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Town Staff are still available to assist you through phone or email. If you are picking up or dropping off materials to any of our Departments, please call in advance (705) 687-3412 - Do you have a question? Subscribe to News and Information Updates from the Town.
Mandatory Masks/Face Covering Province Wide (Learn more)
VACCINATION CLINIC INFORMATION
COVID 19 VACCINE AND IMMUNIZATION
Appointment and Walk-in Vaccinations are now available throughout Simcoe- Muskoka
Asymptomatic Testing Only Location: Gravenhurst, Ontario (Shoppers Drug Mart, 511 Muskoka RD. S)
(Service for residents who do not have any symptoms, and no reason to believe they may have COVID-19.)
(Mon-Sun)
By Appointment Only Please
Call (705) 705-687-2838 for pre-screening
There are (two) COVID-19 Assessment Centre's in Muskoka:
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (South Muskoka Memorial Hospital, Bracebridge 75 Ann Street)
COVID-19 testing by appointment only Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling
1-888-383-7009. Detailed information is posted on the MAHC website at www.mahc.ca/COVID-19Testing/, including driving directions and parking instructions for the assessment centre. The District’s Muskoka Paramedic Services, Huntsville physicians and the Town of Huntsville have united together to offer a Huntsville COVID-19 Assessment Centre location for the public:
The Huntsville COVID-19 Assessment Centre, is by appointment only testing. The assessment centre operates Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00am until 1:00pm.
Location: Active Living Centre at 20 Park Drive (Follow signs towards Huntsville Active Living Centre located at 20 Park Drive; attached to Canada Summit Centre)
Bring: face mask, health card, and name of your doctor or nurse practitioner
Notes: there are no inside washroom facilities for public use. Depending on weather, the centre may be offered in a drive-through format
Boat launches are now open under the following Provincial direction:
That physical distancing of at least two metres is respected by those using the amenity.
That each person responsible for a boat or watercraft shall ensure that if a group of persons uses that boat or watercraft together for recreational purposes, the members of the group are all members of the same household or one other person from outside that household who lives alone or a caregiver for any member of the household
Gravenhurst Fire Department seeing an increased call volume this week as cottagers are heading north to self-isolate - the "Muskoka Migration". Please take extra care with wood stoves, candles etc. Make sure smoke and CO alarms are working. Your safety is our primary concern! - March 20
The Gravenhurst Municipal Office will continue to be accessible to the public through appointment only bookings, or by phone and email, proof of vaccination will not be required, however a COVID-19 pre-screening form must be completed.
Gravenhurst Centennial Centre
In accordance with the Ontario Reopening Plan, as of September 22, 2021, proof of vaccination is required for entry to the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre.
Entry requirements for the Centennial Centre are for all individuals 18 years of age and older, participating in the following types of Town of Gravenhurst programs seven days a week.
Registered programs
Drop-in programs
Meeting or event space patrons
This policy also applies to individuals 18 years of age and older, participating in the following.
Hockey Clubs
Skating Clubs
Adult Sport Leagues
Individuals 12 years of age and older for the purposes of spectating (including parents of children in a program)
Exemptions (will not be required to show proof of vaccination certificate)
Workers, contractors, repair workers, delivery workers, students, volunteers, inspectors, or others who are entering the business for work purposes not as patrons.
A patron who is entering an indoor area solely for the following purposes:
to make a purchase.
while paying for an order.
to purchase admission; or
as may be necessary for the purposes of health and safety.
Children under 12 years of age.
Patrons under 18 years of age who are entering the indoor premises of a facility used for sports and recreational fitness activities solely for the purpose of actively participating in an organized sport. Examples of an organized sport for which the exemption applies include:
sports leagues
organized pick-up sports
Patrons who are entering the indoor premises of a meeting or event space, including a conference centre or convention centre, solely for the purposes of attending a wedding service, rite or ceremony or a funeral service, rite or ceremony, but not an associated social gathering on or after September 22, 2021, but before October 13, 2021, as long as the patron produces the results of an antigen test administered within the previous 48 hours establishing that the person is negative for COVID-19 to the person responsible for the establishment.
Patrons who provide a written document, completed, and supplied by a physician (designated as “MD”) or by a registered nurse in the extended class (designated as “Registered Nurse (Extended Class)”, “RN(EC)”, “Nurse Practitioner” or “NP”) stating that the individual is exempt for a medical reason from being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and the effective time-period for the medical reason. Patrons with a medical exemption are required to present identification and a written document stating the individual is exempt for a medical reason to the business or organization. To review proof of a medical reason for not being vaccinated against COVID-19, the business or organization must ensure:
The name of the person in the written documentation matches the identification provided.
The physician’s or registered nurse in the extended class’s information is complete by including:
Name and contact information of the physician or registered nurse in the extended class;
Logo or letterhead identifying the physician or registered nurse in the extended class;
Statement that there is a medical reason for the individual’s exemption from being fully vaccinated against COVID-19; and
Any effective time-period for the medical reason which includes the date the patron is seeking access to the business or organization.
Process and Steps for Collecting Vaccine Certificates
All visitors (excluding those with exemptions) will be required to show their vaccine certificate as issued by the Province of Ontario and identification. This information will not be retained.
Proving Identity
Validation of identification required to ensure that vaccination certificate presented by the patron belongs to them. Validation of vaccination will be based on two key identifiers:
Name of the identification holder; and
Date of birth.
**Photo identification is not required.
Examples of identification documents that may be used to confirm the identity of
the holder of the vaccine receipt include:
Birth certificate
Citizenship card
Driver’s license
Government (Ontario or other) issued identification card, including Health Card
Indian Status Card /Indigenous Membership Card
Passport
Permanent Resident Card
Validation of identification is considered to have been completed/successful when the name and date of birth of the presenter of the vaccination receipt and the name and date of birth on the identification document match. If the name and date of birth on both documents do not match, the individual will not be allowed to enter the Centennial Centre.
The patron seeking entry to the Centennial Centre is solely responsible for demonstrating that they are the legitimate holder of the vaccination receipt, and that the information being provided is complete and accurate. If they cannot demonstrate that to the Centennial Centre staff, the individual will not be allowed to enter.
Continued Protocols
• All patrons must wear a mask;
• All patrons must continue to stay 2 metres apart;
• Pre-screening and pre-booking for classes, drop-in programs continue to be required.
Gravenhurst Library
At the Gravenhurst Public Library, a Passive Screening model has been adopted. Patrons must stop at the front door and read over the screening questions posted. If they answer “yes” to any of the questions, they should not enter the building, if they answer “no” they can proceed. All patrons entering the Library are asked to provide their name and phone number for contact tracing purposes. The maximum capacity is 20 library users in the building at one time with a people being asked to limit their visits to an hour.
Passive self-screening – People must stop at the stop sign at the front door and read over the screening questions posted there. If they answer “yes” to any of the questions they should not be entering the building, if they answer “no” they can proceed.
Contact tracing – anyone entering the building is being asked to provide their name and phone number for contact tracing purposes.
Declaration waiver – anyone entering the building the first time since the library reopened to the public must sign a declaration waiver to indicate they will assume the risks with respect to acquiring COVID-19 inherent in visiting the library (same waiver being used in other town facilities). A copy of the waiver will be kept on file and a note indicating it’s been signed will be attached to the patron’s library account. People visiting the library who are not members must sign the waiver each time they come to the library.
Face coverings – everyone entering the library must wear a mask at all times unless exempt due to age, medical or religious reasons.
Physical distancing – anyone wishing to use the library must maintain a distance of two metres apart while waiting at the front of the building and while using the library space.
Maximum capacity and time spent in building – The maximum capacity is 20 library users in the building and staff are asking people to limit their visits to an hour.
Washrooms – one washroom is available for use by the public.
Boat Launches
Boat launches are open under the following Provincial direction:
That physical distancing of at least two metres is respected by those using the amenity.
That each person responsible for a boat or watercraft shall ensure that if a group of persons uses that boat or watercraft together for recreational purposes, the members of the group are all members of the same household or one other person from outside that household who lives alone or a caregiver for any member of the household
We refer to our sewing group as The Masketeers. We have been sewing masks since early April, and have donated and distributed to all the senior’s homes, long term care, senior’s apartments, takeout servers, Canadian Mental Health workers, Ryde community, Fire, OPP and Medics, Real Estate companies, doctors’ offices, postal workers, G.A.P, delivery people, and many many individuals to wear when they come into town for grocery shopping, etc.
To date we have distributed well over 3,000 masks. We are constantly offered payment for these however always ask them to Pay It Forward. It is our intention to supply these masks on a complimentary basis.
Our plan is to provide our entire Town of Gravenhurst with as many masks as possible to ensure we do our very best to stay safe.
TheMasketeers, complimentary masks, handsewn by Gravenhurst sewers. Please simply Pay It Forward in lieu of any payment for these masks.....Please wear them!
*Most of our masks are picked up in PineRidge; however, we have a good group of volunteers who will deliver should those requesting masks not have means to be picked up.
FOOD BANKS
Salvation Army - 620 Muskoka Rd N, Gravenhurst Open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 1:00 - 4:30 pm. Food bank remains open, however there is no waiting room area so clients need to call and book appointments so that we see one client at a time. Grocery delivery available (via CAA) for over 60 years or underlying condition. Phone: (705) 687-2131.
Gravenhurst Against Poverty continues to take precautions and is open on a take out basis.
Located at 290 Muskoka Road North - Trinity United Church parking lot.
Our Tuesday lunch is offered from 12-1 pm take out only.
Our Thursday Supper Club and Fresh food giveaway will also be open.
Both are open 4-6 pm, the dinner will be a take dinner.
Need help navigating the programs and resources available? Connect with our Business Support Concierge Service. Let us try and help you. If we don’t have an answer, we’ll try to get one. Call 705-644-2207 or email Jeff.Loney@Gravenhurst.ca
Looking for self-serve information? Take a look at the information below:
What Safety measures and protocols should I follow?
Provides income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are directly affected by COVID-19 and are not entitled to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. The CRB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
If you are eligible for the CRB, you can receive $1,000 ($900 after taxes withheld) for a 2-week period.
If your situation continues past 2 weeks, you will need to apply again. You may apply up to a total of 13 eligibility periods (26 weeks) between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021. SEE THE OVERVIEW
a Canadian employer who has seen a drop in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of your employee wages, retroactive to March 15. This subsidy will enable you to re-hire workers, help prevent further job losses, and ease you back into normal operations. The subsidy is extended to June 2021. the deadline to apply is January 31, 2021, or 180 days after the end of the claim period, whichever comes later. SEE THE OVERVIEW
Provides income support to employees eligible for Employment Insurance benefits who work a temporarily reduced work week while their employer recovers.
The program will help small businesses and landlords cover 50% of their rents for April, May, and June. The program will provide loans, including some forgivable loans, to commercial property owners who are then to either lower or forgo the rent for small businesses.
Will see banks offer $40,000 government-guaranteed, interest-free loans for the first year to cover operating costs for businesses and not-for-profit organizations. If certain conditions are met, the first $10,000 will be forgiven.
Through Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) businesses can access direct lending and other types of financial assistance.
Provides grants of up to $5,000 to assist business owners cover the costs of PPE, make physical modifications and enhance their digital or e-commerce capabilities.
Assistance, Information and Grant funding to implement digital technology for your business. Tips for how to market your business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Business Technology Improvement Grant (BTIF) and is a grant of 50% up to $25,000 for the costs of adopting digital technology.
What Will Assist with Reducing My Operating Expenses?
Time-of-use Hydro pricing
Starting March 24, Hydro customers will pay the off-peak rate (10.1¢/kWh) no matter what time of day for at least 45 days. This pricing will be applied automatically.
Payment Deferrals and Interest
Big Bank Loan & Credit payment deferrals
The Bank of Montreal, CIBC, National Bank of Canada, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and TD Bank will assist small business customers, on a case-by-case basis, to help them manage through financial challenges.
Canadian businesses, non-profit organizations, or charities who have seen a drop in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses, starting on September 27, 2020, until June 2021. SEE OVERVIEW 1 & OVERVIEW 2
5 months interest and penalty-free period of provincially administered taxes.
Deferring the upcoming quarterly (June 30) remittance of education property tax to school boards by 90 days to allow municipalities to provide property tax deferrals.
Up to 6 months of deferred Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) payments.
provides a flat benefit of $2,000 for workers or self-employed business owners who are not eligible for EI benefits and have been out of work for 14 consecutive days in any four-week period for reasons relating to COVID-19.
provides income support to employees eligible for Employment Insurance benefits who work a temporarily reduced work week while their employer recovers.
A subsidy that will provide businesses with up to 75 per cent of an employee's salary on the first $58,700 which could mean payments of up to $847 a week, for up to 3 months. This wage subsidies will be retroactive to March 15, 2020.
Is My Business Considered Essential?
In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, the Province has restricted what businesses can remain open to a specific list of essential businesses. On May 1st, the province released an update to that list.
Still not sure you can contact the Ontario Business Information Line 1-888-444-3659
We refer to our sewing group as The Masketeers. We have been sewing masks since early April, and have donated and distributed to all the senior’s homes, long term care, senior’s apartments, takeout servers, Canadian Mental Health workers, Ryde community, Fire, OPP and Medics, Real Estate companies, doctors’ offices, postal workers, G.A.P, delivery people, and many many individuals to wear when they come into town for grocery shopping, etc.
