PROVINCE MOVES TO STAGE 3
Some city facilities to open Friday
Ottawans still won't be able to access all of the city facilities and programs they did in the pre-pandemic era, but Friday's move into the third phase of Ontario's reopening plan means a further expansion of the City of Ottawa's in-person offerings.
On the recreation and cultural side of things, GM Dan Chenier explained that designated “hub centres” will reopen Friday. They provide “good geographical coverage across the entire city,” said Chenier.
Select pools will offer indoor public and lane swims and indoor aquafitness programs, while weight and cardio rooms, indoor sports activities, skating and drop-in programs will open at select facilities.
“We will announce when our other facilities open in the coming weeks and months,” said Chenier.
He explained that with public health protocols and provincial capacity limits still in effect, a reservation system will continue to be used to book activity times. Reservations can be made online through Ottawa.ca.
Registration is ongoing for summer learn-to-swim programs, which will start the week of July 26.
Chenier said the city will soon announce fall 2021 recreation and cultural programming, and that it will include virtual sessions started during the pandemic "which are now a mainstay of our offering.
“They provide a convenient way for people to remain physically and mentally active in their home while accommodating busy schedules.”
Select indoor and outdoor spaces — halls, sports fields, pools and more — will be available for rental, according to a city notice released Wednesday.
Ottawans were directed to contact the facility directly for rental info, or to email sports@ottawa.ca for details about arena and ice bookings.
At city museums, indoor self-guided tours will begin over the next week, while city-run galleries will start reopening July 22. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks and months about instructional programming and performing arts at city cultural facilities.
The Ottawa Public Library (31 of 33 branches are open) will increase capacity, expand in-person services and reopen creative spaces, according to the city.
And speaking of drop-in, Ottawans who want a first dose of COVID -19 vaccine can stop by any of the city-run community vaccination clinics without an appointment between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., to secure a shot. Their locations are posted on the city and Ottawa Public Health websites, and include the Canadian Tire Centre, the Horticultural Building at Lansdowne, Ruddy Family YMCA-YWCA, and city hall.
Starting Thursday, drop-in second doses will be available at select community clinics. Locations will be posted daily on the OPH website and City of Ottawa social media channels.
Sixty per cent of people 18 years and older in Ottawa are now fully vaccinated, board of health chair Keith Egli announced Wednesday, while over 80 per cent have had at least one dose.