Aurora allows outdoor skating and tobogganing with face masks, physical distancing

Town cancels other events during pandemic stay-at-home order

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 18, 2021
Lisa Queen

Aurora is allowing outdoor skating and tobogganing with restrictions during the provincial stay-at-home order but other events have been cancelled.

Outdoor skating and tobogganing are permitted with physical distancing and mandatory face masks.

Six skating rinks will be open with 10 registered participants per time slot as of Jan. 20. Full registration and operating details are available at aurora.ca/outdoorrinks.

The E-waste event on Jan. 23 is cancelled.

Friday Family Campfires are cancelled for Jan. 22, 29 and Feb. 5.

Meanwhile, campfire events scheduled for Feb. 12, 19 and 26 event are pending.

The stay-at-home order, which came into effect Jan. 14 for at least 28 days, requires all Ontario residents to remain at home except for essential trips, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, to exercise or access health-care services or essential work. Employees who are able to are required to work from home.

“With today’s announcement from the Province of Ontario, I encourage all residents to take these new orders seriously,” Mayor Tom Mrakas said in a statement.

“Please stay home, only go out for essentials and together we can all help curb the spread of COVID-19. I ask that you continue to support our local businesses by shopping online and ordering takeout. As a community, I know we will get through this tough time and prevail.”

All non-essential retailers, including stores currently offering curbside pick-up, must not open earlier than 7 a.m. or close no later than 8 p.m.

These restrictions do not apply to grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, gas stations, other stores that primarily sell food and restaurants operating takeout or delivery.

Non-essential construction will also be restricted.

Schools in York Region will not return to in-person learning until at least Feb. 10.

All town facilities remain closed.

Outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings have been further restricted from 10 people down to five.

Under the second state of emergency, police, bylaw officers and provincial workplace inspectors can ticket those who do not comply with the stay-at-home order.

For more information, visit aurora.ca/reopen.