Sudbury closing public facilities and suspending programs to limit virus spread

SUDBURY -- The City of Greater Sudbury and Public Health Sudbury and Districts held a joint news conference late Monday afternoon to provide a COVID-19 update.

Mayor Brian Bigger, joined by Sudbury & Districts Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Chief Administrative Officer Ed Archer and Chief of Fire and Paramedic Services General Manager Joseph Nicholls delivered the news via live-stream.

Nicholls opened the news conference by thanking Sudbury first responders.

Dr. Penny Sutcliffe spoke next to provide an overview of the current situation.

While there is no evidence of community spread yet, city officials are taking active precautions to prevent further spread.

Due to the rapidly evolving situation, local health officials are recommending all residents of Greater Sudbury and Districts practice social distancing immediately and limit the number of people we come in close contact with.

Sign up: The COVID-19 Brief newsletter

The City of Greater Sudbury is also suspending public programs and temporarily closing several public facilities.

Impacted programs and facilities are as follows and will be in effect March 16 - April 5:

• All City-run camps and recreation programs, including the remainder of March Break activities, are suspended.
• Parks facilities, including fieldhouses, community spaces and Youth Centres are closed.
• Arenas are closed.
• All events at the Sudbury Community Arena are cancelled.
• Rentals at all community halls and community centres, including the Lionel E. Lalonde Centre, are suspended. No new rentals will be accepted until after April 5, 2020.
• Fitness centres are closed.
• Ski hills are closed, and all scheduled programs are suspended.
• Pools are closed, and all scheduled programs are suspended.
• Library branches and Library/Citizen Service Centre locations (except the Tom Davies Square Citizen Service Centre) are closed. All Library late fees will be waived.
• Museums are closed.
• Provincial Offences Act (POA) Court is suspended.
• Pioneer Manor remains closed to visitors.
• All in-person public meetings, including Public Information Centres, are suspended. Online engagement opportunities at overtoyou.greatersudbury.ca will continue.
• We will continue to explore options to accommodate payments from residents to the City, including property tax bill payments.

Residents will receive full reimbursements for cancelled programs, as soon as possible. More information on refunds will be shared once details are finalized. 

The following city services will continue:

• Tom Davies Square, including the Citizen Service Centre and all in-person counters, will remain open.
• Building Services, including permits, approvals and inspections, will remain open.
• City Council meetings will continue, however, residents are encouraged to watch live at www.greatersudbury.ca/livestream.
• The Regional Business Centre will remain open, however, all business seminars and training are suspended.
• Emergency shelters remain open and homelessness programs
• Public Works operations, including road repair, winter road maintenance
• Fire and Paramedic Services Emergency Response
• Housing Registry services
• Ontario Works Program services
• Planning services, including rezoning applications and development approvals
• Security, By-law and Parking services
• Landfills and the recycling centre remain open.
• Residential curbside collection of garbage, recyclables, compost and leaf and yard trimmings
• Property tax services will remain open
• GOVA Transit services
• Water and Wastewater operations
• Scheduled civil marriage ceremonies will continue in the Council Chamber. No new bookings will be accepted until after April 5, 2020.
• The Greater Sudbury Animal Shelter will remain open.
• Cemeteries will remain open.
• Road construction projects

As the first point of contact, call 311, email [e-mail] or visit www.greatersudbury.ca to conduct business with the city in order to lessen the number of in-person interactions.

Enhanced cleaning of all open facilities will continue to ensure the health and safety of visitors and employees.

In-person service counters will have enhanced measures in place to protect residents and employees.

311 call centre hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday. Tom Davies Square, 200 Brady St., is open from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.