The situation is changing quickly. This page will be updated weekdays by 4 p.m.

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City services – what’s open

City Hall and court house

ServiceGuelph is selling bus fares and large garbage item tickets and accepting payments for invoices, parking tickets, pet licences, and property taxes at City Hall Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Marriage licences are issued by appointment only. You can schedule a civic wedding/marriage ceremony in City Council chambers on Thursdays and Fridays. Visit guelph.ca/serviceguelph for more information.

You can pay tickets, request a trial or extension at the Guelph Provincial Offences Court from 8:30-4:30 p.m. If you received a ticket on or before March 16, 2020 you have until December 1, 2020 to exercise the options on the back of you ticket. Beginning December 2, 2020, timelines will resume and matters will proceed through the judicial system, including the issuing or notices for unpaid provincial offences matters where there has been no response to the options listed on the back of your ticket. Learn about payment options and extensions.

All in-person Provincial Offences court dates between March 16 to October 19, 2020 are cancelled and to be rescheduled to a later date. If you have a matter scheduled during this time, do not attend court. Remote judicial pre-trials and some remote audio non-trial proceedings will proceed. If your matter is proceeding, you will be notified by the court. The order is available to view on the Ontario Court of Justice website

Please consider using the drop box mail slot at the front of City Hall or online services at guelph.ca/how.

City Council and committee meetings

Learn when and how to participate in online City Council and committee meetings at guelph.ca/council.

Downtown pedestrian zone/dining district

Parts of Wyndham and Macdonell streets are closed until September 22 to make room for patios in the Downtown Guelph Business Association dining district/pedestrian zone.

Garbage and recycling

Visit guelph.ca/waste for public waste drop-off hours, fees, and guidelines. The paper shredder remains closed.

If anyone in your home is self-isolating due to COVID-19 symptoms, has tested positive for COVID-19, or is isolating due to travel outside Canada, please put all recyclables and garbage in bags in your grey cart. Keep using your green cart as usual.

Guelph Farmers’ Market

Indoor shopping starts September 5. Please visit guelph.ca/farmersmarket for safe shopping guidelines and to place your order in advance.

Guelph Transit – masks are required

Guelph Transit is running on a 30-minute schedule, Monday to Saturday. No change to Sunday service. Do not use public transit if you are feeling unwell, or you have travelled outside Canada within the past 14 days.

Parks playgrounds and sports fields

Playgrounds are open. Team sports are permitted. Picnic shelters are available for rental in Riverside Park and South End Community Park. Amusement rides at Riverside Park are closed.

Some park washrooms are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. until Thanksgiving

Eastview Community Park

Exhibition Park, tennis courts

Guelph Lake Sports Fields (accessible)

South End Community Park (accessible)

Margaret Greene Park (accessible)

Market Square

Norm Jary Park

Silvercreek Park

George’s Park (accessible)

Riverside Park (accessible)

Riverside Park concession

We also have some portable washrooms in our parks

Royal City Park north

Silvercreek Skate Park

Joe Kaine Park

Centennial Park

E. Hamilton Park

Hanlon Creek

Jubilee Park (near the splash pad)

South End Community Park

Waverley Park (near the splash pad)

Northview Park (near the splash pad)

Grange Road Park

Eramosa River Park

York Road Park

Howitt Park

Sunny Acres Park (near the wading pool)

Exhibition Park (near the wading pool)

Pools and splash pads

Visit guelph.ca/swim for hours, fees and guidelines for indoor pools. All outdoor pools and splash pads are closed for the season.

Recreation programs and facilities

Fall program registration starts September 30 at 7:30 a.m. Register online at recenroll.ca or call 519-837-5699. If paying with cash, in-person registration is available at West End Community Centre or Victoria Road Recreation Centre.

Program preview starts September 23 at guelph.ca/guide. Fall recreation programs start October 18.

Customer service counters at West End Community Centre and Victoria Road Recreation Centre

Monday to Saturday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday, 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Note: Victoria Road Recreation Centre customer service counter reopens September 20.

Victoria Road Recreation Centre

Reopens to pool and ice user groups on September 20 and to the public on September 28 for drop-in swim programs. Meeting room rentals start November 1.

Evergreen Seniors Community Centre

Reopens October 18 for rentals and registered programs, but the Dining Room remains closed. Earlier, the Guelph Wellington Seniors Association announced it is not running any in-person activities until September 2021. This doesn’t impact seniors programs offered by the City.

Guelph Sports Dome

Reopens October 18 for community rentals.

Centennial and Exhibition Park arenas

Reopened earlier this month for ice rentals. To book pool, ice or meeting room space at our facilities, call 519-837-5678 or email [email protected].

West End Community Centre

Reopened August 4; however, the fitness room remains closed. Meeting room rentals start November 1.

Please wear a mask or face covering inside the facilities to protect City employees and visitors.

Road and sidewalk changes

Temporary road and sidewalk changes allow people walking and cycling to stay 2 metres apart. Changes include closing one lane of traffic to provide extra space for people walking and cycling, creating one-way sidewalks and putting signs ahead of narrow sidewalks/trails asking people to yield to oncoming pedestrians.

Thank you for wearing a mask

In Guelph, you are required to wear mask, scarf, or bandana to cover your nose and mouth on the bus, inside City facilities and local businesses. Wearing a homemade mask or face covering may not protect you from the virus, but it can help protect others around you.

The medical order from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health states that people don’t have to show proof a any health condition that prevents them from wearing a mask. Masks are not required for people who:

are under the age of 5 years either chronologically or developmentally;

can’t breathe safely while wearing a face covering;

have a medical reason including but not limited to, respiratory disease, cognitive difficulties or difficulties in hearing or processing information.

To protect yourself and others from COVID-19

wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer

stay at home

if you must go out, stay two metres (6.5 feet) away from people outside your household or social circle

Stay informed. Stay safe.

Get accurate reliable information about COVID-19

Get tested for COVID-19

On September 11, Guelph’s test centre moves to 400 Southgate Drive

Until then, please visit the COVID-19 assessment centre at the Victoria Road Recreation Centre, 151 Victoria Road North if:

you have symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, fever etc.)

you have had contact with someone with a confirmed or suspected case

you are at risk of exposure during your work (essential workers, healthcare providers, grocery store employees etc.)

Do not call 911 unless it is an emergency. Keep emergency phone lines clear for people with severe shortness of breath, or serious or life-threatening illnesses.

Learn more about getting tested



COVID-19 cases in Guelph

Mental health support and resources

School reopening plans

Support for people and families

Ontario Emergency Assistance Program can help you with the cost of food, rent, childcare, disability support, medicine transportation and housing. Apply for Ontario Works online or call 519-837-6274.

Support for seniors, mortgage payments, income taxes and more

Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan includes updated employment insurance benefits, mortgage support, income tax flexibility, and the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

Support for homeless, food-insecure

Several local agencies are working together to support people who may need food and shelter during this crisis. Learn more about Guelph’s plan to help the homeless during COVID-19.

Please contact the County of Wellington 519-837-6274 with any questions about social housing or emergency housing.

Volunteering during COVID-19

The People Information Network is the best place to connect with organizations looking for volunteers to help out during COVID-19. Subscribe to weekly updates follow them on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter or call 519-821-0632 for current opportunities.

Provincial and Federal contacts

Please contact Guelph’s Member of Provincial Parliament, Mike Schreiner if you have questions about programs and resources provided by the Province of Ontario.

Please contact Guelph’s Member of Parliament, Lloyd Longfield if you have questions about programs and resources offered by the Government of Canada.

Support for business

Mayor’s Task Force on Economic Recovery



Personal protective equipment (PPE) for Guelph businesses

The Province of Ontario has posted sector-specific guidelines and a Workplace PPE Supplier Directory for business in need of PPE. For more information, visit ontario.ca/ppe.

The Guelph Chamber of Commerce has also created a centralized directory to help businesses source PPE locally. For more information, visit guelphchamber.com.

Temporary seasonal patio program

Government of Canada

Resources for Canadian Businesses offers Temporary Business Wage Subsidy, work-sharing options, tax deferrals, loans, and mortgage deferrals.

Regional Relief and Recovery Fund provides financial contributions (interest-free loans) to help support fixed operating costs of small and medium sized enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic if they have been unable to access other Government of Canada measures.

Please contact Guelph’s Member of Parliament, Lloyd Longfield if you have questions about programs and resources offered by the Government of Canada.

Government of Ontario

Read about the support available for businesses from the Government of Ontario.

Please contact Guelph’s Member of Provincial Parliament, Mike Schreiner if you have questions about programs and resources provided by the Province of Ontario.

Guelph business support

Please contact the City of Guelph’s Economic Development department if you have general questions or require business support. Get updates in the Mind Your Business e-newsletter, or follow Invest In Guelph on Facebook or Twitter.

Can your business help respond to Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Ontario Together Fund $50 million

The Ontario Together Fund will help companies retool, build capacity or adopt the technological changes needed to produce supplies and equipment for hospitals, long-term care homes and other critical public services.

Learn more about Ontario Together funding

Media contact

Tara Sprigg

General Manager Corporate Communications and Customer Service

519-822-1260 extension 2610

[email protected]