Oakville cancels summer Recreation and Culture programs, planning underway for modified programs

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all previously scheduled Recreation and Culture programming, including summer camps for July and August, are cancelled. Subject to provincial approval to proceed, the Town of Oakville is considering opportunities to offer a modified 2020 summer program that will align with any new provincial and regional public health and safety guidelines.

Refunds will be automatically processed by the town. New program registration details will be announced as soon as the province removes restrictions and facilities can safely reopen.

“Council and I know how important our programs are to families and we have asked staff to be ready to implement new summer day camp programs once the Premier announces we can safely provide this service to the public,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “We’ve made the difficult decision to cancel our current programs as they were designed for a pre-COVID-19 climate. Parents can be assured that safety will be our top priority in developing a new camp program.”

Based on direction from provincial and local health authorities, the Town of Oakville hopes to offer a scaled-back camp experience for children aged 4 to 12 at select community centres. These camps will incorporate strict public health measures designed to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 with smaller group sizes to allow for physical distancing. Staff is currently recommending reduced staff-to-camper ratios, dedicated camp leaders to guide activity transitions, and enhanced cleaning and screening procedures.

“We recognize that working remotely is not an option for everyone and that Oakville families will be struggling to find child care options,” said Julie Mitchell, acting director of the town’s Recreation and Culture department. “We want to support the community and while we cannot offer our full complement of programming, we hope to offer a new summer camp experience for those families who need it.”

At this time, all summer registered and drop-in programming for seniors, adults, youth, children, preschool, camps and aquatics are cancelled until the town has provincial approval to safely reintroduce programs. Close-contact and team activities such as sports leagues and Learn to Swim lessons will not be offered this summer. Information will be shared by email with all registered participants including refund information.

Once the new summer camp option is formalized, details will be shared with the public. Please note that if summer camp can be offered, spaces will be extremely limited.

The Town of Oakville has a comprehensive recovery process in place that aligns with the Province’s gradual phased-in approach. Learn more about the town’s COVID-19 Recovery Program Framework.

For more information on the town’s efforts to support the community in response to COVID-19, visit the COVID-19 Information page or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.