Proof of Vaccination Required at the City's Indoor Recreation Facilities

Beginning Wednesday, September 22, as per Provincial regulations, anyone entering an indoor recreation facility (pools, arenas, fitness centres and community halls) is required to provide their vaccination receipt or medical exemption along with proof of identification. Acceptable proof of identification is a piece of government-issued ID that has the name and date of birth of the identification holder, for example a birth certificate, citizenship card, driver’s licence, health card, status card, passport or permanent residence card.

What you can expect:
•    You will be required to show proof of identification and proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (including the 14-day waiting period). Vaccination receipts may be shown electronically or in hard copy and must be shown at every visit.
•    Proof is required by anyone 18+.
•    People aged 17 years and under who are entering the facility solely for the purpose of participating in an indoor organized sport (training, practices, games and competitions) are not required to show proof of vaccination for COVID-19. Please note that while the Provincial regulations state that youth ages 17 and under do not require proof of vaccination while participating in recreational sport, individual sports associations have the ability to take additional measures for the protection of their players, coaches and volunteers. Please review requirements for participation with your local sports association.
•    In addition, proof of identification and proof of being fully vaccinated is not required for coaches, officials and volunteers actively participating with organized youth sports.
•    Currently, the Province’s interpretation of organized sport does not include public skating, parents and tots skating, adult skating, family swim, lane swim or public swim. This means that youth aged 12 plus must show proof of vaccination to participate in these activities. This definition may be further refined.
•    Individuals aged 12 to 17 who are attending facilities as spectators must show proof of vaccination and government-issued ID.
•    Individuals aged 12 to 17 who are participating in weight room activities must show proof of vaccination and government-issued ID.

How to show proof:

•    Stop at the entrance to municipal facilities to check in. We will accept digital or paper proof of vaccination along with government-issued ID. The Government of Ontario has announced a QR code scanning process will be available beginning October 22. City staff are preparing to implement this technology and are awaiting additional details from the Province to finalize IT requirements and processes.     

Without proof:
•    You will be unable to enter the facility as a facility user or spectator unless you are exempt from showing proof of vaccination.
•    If you do not have proof of vaccination, those with memberships to pools or fitness centres should contact their facility to discuss their membership options.

The following individuals are exempt from showing proof of vaccination under the Provincial regulation:

•    Workers, contractors, repair workers, delivery workers, students, volunteers, inspectors or others who are entering the facility for work purposes and not as patrons.
•    A patron entering an indoor area solely for the following purposes:
o    To use a washroom
o    To access an outdoor area that can only be accessed through an indoor route
o    To make a retail purchase
o    While placing or picking up an order
o    While paying for an order
o    To purchase admission; or
o    As may be necessary for the purposes of health and safety
o    Those who are under 12 years of age;
o    Those who are under 18 years of age, and 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. 
o    Those who provide a written document, completed and supplied by a physician or registered nurse in the extended class, that sets out, in accordance with the Ministry’s guidance a documented medical reason for not being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and the effective time-period for the medical reason.
Where possible, residents are encouraged to build in extra time to allow for necessary screening and vaccine verification when visiting facilities, especially as staff and patrons become accustomed to this new process.  

Proof of vaccination is required at pools, arenas, fitness centres and community halls. All other City facilities do not require proof of vaccination. Changes to these requirements may be amended based on provincial announcements and local circumstances. We will keep you informed of any developments.

For the COVID-19 user guidelines for City arenas, visit https://www.greatersudbury.ca/play/arenas/arena-pdf-documents/covid-guidelines/; for pools, visit https://www.greatersudbury.ca/play/pools/pdf/pool-covid-19-guideline/; and for fitness facilities, visit https://www.greatersudbury.ca/play/recreational-facilities/fitness-centres/pdf/covid-19-guidelines-for-fitness-facility-users/.
Individuals can download or print their vaccine receipt from the provincial booking portal at https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca/, or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line at 1-833-943-3900.
For COVID-19 updates and information related to City services, visit www.greatersudbury.ca/covid or find us on Facebook and Twitter. 

For the most up-to-date local information on COVID-19, visit the Public Health Sudbury & Districts website at www.phsd.ca/coronavirus. 

For additional information on the Proof of Vaccination Policy, visit https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1000807/ontario-releasing-guidance-to-supportproof-of-vaccination-policy. 

Residents can contact 311 by phone or Live Web Chat (311.greatersudbury.ca) for questions about the effect of provincial rules and regulations on City programs and services.