Following the Government of Ontario’s announcement,  emergency child care ends effective June 26, 2020. As a result, York Region is no longer accepting any emergency child care applications.

Licensed Child Care

Licensed child care centres and home care providers across Ontario are able to re-open with limited capacity and strict safety and operational requirements.  The earliest a child care centre can open is June 12, 2020.  Opening dates will vary.

EarlyON child and family programs

While all face-to-face meetings with individual clients or groups have been discontinued, virtual/telephone visits are continuing.

EarlyON programs have closed across York Region. Families can access EarlyON programs and services by telephone, email and social media.

The following adjustments are made to services:

• Child Care Fee Subsidy — intake and annual reviews are done by telephone.
• Early Intervention Services Intake Line  — intake is continuing (by telephone) to answer client inquires
• Infant and Child Development Services — is continuing to support families with intervention and case coordination  by telephone, videoconferencing or email
• Neonatal Follow Up Clinics — offered through videoconferencing or telephone  
• Inclusion Support Services  is contacting families to help children develop and maintain skills that will help them successfully return to licensed child care, while offering service coordination for families and providing capacity building training to early learning and child care providers
• Online capacity building workshops for early learning and child care professionals are now available. In-person sessions have been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date
• After School Programs in social housing have closed, but 360 Kids continues to support the community and will be offering online programs soon
• Fair Access Programs have closed

For more information visit   york.ca/childcare

Provincial Offenses Courts

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a provincial State of Emergency has been declared. Court operations are limited during this time. If you have a trial scheduled, a notice of your new court date will be sent to you by mail to the address on file with the court. If you were summoned to appear in court for a provincial offence during the State of Emergency, you do not need to attend, as the matter will be rescheduled.

Please note: York Region Court Services and Prosecution offices will be closed until further notice. Statutory timelines have been extended, including time to exercise your options on the Offence Notice (ticket).

We will not accept applications (i.e. time extensions, re-openings, trial requests, serving an appeal) until further notice. Exception: If your driver’s license was suspended due to an overdue fine, you may request a time extension or re-opening by submitting an application to NewmarketPOA@york.ca or RichmondHillPOA@york.ca. The Regional Prosecutors office is still accepting disclosure requests and Charter applications by email to the following: for Newmarket, 4960disclosure@york.ca. For Richmond Hill, 4961disclosure@york.ca.

You can pay your tickets at paytickets.ca

York Small Business Enterprise Centre

In-person consultations are postponed until further notice. Business consultations will be moving to telephone consultations, wherever possible.

Seminars, group sessions and workshops are postponed until further notice. York Region will continue to evaluate to determine which events can be held online.

To learn more visit york.ca/business

Business Advisory Services

In-person consultations are postponed until further notice. Business consultations will be moving to telephone consultations, wherever possible.

To learn more visit york.ca/business

Outdoor Education - Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education

Bookings at the Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre are cancelled until further notice.

To learn more visit york.ca/yrf

Housing York Inc. Essex Office

Offices are closed to the public.

Residents can still call or email Housing York Inc. during regular business hours at:

• 1-877-464-9675 ext. 72735
• Email housingyorkfeedback@york.ca or your Tenant Services Coordinator or Property Manager
  

Housing York Inc. drop boxes are located at all of our properties. We encourage you to use the drop boxes to submit maintenance requests, rent cheques and information about rent renewals. We can copy and return original documents to you as needed.

Housing York Inc. Gorham office

Closed to the public.

Residents can still call or email Housing York Inc. during regular business hours at:

• 1-877-464-9675 ext. 72735
• Email housingyorkfeedback@york.ca or your Tenant Services Coordinator or Property Manager

Housing York Inc. drop boxes are located at all of our properties. We encourage you to use the drop boxes to submit maintenance requests, rent cheques and information about rent renewals. We can copy and return original documents to you as needed.

Housing York Inc. Woodbridge Leasing Office

Closed to the public.

Residents can still call or email Housing York Inc. during regular business hours at:

• 1-877-464-9675 ext. 72735
• Email housingyorkfeedback@york.ca or your Tenant Services Coordinator or Property Manager

Housing York Inc. drop boxes are located at all of our properties. We encourage you to use the drop boxes to submit maintenance requests, rent cheques and information about rent renewals. We can copy and return original documents to you as needed.

Community Partnerships and Support Services

Closed to the public.

The Community Partnerships team is working remotely and will continue to provide support to clients.

• RGI tenants’ rents will be recalculated starting April 1st based on demonstrated drop in income
• Market rent tenants will be supported if their ability to pay is negatively impacted to establish manageable payment terms
  

We encourage you to send us an email. If you do not know the email address, please call Access York at 1-877-464-9675 and the correct email address will be provided to you.

Visiting Policy

York Region’s two long-term care homes, Maple Health Centre and Newmarket Health Centre, are again accepting visitors with strict protocols in place. These protocols are in place as long as the long-term care homes remain outbreak-free.

Protocols include:

• All visitors having had a negative COVID-19 test result from a test taken within the last two weeks without a subsequent positive test result
• If you are sick, stay home. Active and passive screening is in place prior to entering facilities, including temperature checks
• New rules around physical distancing, hand hygiene, and masks
• A maximum number of visitors per resident

On July 22, 2020, York Region’s two long-term care homes began accepting both indoor and outdoor visitors.  

Outdoor Visiting: The Homes can allow two people visit per resident, and testing for COVID-19 is not required for outdoor visitors. Visitors must pass the on-site screening questions prior to the visit, provide and wear their own surgical mask and practice physical distancing.

Indoor Visiting: The Homes can allow two people visit per resident. Visitors will still need to pass the screening and are required to verbally attest to home staff that they have tested negative for COVID-19 within the previous two weeks and not subsequently tested positive. The visitor will be required to wear a surgical mask and practice physical distancing while inside the Home.

At this time, only essential visitors are permitted inside the long-term care homes. An essential visitor is anyone with a loved one who is very ill or receiving end of life care. Active screening is in place for everyone accessing our Long-Term Care Homes.

Private caregivers and companions are not permitted in the Homes at this time.

For more information on York Region’s long-term care homes and current protocols, please visit our Long-Term Care webpage.

Screening Procedures

Active screening is in place for everyone accessing York Region’s Long Term Care Homes, including visitors and staff.

Screening includes taking temperatures. Any visitor who do not pass the active or passive screening will not be permitted entrance to the facility. Any staff  who do not pass active or passive screening at the start of their shift will be directed to contact their immediate supervisor, who will connect the staff to resources through Employee Health.

A mandatory 14 day self-isolation period for all new admissions and readmissions has been implemented.

Recreation activities/lunch programs

Off-site recreation activities, lunch programs and external outings are suspended

Volunteers/Tuck Shop

Volunteer work is suspended immediately, including the Tuck Shop.

Adult Day Programs

Adult Day Programs located in Maple and Keswick are closed. During the closure, staff from these Programs are making an effort to proactively check in on program clients and caregivers

Building Restrictions at 80 Bales Drive East

Effective Friday, March 20, 2020 Paramedic Services headquarters at 80 Bales Dr. E. East Gwillimbury will be closed except for essential staff

Municipal Comprehensive Review

Public consultations were in progress for the Municipal Comprehensive Review to update the York Region Official Plan.

York Region is reevaluating public consultation avenues and postponing any planned public engagement. To learn more visit york.ca/mcrgetinvolved

Development Services

We continue to process and accept development applications. To learn more visit york.ca/developmentservices

Police Facilities

York Regional Police facilities are closed to members of the public. In the case of an emergency, call 9-1-1.

For non-emergencies, please call 1-866-876-5423 toll-free, or complete a report online at yrp.ca/reportit

For further YRP closures visit yrp.ca/covid-19

Sexual Health Clinics

Appointments available for urgent needs only.

For more information visit york.ca/sexualhealth

Dental Services for Children and Youth

Preventive and non-urgent screening appointments, as well as school dental screening have been cancelled until further notice.

To speak with a Registered Dental Hygienist, please call 1-877-464-9675.

The program continues to screen clients with urgent dental needs.

For more information visit york.ca/dental

Seniors Dental Program

Preventive and non-urgent screening appointments have been cancelled until further notice.

To speak to a Registered Dental Hygienist or Certified Dental Assistant about the Ontario Seniors Dental Care program please call 1-877-464-9675 ext.75809. The program continues to receive calls about the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program and is assisting clients with emergency dental needs.

Transition to Parenting Group

Please note Transition to Parenting groups will be cancelled until further notice If you are pregnant or a new parent and wish to speak with a registered nurse about your emotions, parenting or infant feeding, please call Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 or chat with a nurse at york.ca/nursechat

Breastfeeding

We continue to provide breastfeeding support; please call 1-800-361-5653 and press 2 to speak to a public health nurse, or visit york.ca/nursechat

Healthy Babies, Healthy Children

We continue to provide support through the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program; please call 1-800-361-5653 and press 2 to speak to a public health nurse, or visit york.ca/nursechat

Health Connection

Public health nurses continue to provide health teaching, parenting information and referrals for breastfeeding support, the Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program and perinatal mental health support. The program is accessed through 1-800-361-5653 or through e-chat – york.ca/nursechat

All Babies Count

Please note that York Region Public Health will not be offering prenatal and postpartum support at the All Babies Count program until further notice.

If you would like to speak with a registered nurse about your pregnancy or parenting, please call Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 or chat with a nurse at york.ca/nursechat

Immunization Clinics

Please note that all community clinics have been cancelled until further notice. If you have any questions please call 1-877-464-9675 ext. 73456

Please note that all Grade 7 school immunization clinics have been cancelled until further notice.

For more information, please visit Immunization Clinics and School Immunization Clinics.

Immunization Education sessions

Please note that all immunization education sessions have been cancelled until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any questions please call us at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 73456

Food Handler Certification Program

Please note we are postponing all food handler certification exams until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please check our webpage for updates as to when exams will resume.

A list of online and alternate providers can be found on the Ministry of Health site.

Tuberculosis Program

At this time, we are unable to commit to previously scheduled services, including home visits.

For information about our services or to speak to a public health nurse, please contact our TB program intake line at 1-877-464-9675 extension 76000.

Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction

The Substance Use Prevention & Harm Reduction program is continuing to provide access and distribution of naloxone and other harm reduction supplies to clients and community agencies.  

If you have questions regarding obtaining naloxone and/or other harm reduction supplies, please call 1-877-464-9675 ext. 76683 or email substance@york.ca

Private Well Water Testing

Until further notice, private well water sample pick-up and drop-off is limited to two locations from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. from Monday to Thursday only (closed statutory holidays).

Georgina (drop-off only)
24262 Woodbine Avenue
Keswick L4P 3E9

Newmarket (drop-off and bottle pick-up)
Tannery Building – Public Health
2 ^nd Floor, 465 Davis Drive
Newmarket L3Y 7TP

Alternatively, water samples for private citizen drinking water samples can be dropped off at the Public Health Laboratory located at 81 Resources Road, Etobicoke, ON from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (closed statutory holidays)

For more information or questions about private well water quality, please contact Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.

Submitting a Tick for Testing

Tick submissions are no longer being accepted.

2020 National Public Works Week

National Public Works Week Family Fun Day on May 23 in the City of Richmond Hill has been cancelled.

Transportation and Works Operations Centre

The Transportation and Works Operations Centre at 90 Bales Drive is closed.

Community Resource Centres

Community Resource Centres in all Ontario Works offices are closed.

The Community Fair scheduled at the Vaughan Ontario Works Office at 9060 Jane Street in the City of Vaughan on March 18 has been cancelled.

Learn more about Community Resource Centres

Homelessness Community Programs

All face-to-face meetings with individuals at Violence Against Women Emergency Housing Shelters, Homemakers and Nursing Services or Housing with Supports Facilities have been discontinued.

Drop-in programming at 360Kids, Belinda’s Place and Sutton Youth Services are closed until further notice.

Support will be provided to customers and we will be accepting and granting applications over the phone for Integrated Support Program, Housing Stability Program and the Outreach and Diversion Program.

Homelessness Community Programs at 17310 Yonge Street Unit 5, Newmarket are closed to the public.

For more information visit york.ca/emergencyhousing.

Due to COVID-19 and a significant decrease in transit ridership, many YRT routes are still not operating, while others are undergoing a service review. For schedule information, please visit yrt.ca

Effective Thursday, July 2, travelers must wear a non-medical face mask or covering on public transit and board all buses at the front doors, and exit at the middle or rear doors, to help with physical distancing measures. This applies to all YRT and Viva routes.

Barrier shields are being installed in the driver’s area to help with physical distancing, and protect drivers and passengers. As we work to install these barriers on all of our buses, drivers in the meantime will be provided with face shields to help keep themselves and others protected.

Employee Giving for United Way

United Way events and initiatives, including Pop-Up Shops, Spring Market and Spring Auction are currently cancelled or postponed.

Event participants have been notified and refunded if applicable.

For more information visit york.ca/giving

York Region waste depots remain open during regular service hours.

Service offerings have been reduced in an effort to enhance physical distancing on site and reduce potential risks and further spread of COVID-19. The health and safety of our customers, staff and community is our top priority. 

In order to protect our depot customers and staff during this difficult time we will not be accepting cash at any of our waste depots until further notice. Thank you for your understanding.

Waste Depots are closed civic and statutory holidays.

For hours, locations and an updated list of what’s accepted at each depot visit york.ca/wastedepots

Repair Café

Future Repair Cafés may be cancelled.

For more information visit york.ca/repaircafe

Materials Recovery Facility Education Room

Materials Recovery Facility education room is currently closed.

Student Water Conservation Programs

The 2020 York Children’s Water Festival on May 12, 13 and 14 at Bruce’s Mill Conservation Park in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville has been cancelled.

For more information visit york.ca/ycwf

Tap'd In — Mobile Drinking Water Trailer

In response to COVID-19 and in consultation with York Region Public Health, Tap’d In will not be used at community events in 2020.