Leisure centres, libraries, forestry park, rinks close

In an effort to slow the transmission of COVID -19, the City of Saskatoon has closed all leisure centres, indoor and outdoor rinks and the Forestry Farm Park and Zoo until further notice. Saskatoon Public Libraries has also shuttered all of its branches. The closures take effect Monday morning.

“We want to make sure we can maintain essential services and one of the ways we can do this is to limit non-essential contacts in the community, including our staff,” said Pamela Goulden-mcleod, director of emergency preparedness.

The city still needs to determine how it will compensate people affected by the closures.

Mayor Charlie Clark said city councillors will have the option to phone-in for meetings and the public is being asked to watch council meetings over livestream.

The city will proceed with registration for spring and summer programs, which began Sunday night, by phone and online.

The city initially announced that only libraries within leisure centres would be closed and Goulden-mcleod said the Frances Morrison Library, which is a warming location used by Saskatoon’s vulnerable population, would remain open. However Saskatoon Public Libraries announced late Sunday that it would close all of its locations.

The province is asking everyone to avoid non-essential travel and has banned all gatherings of more than 250 people. People are asked to practise social distancing and to self-isolate for 14 days if they have travelled outside the country.

Updates will continue to be provided at the city’s website.