Emergency Planning and Preparedness

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COVID-19 Update

Update - January 4, 2022

In response to recent trends that show an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, the province has made the decision to return to the modified version of Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen effective Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. for at least 21 days, subject to trends in public health and health system indicators.

All Township facilities will be closed to the public until January 26, 2022.

Elora Municipal Office. Township staff are available to assist residents by electronic means only.
- Phones will be answered between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday at 519-846-9691.
- General email inquiries can be sent to clerks@centrewellington.ca.
- Purchasing of dog tags and burn permits are available online at www.centrewellington.ca/permits.
- Cemetery services will be provided by appointment only. Please call 519-846-9691 ext. 240 or email staff at cemeteries@centrewellington.ca
- Building Division services will be conducted online, by email at building@centrewellington.ca or by calling 519-846-9691 ext. 907. Building inspections will continue to take place with strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols in place.
- Planning applications continue to be accepted and processed during this time, with preference to electronic submissions. In-person appointments will be limited, however can be arranged by contacting staff. Planning enquiries can be directed to planning@centrewellington.ca or by calling 519-846-9691 ext. 241.
CW Community Sportsplex. All memberships will be extended automatically for the duration of the facility closure. Aquatic lesson and programs will be on hold until the Aquatics centre re-opens. This facility will remain open for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health vaccination appointments only.
Elora Community Centre and Belwood Hall.
Fergus Grand Theatre. The box office will remain open for ticket sales of upcoming events online at www.fergusgrandtheatre.ca
Victoria Park Seniors Centre. The centres virtual programs will continue as scheduled, and more will be added over the next few days. To register for any of the classes/seminars being offered virtually click here.
Elora Fergus Tourism Office. (Washrooms at this location and Bissell Park, Weigh Scale building and Forfar Park will remain open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily).

Some of the provincial highlights/changes include:

Reducing social gathering limits to five people indoors and 10 people outdoors.
Limiting capacity at organized public events to five people indoors.
Ensure employees work remotely unless the nature of their work requires them to be on-site.
Retail, personal care services, weddings, funerals, religious services – 50% capacity.
Closing indoor meeting and event spaces with limited exceptions but permitting outdoor spaces to remain open with restrictions.
Closing indoor dining at restaurants, bars, other food or drink establishments, concert venues, theatres, …
Closing indoor sport and recreational fitness facilities including gyms.
All publicly funded and private schools will move to remote learning starting January 5 until at least January 17.
School buildings would be permitted to open for child care operations, including emergency child care, to provide in-person instruction for students with special education needs who cannot be accommodated remotely and for staff who are unable to deliver quality instruction from home.

Proof of vaccine requirements

Beginning Dec. 20, proof of vaccination and valid government ID is required to enter certain township facilities.
Anyone 12 and older entering will be required to:

show proof of vaccination or medical exemption (through the downloaded enhanced vaccine certificate)
show government identification (a picture or legible photocopy is acceptable)
complete the COVID-19 health screening (www.centrewellington.ca/screening)

Effective Tuesday, January 4, as required by the Province of Ontario, digital or printed QR codes will be required to enter the following Township facilities as part of Ontario’s Proof of Vaccination Policy:

CW Community Sportsplex
Elora Community Centre
Fergus Grand Theatre
Victoria Park Seniors Centre

There are a number of ways you can access your enhanced vaccine certificate with QR code in advance of Tuesday, January 4:

Download a digital or paper copy on the provincial website.
Call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 to have your vaccine certificate mailed to you.

We will update this page when new information is available, click the blue "subscribe to this page" button at the bottom of the page to get updates as soon as we post them. We are also posting regular updates on social media. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

If you cannot find the answer to your question, please email us, or give us a call at 519-894-9691

Proof of Vaccine Status

The Ontario government requires patrons to be fully vaccinated (including the 14-day waiting period) and provide their vaccination receipts or medical exemption alongside government-issued identification (i.e. Birth certificate, Citizenship card, Drivers licence, Government (Ontario or other) issued identification card including health card, Indian Status Card/Indigenous Membership Card, Passport or Permanent Resident card) to access some indoor Township programs and services at the following locations:

The CW Community Sportsplex and the Elora Community Centre
The Fergus Grand Theatre
The Victoria Park Seniors Centre

County of Wellington and Member Municipalities Emergency Declaration

As a result of the #COVID-19 pandemic, the County of Wellington along with its seven member municipalities have declared an emergency in accordance with the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, 1990. Read the full media release issued by the County of Wellington here.

Building Permits

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 travelled 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 2 m 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 COVID-19 Advisory for more information.

Closures and Cancellations

Facility closures

The Elora Municipal Office and Belwood Hall remain closed to the public.
Township staff are available to assist and service residents by electronic means. Phones will continue to be answered between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday at 519-846-9691, general email inquiries can be sent to clerks@centrewellington.ca and service requests such as purchasing of dog tags and burn permits are available online at www.centrewellington.ca/permits.
Cemetery services will be provided by appointment only. Please call 519-846-9691 ext. 240 to schedule an appointment.
At this time, building permits will only be accepted electronically through email. All applicable forms and documents can be emailed to building@centrewellington.ca. If residents do not have the ability to apply electronically, applications can left at the municipal drop box outside the main doors of the Township Office in Elora. All other Building Division services will be conducted online, by email at building@centrewellington.ca or by calling 519-846-9691 ext. 907. Visit the building webpage for more information.
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.

Face Coverings

Effective 12:01 a.m. on June 12, 2020, Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health for the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit, has ordered all persons who own or operate a Commercial Establishment in the jurisdiction of the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit., to:

Prohibit persons from entering the premises of the Commercial Establishment or remaining in the premises if the said Person is not wearing a Face Covering. The Face Covering must be worn inside the Establishment at all times, unless it is reasonably required to temporarily remove the Face Covering for services provided by the Establishment.
A Person shall be exempt from wearing a Face Covering on the premises if:
a. The Person is a child under the age of two years;
b. Wearing a Face Covering would inhibit the Person’s ability to breathe in any way; or
c. For any other medical reason the Person cannot safely wear a Face Covering.
Ensure the availability of alcohol-based hand rub at all entrances and exits for the use of all Persons entering or exiting the Establishment.

For more information on face coverings, and to read the media release, click here.

How to protect you and your family

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
Wear non-medical masks where possible
Wash and/or sanitize their hands often

As the COVID-19 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.

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.

Virtual Council meetings

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.

Helpful Links

Emergency Planning & Preparedness

The Township of Centre Wellington is committed to providing emergency services to everyone in the community. Below is information you can use to prepare your family in the event of an emergency.

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)

Hurania Melgar
Emergency Manager/CEMC
County of Wellington
536 Wellington Road 18 RR1
Fergus, ON N1M 2W3
Phone: 519.837.2600 Ext. 3322
huraniam@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
skoestner@centrewellington.ca

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