RELEASE — In response to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and recently announced measures from KFL&A Public Health, the City of Kingston is taking proactive steps to keep the community and staff safe and to ensure the continued delivery of essential and critical services.
“Our priority is taking proactive steps to protect our workforce so that we can continue to provide essential services to our community. We have made decisions today that may be inconvenient, but which are necessary and essential to keep Kingston safe,” says CAO Lanie Hurdle.
Certain City facilities that provide in-person service will be closed until Jan. 4. Based on the community situation at that time, these closures may be extended.
Closed
Closures will take effect tomorrow, Thursday Dec. 16 and on Friday, Dec. 17.
- Dec. 16 – 1211 John Counter Blvd.
- Dec. 16 – City Hall. Please note public restrooms on the lower basement (accessible via the amphitheatre) will remain open.
- Dec. 16 – Grand Theatre due to cancellations (Box Office will remain available).
- Dec. 16 – Memorial Centre and Centre 70 due to cancellations.
- Dec. 17 – The administrative office at Kingston Area Recycling Centre. Blue and green bins will not be available during this period.
- Rideaucrest Home is closed to visitors until further notice, by direction from KFL&A Public Health. Essential caregivers, essential workers and essential support staff may continue to enter the facility.
City staff who work at these facilities (Planning Services, Building and Licensing, Office of the City Clerk and City Payment Centre) will remain available by appointment, Monday to Friday, to support residents.
Please consider conducting business online or by phone. In cases where that’s not possible, you will have the option of booking an appointment. Payments can continue to be made through online banking, at your financial institution, drop boxes located at City Hall and 1211 John Counter Blvd. and by mail. Visit CityofKingston.ca/COVID19 for a detailed list of payment options and contact information.
Open
Facilities, services and programs that remain open to the public:
- Outdoor recreation amenities.
- The Kingston Area Recycling Centre and Truck Scale (KARC) remain open Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can continue to drop-off yard waste Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- 362 Montreal St. Clients of provincial programs like Ontario Works are encouraged to contact their case manager prior to going into the office.
- INVISTA Centre remains open with reduced capacity limits.
- Artillery Park Aquatic Centre, with reduced capacity limits. Swimmers, please note that effective Dec.16, swim capacity will be reduced to 30 per cent.
- Rideau Heights Community Centre for after school programming until Friday, Dec. 17 and, after this date it will remain open for ongoing vaccination and COVID-19 testing.
- Portsmouth Olympic Harbour will remain open to provide for vaccination and COVID-19 testing.
Additional Impacts: New programming on hold
- Winter 2022 registration for recreational programs has been deferred until early 2022.
- The 2022 New Year’s Eve event has been cancelled
The City of Kingston is also working to ensure the safety of frontline staff and residents by introducing rapid testing for COVID-19 for staff.
Find additional information on COVID-19 impacts to City services at CityofKingston.ca/COVID19, where you can also sign up for the City Matters: COVID-19 bulletin for regular updates – straight to your inbox.
Release source: City of Kingston
