Emergency Planning and Preparedness

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COVID-19 Update

The Township of Centre Wellington's has full confidence in our local healthcare system and are committed to working closely with local hospitals, health care and community partners, Wellington-Dufferin Guelph Public Health, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Public Health Ontario and national partners to monitor and respond accordingly to the COVID-19 situation.

On Friday, June 11, the province will move into Step One of its roadmap to reopening, a three-step plan to safely and cautiously reopen the province and gradually lift public health restrictions. Outdoor gatherings, non-essential retail, day camps and more can once again be enjoyed, in limited capacity.

These changes include the following impacts to township programs and services:

Outdoor fitness classes, outdoor groups in personal training and outdoor individual/team sport training to be permitted with up to 10 people, among other restrictions. If a member of the community would like to offer an outdoor class/program to the public on Township property, please contact staff to obtain a permit.

Day camp registration is now open. We are excited to offer modified in-person day camps for children six to twelve years of age. Our camps are planned with limited capacity to ensure safety and will be held outdoors as much as possible. Camps will take place at the Elora Community Centre, with the exception of one week at the CW Community Sportsplex. The change in location to Elora has been made due to the Wellington Guelph Public Health vaccination clinic currently taking place at the CW Community Sportsplex. For more information and to register, visit www.centrewellington.ca/daycamps
The Elora Fergus Tourism Information Centre will open on Saturday, June 12 to the public. Hours of operation in June will be Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Public washrooms at the Tourism Centre as well as outdoor washroom facilities at Bissell Park, Elora Community Centre, Forfar Park and the Fergus Weigh Scale building will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. beginning June 12. Staff are currently working on opening the Southridge, O’Brien Park and Victoria Park Fergus washrooms.
Sports fields will reopen for training only with up to a maximum of 10 people with three metres physical distancing. To reserve a field, please contact staff.
Outdoor amenities remain open with rules in place to ensure the safety of all our residents. Splash pads at Millburn Park in Fergus and the new Nora Carlaw pad at O’Brien Park are open. There is a limit of 10 participants on the splash pad at a time in order to provide adequate space for social distancing. Please follow the rules posted at the parks so that we can continue to have them open to the public.

The Elora Municipal Office, the CW Community Sportsplex (the vaccination clinic will still operate by Wellington Dufferin Public Health unit), the Elora Community Sportsplex, the Victoria Park Seniors Centre, Fergus Grand Theatre and Belwood Hall will remain closed to the public.
Township staff will be available to assist and service residents by electronic means only. 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.
Essential transportation, water and wastewater services will continue to operate on a priority basis to support our community.
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.
Community halls, meeting rooms, the fitness centre and weight room and the Aquatic Centre at the CW Community Sportsplex will remain closed due to the vaccination clinic operation.
The Victoria Park Seniors Centre will continue to operate virtually. For our seniors who still wish to work out, attend online seminars, virtual games and social programs from the comfort of their own home – our virtual zoom sessions will continue to take place. For more information, visit www.centrewellington.ca/seniorscentre
All Township playgrounds, trails, designated off-leash dog parks, skateparks, basketball & tennis courts and sportsfields are open.

The province will remain at each step for at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health and health system indicators. At the end of the 21 days, they will evaluate vaccination rates and look for positive trends in other key public health and health system indicators. If trends in key public health and health system indicators are positive, the province will move to the next step two weeks after the following vaccination thresholds have been met.

The Township will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments to services as needed.

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

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

All Township facilities are closed due to the Province's Second Provincial Emergency declaration.
Trails and playgrounds are open and the public should continue to self-distance themselves while using these spaces. View the map for open trails.
Basketball & Tennis Courts, Skateparks and Sportsfields are closed.
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.

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.

Financial Support

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 will now have a due date of February 26 and April 30, 2021. Non-Residential/Multi-Residential owners will have a due date of March 31 and May 31, 2021.
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.

To support those facing financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic, the County and all seven member municipalities intend to waive all penalties and interest on both tax and water/sewer payments on 2020 amounts for 60 days from the due date. Read the full media release issued by the County of Wellington 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
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.

News Room

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

Re-opening Ontario and the Township of Centre Wellington

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.

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

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