City of Brandon Suspending Some Parks & Recreation Services as Part of Pandemic Preparedness Plan


March 13, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brandon, MB – In an effort to limit the potential spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in our community and to minimize impacts on the health care system, the City of Brandon has decided to close the Brandon Community Sportsplex (30 Knowlton Drive) and the Brandon Youth Centre (638 Princess Avenue) and to cancel all programming at these facilities, EFFECTIVE TODAY AND UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. This decision has been made out an abundance of caution and with the knowledge that the Manitoba Health-recommended practices of safe social distancing and vigilant hand washing/sanitizing are extremely difficult to adhere to in facilities where a high volume of public is likely to be present at any given time.

The Sportsplex will be closed to the public as of 7 p.m. tonight and will remain closed until further notice. All current programming at the Sportsplex has now been paused and will be revaluated at such a time when reopening the Sportsplex can be considered. Registration for all upcoming spring programming at the Sportsplex has also been paused, with the potential reopening of registrations to be evaluated at a later date.

The City of Brandon Youth Centre will be closed as of 3 p.m. this afternoon and will remain closed until further notice. City of Brandon Parks & Recreation Services has also made the decision to cancel the remaining two weeks of Lighthouse After-School Programming it runs at Valleyview, George Fitton, Green Acres, Kirkcaldy Heights, Betty Gibson, Meadows and Riverview School.

As the direction of the Brandon School Division and the Brandon School Board of Trustees, all current and future bookings of school facilities arranged through the City of Brandon and Brandon School Division Joint Use Agreement will be cancelled until further notice.

In addition, the Park Community Centre public consultation event that had been scheduled for early April has been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date.

All members of the public are encouraged to consider whether attending to civic facilities is necessary at this time, or whether conducting their business with the City of Brandon by phone, email or web service is a viable option for them. Mandatory hand washing/sanitizing protocols continues to be in place at all civic facilities, and City staff and public are encouraged to practice safe social distancing (minimizing prolonged contact of more than 10 minutes or close contact less than two metres/six feet) when interacting.

The City of Brandon would continue to direct all residents to visit https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/coronavirus/index.html for up-to-the-minute information on the Province of Manitoba’s Coronavirus response. Health-related questions or concerns about COVID-19 (coronavirus) can also be directed to Health Links – Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257.