London recreation centres ready to reopen, but not all businesses will
The Ontario government plans to gradually ease public health measures starting Jan. 31.
The province says the process will be in steps, while maintaining protective measures such as capacity limits.
This means, beginning Monday, Londoners can once again access city pools, arenas and community centres.
“We have been preparing our facilities with the appropriate signage, doing some staff training and doing some other items, so that we are well prepared on Monday, Jan. 31,” says Director of Recreation and Sport for the City of London Jon-Paul McGonigle.
The city says all local health guidelines and provincial regulations, including capacity limits, mask-wearing and proof of vaccination will be in place to ensure the safety of participants and staff.
Due to capacity limits, people are encouraged to use the Play Your Way online portal ensure availability.
"To look at a variety of different programs, across our senior centres, our aquatic facilities, our arenas, our community centres...We do ask that people register for whatever date and session or activity that they would like, and it's important to note that we kind of control the 50 per cent piece in the background in terms of our participants thresholds,” said McGonigle.
Anyone over the age of 12 is required to be fully vaccinated and will need a vaccine certificate with a QR code to access the facilities.
And although it’s exciting for residents that many businesses will be able to re-open – not all can do so immediately.
"I mean you can't flip that on a dime,” said Deb Harvey, the executive director of the Grand Theatre in London.
She adds that the cast and crew will need more time to prepare for their next big production, ‘Room,’ scheduled for March. The production has already been rescheduled twice, but Harvey is hopeful that the curtain will rise by spring.
"That has to be planned usually months, and certainly this time weeks, in advance to try to get that," said Harvey. “Our actors will come back to the theatre to start rehearsals again Feb. 24 to get back up on the stage and ready for the first show on March 8."
For a full list of what will reopen with capacity limits in place, click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.