Photo: Shaun Penner

By Shaun Penner

Recreation Facilities

More preparation needed before City opens facilities in Stage Two

Jun 10, 2020 | 12:50 PM

Though facilities like the Eastlink Centre are being given the green light to open up on June 12 as part of Stage Two of the province’s economic relaunch strategy, the City of Grande Prairie won’t be moving ahead until the proper planning and measures are put in place.

An announcement was made Tuesday by Premier Jason Kenney, which moved the planned date for Stage Two of the province’s three stage economic relaunch plan up by a full week to June 12. Originally included in the second phase were facilities like libraries and movie theatres. With Tuesday’s announcement though, gyms, pools and arenas were moved from stage three to stage two and given permission to re-open, with restrictions.

Though the ability to re-open this week exists, the City won’t be bursting the doors open to such facilities until the proper preparations are finalized.

“Throughout our preparations, the City has approached re-opening facilities with an abundance of caution,” reads a statement from the City. “Planning for Stage 2 openings has been underway, but the early announcement means some preparations remain to be completed.”

Some of those preparations include rehiring and retraining staff for facilities like the Eastlink Centre and Revolution Place, where many casual and temporary employees were laid off at the early onset of the pandemic due to the closure of the facilities.

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The City says updates on when City-run facilities will be reopened to the public will be announced on its COVID-19 webpage.

“The City appreciates the community’s enthusiasm for the relaunch strategy, and thanks all residents for their patience and understanding as we all learn together how to adapt to these new regulations over the summer.”

One facility that has already partially reopened this is City Hall, which is now allowing residents access to pay their property taxes only. The facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.