UPDATED: Clarington closes all municipal buildings and recreation facilities to the public

Updated Monday, March 16, 2020, 4:40 p.m.

The Municipality of Clarington is taking additional health and safety measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community. The following Clarington facilities are now closed to the public:

Municipal Administrative Centre (Town Hall)
Municipal Law Enforcement Office
Visitor’s Centre
Clarington Animal Shelter
Hampton Operations Centre
All Fire Stations

Clarington Emergency and Fire Services will continue to operate as usual to support our community. The Municipality will also continue to provide services to residents via telephone and email as applicable. If you require a service that is time sensitive or critical, please call 905-623-3379 to schedule an appointment.

With the recent global developments and growing concerns over the COVID-19 virus, including the World Health Organization’s declaration of a pandemic and Ontario Government’s decision to issue a ministerial order to close schools for an additional two weeks following March Break, the Municipality of Clarington has taken decisive action.

The health and safety of all of our residents is our utmost priority. To help facilitate social distancing and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Clarington will be closing all recreation facilities effective March 13, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. We anticipate that all facilities will reopen for regular operating hours on Monday, April 6, 2020. All programs and activities, including March Break Camps, drop-in programs and facility rentals, are cancelled.

Facility Closures

The following facilities will close:

Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre
Courtice Community Complex
Diane Hamre Recreation Complex
Darlington Sports Centre
Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex
South Courtice Arena, including artificial turf field
Bowmanville Indoor Soccer/Lacrosse Bowl

NOTE: Program participants will receive a full refund or pro-rated refund based on the date of the cancellation.

Online registration for spring recreation programs will continue during the closure. Pro-rated fees will be calculated for delayed programs.

Meeting Cancellations

The following public meetings are cancelled and will be rescheduled:

Public Information Centre #3: Brookhill Secondary Plan Update, Tuesday,
March 24
Public Information Centre #2: Courtice Employment Lands and GO Station Area, Tuesday, March 31

Council and Committee meetings will continue as scheduled and will be available to watch online at www.clarington.net/calendar. All delegations will either be moved to a future meeting or asked to submit their comments in writing.

Open for Business

The following buildings will remain open for business:

Municipal Administrative Centre (Town Hall)
Municipal Law Enforcement Office
Visitor’s Centre
Clarington Animal Shelter
Hampton Operations Centre
All Fire Stations

To adhere to social distance guidelines, we ask residents, where possible, to make tax payments online or through their bank. If you have any tax-related questions, please try calling first at 905-623-3379.

We recognize the significant impact this decision will have on the community, but we firmly believe that this is the best option as the situation continues to evolve. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Clarington will continue to monitor the situation and update residents on any changes to our operations.

Resources

For up-to-date information on the evolving situation, visit:

For details on Clarington facilities and programs, www.clarington.net
For information relating to all public health matters and situational reports in the Region of Durham,
www.durham.ca/novelcoronavirus
Ministry of Health updates, www.ontario.ca/coronavirus
Latest news from Public Health Agency of Canada, www.canada.ca/coronavirus