Area municipalties are lifting some restrictions that have been in place since mid-March, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The restrictions that have been lifted pertain to outdoor spaces.
You can check out the list below (All playgrounds, park washrooms, outdoor gym equipment, splashpads, and pools remain closed in accordance with the extension of provincial orders until May 29):
CITY OF KITCHENER
Basketball Courts Basketball courts are available for use immediately, staff will be updating signage this week. Physical distancing remains in effect. Please use basketball facilities for an individual activity or with others from the same household.
Dog Parks Leash-free dog parks located at Kiwanis Park, McLennan Park, George Lippert Park, and The Aud have been reopened for public use.
Outdoor Furniture Provincial orders are now lifted on outdoor furniture. Residents can once again use picnic tables, benches or shelters, in parks or recreational areas provided that users maintain a physical distance of at least two metres. Outdoor furniture is not sanitized and we remind residents to wash or sanitize their hands thoroughly after use.
Sports Fields The emergency orders are now lifted for sports fields, such as baseball diamonds and soccer fields. Under normal circumstances, these spaces are typically reserved for teams who have booked the spaces, however, with group sports paused for physical distancing, the City of Kitchener will waive booking requirements for 50 of these spaces, opening them up for free public use. A full list of fields free for use is available on our website. We ask that members of the public keep off closed fields as we continue to undertake maintenance to ensure they are ready for use when we are able to reopen.
The city is hoping to reopen golf courses, skate parks and McLennan Park Mountain Trail in the coming weeks.
When using outdoor recreation facilities, members of the public are asked to:
Maintain a physical distance of at least two metres or six feet, except for members of the same household
Not gather in groups of more than five
Wear non-medical masks where possible
Practice good cough etiquette
Wash and/or sanitize their hands often
CITY OF WATERLOO
Tennis and pickle ball courts (open now)
Basketball courts (open now)
Skate park (opening soon)
Dog park (open now)
Picnic shelters and benches (open now)
Parking lot at Waterloo Park (open now)
Skate park (opening soon)
CITY OF CAMBRIDGE
The following outdoor recreation spaces are open, effective immediately:
Basketball Courts Basketball courts are available for use immediately and staff will be removing closed signage this week. Physical distancing remains in effect. Please use basketball facilities for individual activity or with others from the same household.
Outdoor Furniture Provincial orders are now lifted on outdoor furniture. Residents can once again use picnic tables, benches or shelters, in parks or recreational areas provided that users maintain a physical distance of at least two metres. Outdoor furniture is not sanitized and we remind residents to wash their hands after use.
Sports Fields The emergency orders are now lifted for municipal sports fields, such as baseball diamonds and soccer fields. Under normal circumstances, these spaces are typically reserved for teams who have booked the spaces; however, with group sports paused for physical distancing, the City of Cambridge will waive booking requirements for non-fenced fields and allow public use. Fields with a surrounding fence will remain closed; all unfenced fields will be open for use. We ask that members of the public to continue to keep off closed fields as we complete maintenance to ensure they are ready for use when we are able to reopen. Please note that fields open for casual use are on a reduced maintenance schedule, and have longer turf than usual.
The City has announced the following timelines in re-opening the following facilities:
Skateparks City staff will ensure that skate parks are open within the next two weeks to ensure proper inspection and maintenance are performed prior to re-opening. Skatepark equipment is not sanitized and we remind users to wash and clean their hands after use. Users are reminded of the importance of remaining physically distant during their use of the park.
Dog Parks The leash-free dog park located at Maple Grove Rd will open tomorrow (May 21). Dog park gates and amenities are not sanitized, and we remind users to wash and clean their hands after use.
Riverside Bike Park The Riverside Bike Park will remain closed until seasonal repairs and renovations are complete; an opening time will be announced at a later date.
Tennis, Pickleball & Volleyball Courts City staff are working on the necessary seasonal maintenance and set up required to reopen tennis and outdoor pickleball courts across the City. In order to open tennis courts as quickly as possible, the city is prioritizing the various courts and staggering their opening. Signage will be posted to the courts as they re-open for public use. All courts are expected to be reopened within the next two weeks. Riverside Beach Volleyball will remain closed until further notice.
Last week, the City, and area municipalities, announced that residents can use municipal parks and open spaces for more than walk-though access.
This includes:
Playing catch, throwing a Frisbee, kicking a ball, flying a kite with members of your household
Park visitors can bring their chairs or blankets for sitting
Individual activity including personal fitness exercises or yoga practice (not a group class)
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks announced Tuesday that defenceman Alex Edler will sign a one-day contract in order to officially retire as a member of the NHL team.
The signing will be part of a celebration of Edler’s career held Oct. 11 when the Canucks host the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Canucks selected Edler, from Ostersund, Sweden, in the third round (91st overall) of the 2004 NHL draft.
He played in 925 career games for the Canucks between the 2006-07 and 2020-21 seasons, ranking fourth in franchise history and first among defencemen.
The 38-year-old leads all Vancouver defencemen with 99 goals, 310 assists and 177 power-play points with the team.
Edler also appeared in 82 career post-season contests with Vancouver and was an integral part of the Canucks’ run to the 2011 Stanley Cup final, putting up 11 points (2-9-11) across 25 games.
“I am humbled and honoured to officially end my career and retire as a member of the Vancouver Canucks,” Edler said in a release. “I consider myself lucky to have started my career with such an outstanding organization, in this amazing city, with the best fans in the NHL. Finishing my NHL career where it all began is something very special for myself and my family.”
Edler played two seasons for Los Angeles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He did not play in the NHL last season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
The sixth-ranked Canadian women will face World Cup champion Spain in an international friendly next month.
Third-ranked Spain will host Canada on Oct. 25 at Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo.
The game will be the first for the Canadian women since the Paris Olympics, where they lost to Germany in a quarterfinal penalty shootout after coach Bev Priestman was sent home and later suspended for a year by FIFA over her part in Canada’s drone-spying scandal.
In announcing the Spain friendly, Canada Soccer said more information on the interim women’s coaching staff for the October window will come later. Assistant coach Andy Spence took charge of the team in Priestman’s absence at the Olympics.
Spain finished fourth in Paris, beaten 1-0 by Germany in the bronze-medal match.
Canada is winless in three previous meetings (0-2-1) with Spain, most recently losing 1-0 at the Arnold Clark Cup in England in February 2022.
The teams played to a scoreless draw in May 2019 in Logroñés, Spain in a warm-up for the 2019 World Cup. Spain won 1-0 in March 2019 at the Algarve Cup in São João da Venda, Portugal.
Spain is a powerhouse in the women’s game these days.
It won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2022 and was runner-up in 2018. And it ousted Canada 2-1 in the round of 16 of the current U-20 tournament earlier this month in Colombia before falling 1-0 to Japan after extra time in the quarterfinal.
Spain won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and has finished on the podium on three other occasions.
FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati (2023) and Alexia Putellas (2021 and ’22) have combined to win the last three Women’s Ballon d’Or awards.
And Barcelona has won three of the last four UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
“We continue to strive to diversify our opponent pool while maintaining a high level of competition.” Daniel Michelucci, Canada Soccer’s director of national team operations, said in a statement. “We anticipate a thrilling encounter, showcasing two of the world’s top-ranked teams.”
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024
TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced cookie brand Oreo as the team’s helmet sponsor for the upcoming NHL season.
The new helmet will debut Sunday when Toronto opens its 2024-25 pre-season against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.
The Oreo logo replaces Canadian restaurant chain Pizza Pizza, which was the Leafs’ helmet sponsor last season.
Previously, social media platform TikTok sponsored Toronto starting in the 2021-22 regular season when the league began allowing teams to sell advertising space on helmets.
The Oreo cookie consists of two chocolate biscuits around a white icing filling and is often dipped in milk.
Fittingly, the Leafs wear the Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s “Milk” logo on their jerseys.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
