May 6, 2021
City of Edmonton services will be changing to help protect Edmontonians from the spread of COVID-19. These changes align with the restrictions announced by the Government of Alberta on May 4.
“I want to thank Edmontonians for their continued patience as we deal with the adjustments that have to be made to our programming and services to keep Edmontonians and our staff safe,” said Mayor Don Iveson. “It’s essential Edmontonians continue to do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19. Please follow the public health restrictions and get vaccinated as soon as you are eligible. Restarting our city, restarting our economy depends on getting this third wave under control.”
Previous provincial restrictions mean that most of the changes to City services are already in place, including:
Recreation and sports
- All bookings for sports fields, baseball diamonds and running tracks are cancelled for a minimum of three weeks.
- All outdoor fitness and recreation programming is cancelled.
- The Edmonton Valley Zoo, all three City-operated golf courses and Victoria driving range are currently open and will operate in compliance with public health orders.
- The online plant sale for the Muttart Conservatory will continue with protocols in place for curbside pickup.
- Outdoor tennis and basketball courts and skate parks remain open. Everyone must follow the restrictions for outdoor activities.
Parks
- Public parks remain open to enjoy; however Government of Alberta guidelines must be followed.
- Playgrounds remain open, and maintenance crews continue to inspect playgrounds, address regular wear and tear, and respond to notifications and emergencies.
Temporary Patios and Sidewalk Cafes
- In-person dining, including on patios, is prohibited according to the recent provincial restrictions.
- Although these mandatory restrictions are in effect, the City’s temporary patio program continues to accept applications for when restrictions lift. More than 125 locations have already been approved.
Big Bin Events
- The first two Big Bin Event weekends (May 8-9 and May 15-16) have been cancelled to comply with the Alberta Health Services outdoor social gatherings restrictions. They will be rescheduled for later in the year, if feasible.
- A decision whether the May 29-30 Big Bin Event will proceed will be made after the May long weekend.
“Overall, Edmontonians continue to follow restrictions. The vast majority of people are protecting themselves, their neighbours and their families by wearing face coverings, physically distancing and avoiding social gatherings,” said Andre Corbould, Edmonton City Manager. “We believe that the City’s programming decisions strike the right balance between protecting public safety and encouraging outdoor activities and wellness.”
The City is
tracking progress on a number of measures related to the health of Edmontonians, the health of the local economy, and compliance with public health restrictions.
