COVID-19: New capacity limits for City of Hamilton recreation facilities and programming based on Red “Control” category
NOVEMBER 18 2020
HAMILTON, ON – As a result of entering the Red
“Control” category of the province’s Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework on
Monday, the City of Hamilton is providing an update to the community on the new
capacity limits for City recreation facilities and programming.
The province today confirmed for the City that the following capacity limits are required as part of the Red “Control” category:
City Recreation centres, arenas and community halls:
- A maximum of 10 patrons may be in a facility, regardless of size, at one time – this includes coaches
and players
- There are no special capacity limits for on-rink activity – a maximum of 10 patrons can be in the entire
facility at one time
- No spectators permitted
- Hockey teams may train with drills only (no games or scrimmage of any size)
- No access to arena changeroom facilities
To: Hamilton Junior Bulldogs (HJB) Coaches & Parents
From: HJB Board of Directors
Date: November 18, 2020
RE: COVID19 Update
This evening the City of Hamilton announced changes to the capacities of their recreational facilities. These changes come into effect Thursday November 19 at 5:000pm.
https://www.hamilton.ca/government-information/news-centre/news-releases/covid-19-new-capacity-limits-city-hamilton
This will mean that regardless of size of arena (single, double, triple, quad) the capacity is 10-total for patrons (athletes/coaches/instructors/guardians). The recent movement of Hamilton Region into the Covid-19 Control- Red Zone has put HJB in a position where we must pause all hockey operations for the next 48 hours. This pause is necessary while we work with the Ontario Hockey Federation and the City of Hamilton to obtain clarifications and explore our options going forward. All options are being considered. This requires extensive planning, agreement, and operational changes with many different partners. The Board of Directors is monitoring the situation daily and commits to informing all coaches, parents, and players as soon as we have more information. We commit to having an update by the end of this month based on direction provided by the City of Hamilton and Public Health.
We understand this will be disappointing news to the HJB players and families. We are optimistic that steps taken now will allow for a better outcome. Stay safe and if there are any questions please feel free to each out to a HJB Board Member.
Thank you,
HJB Board of Directors
ONTARIO HOCKEY FEDERATION
400 Sheldon Drive, Unit 9 Cambridge, ON N1T 2H9
T: 226 533.9070 F: 519 620.7476
www.ohf.on.ca
OHF Bulletin 
To: OHF Members
From: Phillip McKee, Executive Director Date: 11/18/2020
Re: COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open
With the recent rollout of the province’s COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open the OHF would like to provide guidance to its Members, associations and teams as to the implications on programming.
Within the COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open, the provincial government has established five colour coded levels of public health measures. Each Public Health Unit falls within one of the following levels:
Prevent (green) Standard measures. Restrictions reflect broadest allowance of activities in Stage
3. Highest risk settings remain close.
Protect (yellow) Strengthend measures. Enhanced targeted enforcement, fines and enhanced education to limit further transmission. Public health measures for high risk settings.
Restrict (orange) Intermediate measures. Enhanced measures. Restrictions and enforcement, avoiding any closures.
Control (red) Stringent measures. Broader-scale measures and restrictions across multiple sectors to control transmission (return to modified Stage 2). Restrictions are the most severe available before widescale business or organizational closure.
Lockdown (grey) Maximum measures. Widescale measures and restrictions, including closures, to halt or interrupt transmission (modified Stage 1 or pre-Stage 1).
The provincial government maintains an up to date list of the various levels and which Public Health Unit falls in each category, the list is available here.
The below chart indiciates the permitted activities within OHF programming for each level of the
provincial government’s framework.
|
PHU Level
|
OHF Stage
|
Permitted Activity
|
|
Prevent
|
Stage 3b
|
· Instruction training for registered players within Association
· 3v3/4v4 competition (compliant within Ontario Regulation 364/20. Specifically cohorts of 50 or less)
· No travel outside of PHU unless otherwise approved by OHF
· Max 30 participants (players & coaches) on-ice
|
|
Protect
|
Stage 3b
|
· Instruction training for registered players within Association
· 3v3/4v4 competition (compliant within Ontario Regulation 364/20. Specifically cohorts of 50 or less)
· No travel outside of PHU unless otherwise approved by OHF
· Max 30 participants (players & coaches) on-ice
|
|
Restrict
|
Stage 3b
|
· Instruction training for registered players within Association
· 3v3/4v4 competition (compliant within Ontario Regulation 364/20. Specifically cohorts of 50 or less)
· No travel outside of PHU unless otherwise approved by OHF
· Max 30 participants (players & coaches) on-ice
|
|
Control
|
Stage 1
|
· Instruction training for registered players within Association
· Strict on-ice physical distance required
· Max 10 participants (players & coaches) on-ice
· Minimum 2 registered bench staff present
· Recommend 1 on-ice coach
· Recommend 1 off-ice trainer (behind glass) to allow for maximum on-ice participants
|
|
Lockdown
|
N/A
|
· No programming delivered
|
The OHF and its Members are committed to the health and safety of all participants, should any questions arise do not hesitate to reach out for clarification. Your support and compliance with the relevant guidelines is of great importance to the continued success in providing an opportunity for our participants to enjoy the game.
ONTARIO HOCKEY FEDERATION
400 Sheldon Drive, Unit 9 Cambridge, ON 226 533.9070 F: 519 620.7476
www.ohf.on.ca