Coronavirus (COVID-19) response
Waterloo is moving back to the Red (Control) category at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday February 16. Visit Ontario.ca for a full list of restrictions.
City buildings and recreation facilities are re-opening with limitations. Parks, trails and outdoor facilities remain open with gathering size and capacity limits.
Full details below.
On this page
- City services under Red (Control)
- Visiting city facilities
- Community support
- Business support
- Arts and culture support
Last updated Thursday March 4 at 2:00 p.m. Translate this page.
City services under Red (Control)
Waterloo is moving back to the Red (Control) category at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday February 16. Visit Ontario.ca for a full list of restrictions.
If possible, use online or over-the-phone services instead of visiting an indoor facility in person. Read the visiting city facilities section below before coming in.
City hall re-opening on February 22
The following in-person services are re-opening on February 22:
- Marriage licensing, document commissioning, Freedom of Information requests
- Payment counters for property taxes, water bills and municipal enforcement
- Building permit applications and issuance, letters of compliance and fee payments
- Marriage ceremonies (maximum four people, must reside in Waterloo Region)
Recreation centres and museum re-opening
Recreation centres will start to open on February 18 with the staggered opening of programs, facilities and services over the following 7 to 10 days.
Read our news release for a full schedule of activities and openings.
The City of Waterloo Museum will re-open on February 23 at 11:00 a.m.
Parks, trails and rinks remain open with restrictions
Parks, trails and playgrounds are open regular hours, subject to physical distancing and a gathering limit of 25.
Outdoor rinks are open with a total capacity of 25 people on the ice at time. Games/shinny are not permitted.
Cemeteries and funeral services remain open with restrictions
Outdoor funeral ceremonies are open to a maximum of 25 people outdoors and 10 people indoors.
Waterloo libraries re-opening on February 19
Visit the WPL website for full details, including occupancy limits and additional safety measures.
Visiting city facilities
The Region of Waterloo's mask bylaw applies to all city facilities.
Visitors must wear a mask indoors at all times unless involved in strenuous physical activity or unable to because of a medical condition or disability.
Anyone who is unwell, has a temperature, been outside Canada in the last 14 days or exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 is not permitted to enter a city facility.
Find hours of operation, available services and safety procedures below.
Recreation centres
Recreation centres will start to open on February 18 with the staggered opening of programs, facilities and services over the following 7 to 10 days.
Read our news release for a full schedule of activities and openings.
Rules for all facilities include:
- complete mandatory pre-screening
- wait outside at marked entrance to be greeted by facility ambassador
- masks required except during play
- no spectators permitted (one guardian per minor aged participant is permitted)
- no access to showers or change rooms - arrive dressed to play as safely and reasonably as possible
- no re-entry after leaving facility
Facility-specific services and safety procedures are below.
Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex (WMRC) |
Hockey/ice rentalsGroups using the ice at WMRC are subject to facility-specific rules around entry and conduct. Visit our WMRC page for a full list of procedures. SwimmingThe indoor pool is open and pre-registration is required. Visit our swimming page to book your visit. TrackThe indoor track is open and pre-registration is required. Visit our track page to book your visit. |
RIM Park Manulife Sportsplex |
Rinks, gym and fieldhouse useGroups using RIM Park are subject to facility-specific rules around entry and conduct. Visit our RIM Park page for a full list of procedures. PickleballPickleball courts are open and pre-registration is required. Visit our pickleball page to book your visit. Indoor walkingThe indoor walking program is open and pre-registration is required. Visit our walking page to book your visit. |
Albert McCormick Community Centre |
Hockey/ice rentalsGroups using the ice at Albert McCormick are subject to facility-specific rules around entry and conduct. Visit our Albert McCormick page for a full list of procedures. |
Moses Springer Community Centre |
Hockey/ice rentalsGroups using the ice at Moses Springer are subject to facility-specific rules around entry and conduct. Visit our Moses Springer page for a full list of procedures. |
Manulife Soccer and Sports Complex at Bechtel Park |
Indoor fieldsGroups using the indoor fields are subject to facility-specific rules around entry and conduct. Visit our Manulife Soccer and Sports Complex page for a full list of procedures. |
Adult Recreation Centre |
The Adult Recreation Centre is open by appointment only. Call 519-579-1020 to make an appointment to visit. Washrooms are open for walk-in use from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily
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Wing 404 |
Wing 404 is open by appointment only. Call 519-888-6356 to make an appointment to visit.
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Administrative buildings
City hall |
Starting February 22, Waterloo City Hall is open regular business hours, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Services available for walk-in
Services that require appointments
Call 519-886-1550 to book an appointment. Entrance procedure
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Outdoor facilities
All parks, trails and playgrounds are open regular hours, subject to physical distancing and gathering size limits.
Washrooms
Masks are required inside city washrooms. Please do not visit a washroom if you're feeling unwell, recently travelled outside Canada or been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Washrooms currently available to the public for walk in use:
- Adult Recreation Centre, daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Waterloo Park east side between Eby Farm and the Potters Workshop, daily from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Community support
For a list of local community supports, visit the Region of Waterloo's community support webpage. This includes food delivery, and public spaces open for warming or washroom use.
Waterloo at Home
City staff and community partners have come together to create Waterloo At Home - a curation of helpful tips and resources for residents to make the best of their time at home.
Using Engage Waterloo as the platform, Waterloo At Home is a one-stop-shop for ideas, resources and stories aimed at keeping residents active, connected and creative at home.
In This Together
It has been a tough year Waterloo, but we have shown our strength and come together as a community.
It is important to be kind to yourself and to your community. Show your support by displaying one of our signs in your window.
Together we have made a difference in the fight against COVID-19.
Here is how you can participate:
- print and display signs
- take a photo of yourself with your sign
- tweet using the hashtag #BeKindWR
- tag @citywaterloo @RegionWaterloo and organizations like @ROWPublicHealth, local hospitals or school boards
Download and print your own In This Together poster/sign |
Download and print your own In This Together colouring page.
City of Waterloo neighbourhood newsletter
We're all neighbours. Now more than ever, sharing information and having points of connection is important.
We publish a weekly email newsletter with information to help you stay informed and socially connected while physically distancing.
Past editions |
To contact the neighbourhoods team during this time, email neighbourhoods@waterloo.ca
Business support
Our economic development office is working with regional partners to monitor and assess developments related to COVID-19 and their impact on businesses in the City of Waterloo.
We have put together a series of resources to help during this time. For questions or additions/changes to the list, please contact ecdev@waterloo.ca or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.
The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre and Uptown Business Improvement Area also have helpful resources for local businesses.
To stay up to date on programs and business stories, sign up for the Smart Business Newsletter.
Community improvement plan survey
The business community has expressed a need for assistance to help offset the costs incurred due to the pandemic. As a result, the economic development office has proposed a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) to offer small to medium sized businesses a grant of up to $1,500 to help businesses recover and grow.
Before we launch the program, we have created a short survey and invite you to provide feedback so we can best meet the needs of small businesses. Please take our survey posted on EngageWaterloo.
Restaurant, cafes and food shops in Waterloo open during COVID-19
If you're looking for restaurants, cafes or food shops to service you during the temporary closures in Waterloo, this list has everything that is open.
If you are a food service business and would like to be added to this list, please apply below.
Retail businesses open during COVID-19
If you're looking for clothing and accessory stores, health and personal care, sporting goods and hobbies, electronics, gardening supplies or general merchandise to service you during the temporary closures in Waterloo, this list has everything that is open.
If you are a retail service business and would like to be added to this list, please apply below.
Resources for operating your business
- Sector specific documents to help support workers, customers and public
- Health standards for businesses
- Develop your COVID-19 safety plan
- Keeping Ontario safe and open
Call for suppliers to help during COVID-19
Government of Canada resources and programs
As programs are changing regularly, please check Canada’s Program for managing your Business during COVID-19 for the most up to date information.
Helping business avoid layoffs and rehiring
Helping businesses access credit and funds
- Expanded Ontario's Main Street Relief Grant: PPE Support
- Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP)
- Ontario small business support grant
- Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) – now expanded
- Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)
- COVID 19 Emergency Benefit
- Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
- Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
- Support for Indigenous Businesses
- Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility
- FED DEV Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)
- CANExport SME's
- Ontario's Main Street Relief Grant: PPE Support
Other organizations offering support
Other organizations offering support
- Waterloo Region Small Business Centre
- Digital Main Street & Digital Service Squad
- Digital Main Street Transformation Fund
- Flexibility for businesses filing taxes
- Trade Commissioner Program
Province of Ontario
- COVID 19 Help for Businesses in Ontario
- Businesses: get help with COVID-19 costs
- Main street relief grants
- Financial advice and online training
Other organizations offering support
- Greater KW Chamber of Commerce
- PPE Access
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business
- Facebook Grant for Small Business
Local businesses helping businesses
- Shopify: get a retail business online quickly with a three-month trial
- Vidyard: free video messaging conferencing tools
- Accelerator Centre: free mentoring workshops across Canada
- Blackberry: secure connectivity tools free trial and Resource kits on returning to work and crisis communications
Arts and culture support
The city's arts and culture team has put together a series of resources to help during this time.
For further updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Advocacy groups with resources
- Federal Support for Culture, Heritage and Sports Sector
- Canada Arts Council
- Ontario Arts Council
- Canadian Artists Representation - CARFAC
- Professional Association of Canadian Theatres
- Writers Trust of Canada
- I Lost my Gig
- Region of Waterloo Arts Fund