Get outside: What the stay-at-home order means in Georgina

From toboggan hills and outdoor skating rinks to garbage tags and library services

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 18, 2021
Amanda Persico

The province issued a stay-at-home order effective Jan. 12 for 28 days, requiring everyone to say home with exceptions for essential services such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, attending medical appointments or health care service, exercise and for essential work.

Outdoor public gatherings are also restricted to a limit of five people.

“Now, more than ever, our role in helping to stop the spread is critical,” Mayor Margaret Quirk said in a statement.

“We need to follow the provincial guidelines, which means staying home and reducing the number of people we come into contact with outside our immediate household.

“We know people are adjusting again to working from home and online learning for kids, and this is a challenge. We need to work together and take strong action as a community to stop the spread of the virus.”

Here’s what the stay-at-home order means for Georgina residents:

Tobogganning:
The municipally maintained toboggan hill, skating rink and tubing hill are closed until further notice. The ROC property will remain open so long as users are following proper COVID-19 safety measures and maintaining physical distancing.

Parks, trails and playgrounds remain open for tobogganing, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing and walking.

Outdoor skating:

The Pefferlaw Ice Pad, an artificial ice surface, will remain open for pre-registered public skating, subject to capacity limits. The free, 45-minute sessions must be pre-booked online in advance.

Masks or face coverings are required for skaters and spectators. Hockey and shinny games are not permitted at this time.

The town is closing all neighbourhood outdoor rinks.

Skating is not permitted on any stormwater management pond, as temperatures change quickly, making ponds extremely dangerous.

Garbage tags:
The town is removing bag tags for garbage starting Jan. 18. Households can put out a max of five untagged bags or items on garbage collection days.

Georgina Public Library:
All three branches of the public library remain closed for in-person visits, but continue to offer contactless, curbside pickup and drop-off services.

For more information, visit georgina.ca/COVID-19.