The East Ferris Community Centre is opening for business this coming Tuesday, October 12. Located at 1267 Village Road in Astorville, the centre holds both an arena and curling rink, along with a banquet hall and kitchen.
Boardroom and meeting space is also available, and all facilities are available to rent and can be booked online.
The municipality has released a vaccination policy, citing “all patrons entering” the community centre and arena are “required to provide proof of being fully vaccinated against Covid-19,” along with proof of identification.
The municipal policy was developed as per provincial restrictions.
Proof of full vaccination must be provided by all patrons and players over the age of 18. The same goes for all spectators aged 12 and over.
All coaches, officials, and volunteers are also required to provide proof of vaccination
“Should an individual choose not to share this information,” the municipality explains, “they will not be permitted to enter the facility.”
“These requirements were legislated by the Province of Ontario, and we are to enforce them.”
The municipality reminds residents that “challenging staff for requesting this information will be considered harassment and may result in being banned from future entry to the facility.”
There are exceptions. Workers, contractors, delivery workers, inspectors and others who need to enter the building for work purposes (not as patrons) are allowed.
A patron entering to make a retail purchase or to buy a ticket may enter.
Children under 12 can come in as well, same goes for those aged 12-17 who “are entering the arena to participate in a scheduled game / practice not as a spectator of said game / practice.”
Patrons can also provide proof of a medical exemption supplied by a physician or registered nurse “in the extended class, RNEC, NP.”
Identification will also be required when presenting proof of exemption.
Accepted forms of identification for both vaccine proof and exemptions are a birth certificate, citizenship card, driver’s licence, health card, or an Indian Status Card / Indigenous Membership Card.
Passports and permanent resident cards are also acceptable.
The municipality is still enforcing capacity limits within the centre and masking and physical distancing will remain enforced. A patron’s contact information will also be collected.
Residents are welcome to contact the community centre at 705-752-3566 with any questions.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
