HAPPY CANADA DAY: What’s open and what’s not

Happy Canada Day!

Although many attractions remain closed due to COVID-19, there’s still a lot going on.

Health officials urge those heading out to celebrate Canada’s 153rd birthday to adhere to social distancing rules. Wash your hands, stay in social circle of no more than 10 people, avoid crowds,  and wear a mask in all indoor public spaces.

The City of Toronto provides the folloiwng information:

CITY POOLS AND SPLASH PADS

Torontonians can cool off at all of the city’s 140 splash pads and 56 outdoor swimming pools with the exception of Summerville, Alexandra Park and Kiwanis outdoor pools which are undergoing repairs.

The city’s 100 wading pools will begin to open on July 1 on a location-by-location basis.

In order to allow for physical distancing, the capacity at outdoor pools will be significantly reduced to 25%. Swimmers will be limited to 45-minute sessions to allow for cleaning.

CITY BEACHES

Toronto beaches are open, and lifeguards will supervise swimming areas from 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. The four Toronto Island Park beaches will open for swimming on July 1. Rouge Valley Beach remains closed this season.

The city has increased the number of waste bins along the waterfront and will be emptying those in high traffic areas more frequently. Any overflowing bins or litter hot spots should be reported to 311.

CITY PARKS

Most amenities in city parks are open, including:
•       Picnic shelters
•       Fixed BBQs
•       Soccer and multi-use outdoor fields, including running tracks in parks
•       Baseball diamonds and basketball courts
•       Some public tennis courts and pickleball courts
•       Lawn bowling and outdoor bocce
•       Off-leash dog parks
•       BMX locations and skateboard parks
•       City-run golf courses and disc golf locations
•       Ravine green spaces, trails and boardwalks for jogging or biking

Park amenities that remain closed include playgrounds and outdoor exercise equipment.

Individuals are not permitted to play team sports on fields or courts intended for this purpose unless they are members of the same household.

All five city golf courses will be open and offer holiday rates on Wednesday.

PUBLIC WASHROOM FACILITIES

Park washrooms will be open to the public on July 1.

In addition, the city has opened a number of facilities with showers, washrooms, and drinking water.

ISLAND FERRY

The public ferry service recently resumed operations at 50% capacity with COVID-19 guidelines and procedures in place.

Tickets are limited to 5,000 per day. Visitors must purchase tickets online in advance at toronto.ca/ferry.

Lifeguards will return to the four Toronto Island Park swimming beaches on July 1.

Services and amenities that are open at Toronto Island Park on Canada Day include washrooms, a splash pad, a first aid station, William Meany Maze, some food and beverage outlets and disc golf.

FIREWORKS AND BONFIRES

Family fireworks can be discharged on your private property without a permit on Canada Day, but people must comply with the City of Toronto fireworks bylaws.

Residents are asked not to discharge fireworks where they may be a nuisance, pose a risk of fire, injury or damage to any person or property.

A bylaw prohibits residents from setting off or selling fireworks in city-owned parks.

Residents are reminded that bonfires and the consumption of alcohol are not permitted in parks, beaches or public spaces.

ROAD CLOSURES

Some curb-lane closures, to accommodate new cafés/patios, will be in place on Wednesday for the first CafeTO locations throughout the city.

PUBLIC TRANSIT AND OTHER SERVICES

TTC service will operate on a Sunday schedule but service will begin early, at approximately 6 a.m.

The following amenities and attractions will be closed on Canada Day:
•       St. Lawrence Market
•       Toronto Public Library branches
•       City administrative services
•       High Park Zoo and Riverdale Farm

City of Toronto emergency and 24-hour services will operate on July 1.

VIRTUAL CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS

This year, the city is joining other municipalities across Canada in hosting a national virtual Canada Day. All in-person Canada Day events have been cancelled.

Canada Day 2020 will feature four livestreamed segments on the city’s YouTube channel.