GO SLOW! Relaunch Strategy & Outdoor Activity in Calgary

On April 30, the Government of Alberta announced their relaunch strategy which included details about public spaces, services, and details about plans in the intermediate and long-term future.

Please remember that public health advisories and orders are still in effect and we recommend that folks continue to pay close attention when planning for weekend activities outside their home. Additionally, the State of Local Emergency in still in effect for all Calgarians. We wanted to make sure you understood the implications for these measures in Calgary, and have listed details of the renewed SOLE below.

We encourage you to read through the City’s briefing or watch Mayor Nenshi and Deputy Chief Sue Henry explain details on how the City is approaching Calgary’s Relaunch.:

In short:

• Playgrounds remain closed. Skate parks are reopened but users must maintain two metres minimum distance and avoid touching surfaces including benches and railings. No more than 15 people are allowed in the same location.

• Golf courses are not yet open for use.

• Bylaw officers will be actively patrolling parks and spaces throughout the weekend and enforcing public health orders. Failure to comply with physical distancing could result in fines up to $1200.

• Officials from surrounding towns and neighbourhoods have requested that visitors do not stop to reduce all possible risk of transmission. At this time, non-essential travel is discouraged.

• Review the following:

  • City of Calgary: Staying Safe in Outdoor Parks and Spaces

  • Government of Alberta: Guidance on Outdoor Activities

• Understand how to properly protect yourself and others with the use of a mask when outside the home.
  Mayor Nenshi’s reference is included for your review:

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May 1. 2020

ORDER: OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES | SOLE 01052020/7

WHEREAS a State of Local Emergency was declared for the City of Calgary on March 15, 2020 to address the COVID19 Pandemic.

AND WHEREAS the Local Emergency Committee authorized the Director of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency to exercise any power or function of the Committee for the duration of the state of local emergency, including the authority to issue orders pursuant to Section 24 of the Emergency Management Act;

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:

1. Order 15032020/5, Issued March 27, 2020 is hereby revoked.

2. The following facilities, whether located in City parks and other City property or on private property, closed pursuant to Order 15032020/5, remain closed: playgrounds.

3. (1) The following activities, prohibited pursuant to Order 15032020/5, remain prohibited on sports fields, play fields, and courts, whether located in City parks and other City property or on private property:

   1. (a) the playing of organized and team sports, including, but not limited to:

      • football;

      • basketball;

      • baseball;

      • cricket;

      • lacrosse;

      • soccer;

      • doubles tennis;

      • doubles badminton;

      • doubles pickleball;

      • field hockey;

      • ball hockey;

      • ultimate frisbee;

      • lawn bowling;

      • volleyball; and

      • any other organized or team sport that the playing of which necessarily requires players to touch or handle the same ball or other devices with their hands.

   2. The prohibition set out in section 3{1) does not apply to members of the same household who engage in an organized or team sport.

4. Despite section 3, the following sports are not prohibited if play is modified so that participants will not (1) touch or handle the same ball or other device, and (2) maintain a 2-metre distance at all times (including the elimination of accidental contact):

   • golf;

   • disc golf;

   • singles tennis;

   • singles badminton;

   • singles pickle ball;

   • singles kayaking;

   • river surfing.

5. For clarity, all persons must continue to follow any restrictions or requirements imposed the the Provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health, including the restrictions set out in CMOH 07-2020 regarding:

   1. (a) the gathering of more than 15 persons in a group in an outdoor location; and

   2. (b) maintaining a 2-metre distance between persons.

Calgary Police Expand Impaired Driving Checks

“Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death in Canada,” said Const. Andrew Fairman, with the Alcohol and Drug Recognition Unit. “We all want to do our part to reduce the tragic impact of impaired driving.” 

What is Mandatory Alcohol Screening?

Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) refers to Criminal Code Section 320.27(2) in which a police officer who has an approved screening device on hand, is able to test a breath sample of any driver they lawfully stop, even without reasonable suspicion that the driver has alcohol in their body.

These changes in screening are a result of recent changes to Canada’s impaired driving laws. More information can be found on the Government of Canada’s website.

Read the full release here.