Announcements

The Province of Ontario has announced further relaxation of Covid restrictions.

Your Board of Directors have discussed these changes and have agreed to follow the above noted Provincial Government directions regarding Covid 19 as per our past practice. This means that effective March 1^st at 12:01am:

• Both vaccinated and unvaccinated members and day members will be accessing the WBC.
• Fobs will be restored for all members to permit access.
• Masking will still be necessary and enforced for all members in the lounge area and locker rooms.
• Self screening will continue to be necessary for all members prior to entering the club.

As noted by Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health; we are not out of this pandemic yet and it is the personal responsibility of every one of us to follow the necessary measures in place to prevent infection and to decide what level of risk we are prepared to accept in our daily interactions.

It is my hope that we can all embrace these changes with consideration for everyone’s safety and viewpoints and slowly return to the vibrant and welcoming members club that we are all so proud to belong to.

Thank you for your consideration and support throughout these challenging times.

The Woodstock Badminton Club will be fully reopened to members effective Monday January 31 at 12:01am.  Fobs will be restored to allow access to the club.

In keeping with our previous determination regarding the interpretation of these restrictions; in particular the limitation of access to 50 percent capacity; we confirm that these restrictions return us to full operational court status and modified lounge access in order to maintain compliance. The only events that would challenge these new restrictions would be a very large rental event or a tournament…both of which are not within our current plans.

So in conclusion, it is business as usual!  You do not have to use the Reservation Tool to book an online use of the courts.  Nor do you need to reduce the number of players on the courts and all four courts are in play.  The regular schedule of both Badminton and Pickleball continues to apply and non-members (day members) and our Southgate visitors are welcome.  We continue to provide our facility for rental to members and outsiders.

You do need to:

1. continue to mask and ensure social distancing in the lounge.
2. sign in each visit for tracing.
3. ensure that you are double vaccinated to enter the club. 
4. Continue to self screen prior to entry and please do not enter the club if you are symptomatic.

Thank you for your assistance and cooperation in these efforts to keep our members safe and our club compliant with these new Provincial Regulations.

Dear WBC Members:

As you may have heard today, the Province of Ontario is now implementing additional Covid restrictions in response to the increasing spread of the Omicron variant. The new measures will kick in on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 12:01 a.m. and will remain in effect for at least 21 days, until Jan. 26/22 and includes the Woodstock Badminton Club as a facility that provides Sport activities.  Specific details from the Ontario Province are as follows:

• Indoor dining at restaurants and bars closed.
• Only outdoor dining, takeout, drive through and delivery permitted.
• Social gathering limits reduced to five people indoors and 10 people outdoors.
• Retail stores, malls, public libraries and personal care services limited to 50 per cent capacity.
• Saunas, steam rooms and oxygen bars closed.
• Capacity at weddings, funerals and religious services limited to 50 per cent capacity per room.
• Outdoor services must have two-metre distancing between all attendees.
• Employees must work remotely unless their work requires them to be on site.
• Gyms and other indoor recreational sport facilities closed, except athletes training for the Olympics and Paralympics and certain professional and elite sports leagues.
• Outdoor facilities are permitted but with a 50 per cent capacity limit on spectators.
• Museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, historic sites, amusement parks, festivals and other attractions closed.
• Outdoor establishments allowed with restrictions and capacity limits.
• Indoor meeting and event spaces closed with limited exceptions, except those with outdoor spaces, which can operate with restrictions.

Your WBC Board of Directors have met to discuss these new measures and wish to report to our members that the Woodstock Badminton Club will be closed to all uses and members effective Wednesday January 5 at 12:01am.  Signage to this effect will be posted on all entrances and Fobs will be disengaged to prevent any unauthorized access to the club.  There will be no rentals allowed or use by other community agencies during this period.

We note that this is not the way we hoped this New Year would begin and trust that this is not for a long period of closure as experienced last year.  We will continue to monitor this situation daily and will keep all members apprised of any changes to these measures or when we can reopen.

Thank you for your assistance and cooperation in these efforts to keep our members safe and our club compliant with these new Provincial Regulations.

Until we meet again on the courts, we wish you a New Year of hope, health, and happiness.

Terry Dunnigan ~ President WBC