91原创 Township has become the latest Lower Mainland municipality to shut down public facilities to help fight COVID-19.
A statement was released by mayor Jack Froese Monday afternoon:
鈥淎s of 8 p.m., Monday March 16th, all Township recreation centres, arenas, pools, and the 91原创 Centennial Museum are closed to curb the spread of COVID-19. Spring break day camps and childcare services will continue at our facilities until further notice. We continue to take direction from health authorities on further closures and cancellations.鈥�
Among the affected facilities are the 91原创 Events Centre, Aldergrove community centre and Walnut Grove pool.
鈥淲e are dealing with an unprecedented situation that is impacting us all, and the health and safety of our residents and staff is of the utmost importance,鈥� Froese commented.
鈥淗ow we respond in the days and weeks ahead, both individually and as a community, will be important.鈥�
Froese said workers at the different facilities would remain on the job, to assist residents by phone and other methods.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to keep staffed up,鈥� Froese told the 91原创 Advance Times.
He said the work load for the employees was likely to shift from current duties to other, possibly virus-related, tasks.
Froese added that when Township council next meets, on March 23rd, 鈥渟ocial distancing鈥� will be enforced.
Plans are to have a greater separation between members of council, and to restrict the size of the audience to below the suggested limit of 50 people.
The public is encouraged to stay home and livestream Council proceedings at , rather than attend meetings in person.
Anyone wanting to appear as a delegation or make a presentation to Council is asked to provide their information via email, to assist in managing upcoming Council meetings, as content will be limited to essential priority items.
鈥淏y continuing to work together and supporting each other, we will strive to keep our community healthy and overcome this,鈥� Mayor Froese said.
People who want to make presentations to council will be invited to do so via email.
鈥淲e鈥檙e doing what we can [to slow the spread of the virus],鈥� Froese said, describing the situation as 鈥渦nprecedented.鈥�
The Township also announced a planned open house on a transportation study of the 216 Street Corridor from Telegraph Trail to 96 Avenue in Walnut Grove would be cancelled because of COVID-19.
91原创 City announced similar measures earlier in the day.
READ MORE: Timms Community Centre and Douglas Recreation Centre to shut doors to prevent spread of COVID-19
Timms Community Centre and Douglas Recreation Centre will be closed effective tomorrow at 4:30 pm (Tuesday, March 17) until further notice to prevent the spread of the virus and minimize the exposure of COVID-19.
All programs will be suspended except for Spring Break camps and childcare programs until further directives from health authorities, the City notice explained.
Mayor Val van den Broek said plans are to retain staff from the centres, with some possibly being reassigned.
There are also plans to rearrange council seating to increase the distance between councillors, and there will be limits to the size of audiences at 91原创 City council meetings.
91原创 City council meeting can be viewed at .
The City will provide a refund to participants for any cancellation of programs or rentals, put memberships on hold until the end of March 2020, and will cancel any City scheduled events with over 50 people until the end of April 2020.鈥�
READ ALSO: 鈥楩ormal announcement鈥� on B.C. school openings or closures amid COVID-19 expected Tuesday
The province says it is still considering whether schools in B.C. will remain open once spring break ends in two weeks.
But a 鈥渇ormal announcement鈥� on schools is expected to take place tomorrow.
Alberta and Saskatchewan have both closed schools and daycares.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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