Gradual reopening of Waterloo recreation facilities

The City of Waterloo will begin to reopen recreation facilities following the province’s details of steps to gradually ease public health measures, starting Monday, January 31, 2022.

Effective Monday, January 31, social gathering limits will be increased to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, and City of Waterloo recreation facilities will reopen, at 50 per cent capacity:

• On Monday, January 31, our recreation facilities will reopen for indoor sport bookings
• On Monday, January 31, the free walking programs at RIM Park and the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Centre will reopen
• On Tuesday, February 1, aquatic leadership programs will resume
• On Thursday, February 10, pickleball and aquatic drop-in programs will resume
• During the week of February 14, additional drop-in programs will be added
• During the week of February 21, additional drop-in fitness programs will start
• Swim lessons will resume for the spring session, information on registration and start dates available on waterloo.ca/activewaterloo
• The City of Waterloo Museum will remain closed until mid February while a new exhibition is installed. Follow their Facebook or Instagram pages for more information: @waterloomuseum

Program information can be found at waterloo.ca/activewaterloo. Additional drop in programs can be found on the PickupHub platform.

Everyone 12 and older (participants, volunteers, coaches, and parents/spectators) are required to show the enhanced vaccination certificate (with QR code) and government ID to enter our recreation facilities, and to perform health screening and contact tracing either in advance or upon arrival. This includes those with a valid medical exemption.

City recreation facilities will no longer accept physician notes for proof of medical exemption. Residents with a medical exemption will need to present a provincially-issued exemption QR code for verification.

Additional measures in place for recreation at city facilities include:

• Reduce the number of spectators at practices and games to meet the 50% capacity limit (one guardian per player where possible)
• Have players arrive dressed to play and ready to participate, avoid the dressing room if possible
• Follow safe dressing room protocols where in use – minimize time spent in dressing rooms, wear masks, and keep distanced
• Wear masks at all times, except for participants during play or on the bench
• Keep distanced wherever possible, and do not congregate in lobbies or hallways
• Food service provision is stopped until further notice, concessions and vending machines are not available
• No outside food or drink is permitted in recreation facilities (water for sport is exempted)
• Eliminate indoor team social activity

We would like to thank everyone in advance for their patience, and for planning their arrival to allow for the extra time required when entering our facilities. Program participants are reminded to Check Before you Rec for health screening and applicable program information, subject to change based on further direction and/or guidance from the province and regional governments.

For the most up to date information, please refer to the city’s COVID-19 response page. 

-30-

Media contact:
Cari Van Niekerk
Manager, Corporate Communications
Cari.vanniekerk@waterloo.ca