friday, March 27

Building Services Update - Tuesday, March 24

COVID-19 Update - Sunday, March 22

Township closes all municipal facilities to the public  - Tuesday, March 17

Township makes further cancellations and program changes - Monday, March 16

COVID-19 and Township cancellations - Friday, March 13

The Township will take the lead from the Province to ensure the safety of our residents and staff to outline our re-opening framework.  This will be developed over the next few weeks and communicated to the public.  

Infrastructure staff have developed tips for businesses in regards to water quality considerations for re-opening of businesses.  
View the fact sheet here.

As of Friday, May 22, the following outdoor facilities/amenities have been opened:

• CW Dog Park
• Sports fields (team activities are not permitted)
• Structures at parks and open spaces.  Residents can once again use picnic tables, benches or shelters provided that users maintain a physical distance of at least two metres. Outdoor furniture, bleachers, backstops, and player benches are not sanitized and we remind residents to wash or sanitize their hands thoroughly after use.
• Tennis courts on Tower St. and at the CW Community Sportsplex.  We ask that members of the public adhere to the rules and regulations of the tennis courts to protect users and the community.  The rules of the courts and the Provincial regulations must be followed so that the Township will not be forced to close these outdoor amenities going forward.  Refer to the hours of operation for available tennis play.
• Skateparks and basketball courts
• Splashpads
• Parks and open spaces
• Various Township facilities.  Pre-registration is required prior to entering a facility.   This includes the CW Community Sportsplex, The Elora Community Centre, and the Victoria Park Seniors Centre.

Township of Centre Wellington Parks Assumption of Risk during COVID-19

Reopening Ontario after COVID-19

Ontario is planning for the next phase of responding to the coronavirus (COVID?19) outbreak – reopening our province.

As a first step, the Province has developed a framework to guide their approach. This framework outlines the method and principles they will use to reopen businesses, services and public spaces to responsibly lead Ontario’s economy back to a strong position.  Learn more here.

Support for businesses

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting businesses locally and globally.  Centre Wellington Economic Development is here to support you and staff are busy updating our website to showcase business support resources. Learn more about resources and information to assist you during this time of uncertainty. 

The Council of Centre Wellington has continued to meet virtually throughout the COVID-19 pandemic  To find out when council meetings take place, to stream live or for more information, click here.

On Monday, May 4, Council held their second virtual council meeting.  
Media Release - Managing the impacts of COVID-19
Presentation to Council  

Helpful Links

• Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
• Public Health Agency of Canada - Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak updates 
• Public Health Agency of Canada  - Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Awareness resources

72-hour kit

Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere. By preparing for emergencies, individuals and communities can reduce the impact emergencies have on lives and property. To help your family prepare for an emergency, view our 
Be Better Prepared Guide or Get Prepared Canada to learn about creating an emergency plan and 72-hour emergency kit. 

Build an emergency plan

Whether it's a fire or an emergency, it's important to have a safety plan in place to ensure your family can evacuate the house safely.

• Pull everyone together in your household and make your plan together
• Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes
• Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Learn more about being prepared.

Emergency Response Plan

The Township has established an Emergency Response Plan. The plan outlines actions and coordination of services, agencies and personnel to provide the earliest possible response to an emergency.

The plan is tested and updated annually in coordination with the County of Wellington through community exercises.

Local Weather and Forecasts

For the latest on Weather Conditions and Local Forecasts, visit the Environment Canada Weather Office.

Emergency Management Contacts

County of Wellington Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC)

Linda Dickson

Emergency Manager - CEMC

536 Wellington Rd 18, R.R. #1

Fergus, Ontario, N1M 2W3

Phone: 519.846.8058
Fax: 519.846.8482
Email: lindad@wellington.ca

Township of Centre Wellington Community Emergency Management Coordinators

Chantalle Pellizzari
1 MacDonald Square, Elora, ON
Phone: 519-846-9691 ext. 241
Email Chantalle

Shannon Koestner

1 MacDonald Square, Elora, ON

Phone:519-846-9691 ext. 249

Emergency Resources

Following are some additional resources for emergency situations that you might find helpful: 

General Information

Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness

Canadian Red Cross

Individual Preparedness

Wellington County

Government of Ontario

Emergency Management Ontario

Fire Marshall's Office

Ministry of Transportation Traveller's Information

Government of Canada

Environment Canada - Weather Updates

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

Health

Health Canada

Public Health Agency of Canada

Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health

World Health Organization