No issues at Caledon recreational facilities due to proof of vaccination requirements
Published November 10, 2021 at 5:35 pm
The Mayor of Caledon says sports and recreation facilities in town are going “full throttle” now that staff and volunteers have been double vaccinated.
At a regional Council meeting last month, Thompson asked for an extension of the Region’s proof of vaccination requirements at hockey arenas, fitness centres and other municipal facilities in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon.
Thompson made the request out of a concern that town-run facilities would be shut down because there wasn’t enough time for staff to get the required two does of a COVID-19 vaccine by the November deadline.
The request was denied, and the mayor said Caledon facilities have “not had any disruption whatsoever” due to the requirements aside from a few disgruntled attendees.
“I did have a couple residents saying they wanted a refund on their taxes when they couldn’t enter because they don’t want to do the vaccines,” Thompson told insauga.com.
And while there have been a few complaints, Thompson said he’s also been contacted by residents who say the proof of vaccination requirements have made them feel safe when visiting Caledon facilities.
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“There’s two ways of looking at it, but as far as the disruption for allowing things to move forward we’ve been fine,” he said.
The mayors of both Mississauga and Brampton said facilities in those municipalities have also not had any disruptions due to the vaccine requirements.
Peel Public Health (PPH) is inching closer to its goal of vaccinating 90 per cent of eligible residents in the Region. Thompson said residents who may still be vaccine hesitant should talk to their physician and consider getting the shot so the Region “can start to move forward.”
“This is a pandemic, and this is a deadly virus. Luckily, we got the vaccine place to get our economy turned around,” Thompson said.
With the province warning of a potential fifth wave of infections, the mayor urged resident to wear masks and social distance when gathering indoors to avoid any future lockdowns.
“I think once we hit that 90 percentile (of residents double vaccinated), I’m quite confident that we don’t have to be regressive, but I think we have to be cautiously progressive going forward.”
PHP said 89 per cent of eligible Peel residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 84.8 per cent have been fully immunized.
More than 10,700 individuals have also received a third booster dose.
For more information on how to get a COVID-19 vaccine visit www.peelregion.ca.
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