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

  1. City services under Red (Control)
  2. Visiting city facilities
  3. Community support
  4. Business support
  5. 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 rentals

Groups 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. 

Swimming

The indoor pool is open and pre-registration is required. Visit our swimming page to book your visit.

Track

The 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 use

Groups using RIM Park are subject to facility-specific rules around entry and conduct. Visit our RIM Park page for a full list of procedures.  

Pickleball

Pickleball courts are open and pre-registration is required. Visit our pickleball page to book your visit.

Indoor walking

The indoor walking program is open and pre-registration is required. Visit our walking page to book your visit.

Albert McCormick Community Centre
Hockey/ice rentals

Groups 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 rentals

Groups 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 fields
Groups 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

  • mask required for entrance
  • a member of our team will greet visitors upon their arrival
  • signage and physical distancing markers will be posted

Wing 404

Wing 404 is open by appointment only. Call 519-888-6356 to make an appointment to visit.

  • mask required for entrance
  • a member of our team will greet visitors upon their arrival
  • signage and physical distancing markers will be posted

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 
  • Municipal enforcement counter (parking tickets, licences)
  • Revenue counter (paying bills)
  • Legislative Services
Services that require appointments 
  • Planning
  • Building Services
  • Community Services
  • Mayor and CAO's office

Call 519-886-1550 to book an appointment.

Entrance procedure
  • face covering required for entrance
  • a member of our team will greet visitors
  • visitors for City of Waterloo line up on William Street side of building
  • visitors for city hall tenants line up on Regina Street side of building
  • visitors with appointments line up at the designated customer service counter
  • centre area of the building is for people to exit
  • visitors are welcome to use the first floor washrooms  

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:

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.

View current edition

Subscribe

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.

Subscribe

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.

Apply to be on map

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.

View the full retail map

If you are a retail service business and would like to be added to this list, please apply below.

Apply to be on map

Resources for operating your business
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
Other organizations offering support

Other organizations offering support

Province of Ontario

Other organizations offering support

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
Grants and financial support
Learning resources