In accordance with the provincial announcement to safely and gradually re-open, the following changes to City services and programs will go into effect beginning January 31, 2022.
Capacity limits
Residents are reminded to continue to follow physical distancing and face covering public health measures, and adhere to the provincial gathering limits under Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen framework as follows:
- Maximum 25 people for outdoor gatherings and organized public events with limited exceptions.
- Maximum 10 people for indoor gatherings and organized public events.
Capacity limits in all City facilities remain limited to 50 per cent. This includes Brantford City Hall as well as the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre (WGSC), Brantford Farmers’ Market and all City-owned Community Centres and arenas. Capacity in all spaces, including spectator and non-spectator areas, the WGSC aquatics and fitness Centre and the Centreline Physio, Sports and Wellness clinic and Lookout Sports Lounge restaurant is 50 per cent.
Entry requirements
- Proof of being double vaccinated is required from all entrants 12 years of age and over to arenas and community centres with proper government issued identification
- Face coverings are required
- 2m/6ft physical distancing is required
- Visitors to all Community Centres, the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre and arenas will be required to pre-screen using a QR code and must be able to show a passed screening result to staff prior to entry
City facilities
Brantford City Hall
Brantford City Hall will be open for walk-in service beginning January 31, 22 at 8:30 a.m. Residents are encouraged to access the list of Popular City Services available online at brantford.ca for convenient ways to digitally request City services. In-person services will be limited to the following:
- Bulk water refill program
- Commissioning services
- Drop off and pick up of documents for the Building, Planning and Public Works departments
- Marriage licenses
- New dog tag licensing
- Payments – property tax and water billing
All other City services provided from City Hall will temporarily remain appointment only. For more information please email us at customercontact@brantford.ca or call 519-759-4150.
Community Centres and museums
Current programming offerings resume and are limited to 50 per cent capacity at the following facilities with pre-registration required for all programming/tours:
- Beckett Adult Leisure Centre
- Bell Homestead National Historic Site
- Branlyn Community Centre
- Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition
- Doug Snooks Eagle Place Community Centre
- T.B. Costain/SC Johnson Community Centre
- Woodman Park Community Centre
Child Care and Early Learning
- EarlyON Child and Family Centres continue to provide virtual programming at this time. Up-to-date details on virtual programming and future in-person indoor and outdoor programming, once permitted, can be found at brantford.ca/EarlyON. All programming will follow provincial and local health and safety guidelines.
- Child care and EarlyON staff continue to be required to wear either N95 or medical grade masks.
Harmony Square
The outdoor ice rink is now open daily 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. with a capacity limit of 25 people at a time, weather permitting.
Pre-registration is required for the Friday Skate Party program in February from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at brantford.ca/RecConnect. Back-to-back bookings are not permitted for the Skate Party at this time.
Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre and arenas
Arenas (including Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre, Brantford and District Civic Centre and Lions Park Arena)
- Pre-registration is required for WGSC public skating at brantford.ca/RecConnect. Adult skating, adult shinny and Stick n’ Puck skating will resume with no registration required.
- 50 per cent capacity limit in spectator and non-spectator areas
- Players can arrive 30 minutes prior to your ice time and need to vacate within 30 minutes following the end of your ice time.
- Dressing rooms are open with masks and 2m/6ft physical distancing required.
- Showers will be available at this time
- Concessions at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre, Brantford and District Civic Centre and Lions Park Arena are closed at this time
- Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre restaurant will be limited to 50 per cent capacity and close by 11:00 p.m.
- Alcoholic beverages will not be served after 10:00 p.m.
- No external food/drink permitted in spectator and non-sport areas of any City facility.
Aquatics and Fitness
Pre-registration is required for Aquafit and public swimming.
Registration will open on Friday, January 28, 2022 for all activities running January 31 to February 5, 2022 at brantford.ca/RecConnect. Registration for activities running February 6 to 12 will open on Wednesday, February 9 beginning at 7:00 a.m. and weekly thereafter for the following week of activities.
The indoor track will reopen daily from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Registration is not required but capacity is limited to 50 per cent and may close for team training or games. View indoor track hours.
Tourism Information Desk and Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition
The Tourism Information Desk and Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition will reopen on Monday, January 31, 2022 for regularly scheduled hours.
- Tourism hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Tourism Information Desk visits are still categorized as under 15 minutes long or as retail and therefore do not require proof of vaccination or screening.
- Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition Hours: open daily 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition is subject to the 50 per cent capacity limit. Entrance into the Sports Hall will require proof of vaccination screening, which will take place at the Arena Information Desk.
Previously announced City service changes in effect until further notice
Brantford Transit
- Monday to Friday Brantford Transit morning rush half-hour service from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. remains unchanged at this time. Extra services to industrial areas will be provided as available.
- Brantford Lift will continue to operate during regular hours, with passenger limits in place
- Brantford Transit will operate on an hourly schedule (every 60 minutes) Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday service remains unchanged and will continue to operate hourly from 8:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m.
- Brantford Transit evening routes will operate from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. (routes 11,12,13,14 and 15)
- A maximum of 33 riders will be permitted on each Brantford Transit bus at any one time
- Select seats will be blocked off so riders are always physically distanced from each other
- Roof vents will be opened to provide better air circulation
Customers are kindly reminded to only use Brantford Transit for essential travel purposes including work, medical appointments, pharmacy visits, and grocery shopping to reduce the risk of spread of the Omicron virus.
Emergency Shelters
An additional 12 isolation emergency shelter spaces are now available bringing the total to 40 emergency shelter isolation spaces. Essential outreach services will continue to be provided at this time though response times may be delayed due to staff absences as a result of illness and/or requirements to self-isolate.
Protect yourself and others
To book your vaccine appointment, please visit the Brant County Health Unit’s website at www.bchu.org or Ontario’s online booking portal at covid19.ontariohealth.ca. You can also book your COVID-19 vaccine appointment through participating pharmacies at covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations.
Stay Vigilant
Please continue to follow these important COVID-19 guidelines to keep yourself and others in our community safe:
- Wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, cover coughs or sneezes, clean and disinfect surfaces and stay home if you are sick.
- Wear a face covering in all public enclosed indoor spaces or when physical distancing (2 metres apart from those outside your household) cannot be maintained outdoors to reduce the risk of transmission.
- Book your COVID-19 vaccination through the Brant County Health Unit.
