Media Releases and News

Enforcement Of Vaccine Requirements For Patrons 12 Years And Older In Sports Facilities To Begin November 1st The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville supports the Letter of Instruction issued by the Region of York on September 28 regarding vaccination requirements of patrons of the Town’s indoor sports facilities. The Letter requires patrons aged 12 to 17, all coaches, volunteers, and officials to be fully vaccinated in order to participate in organized sports, starting October 1, 2021. The Town is electing to request compliance of the public as of today, but full enforcement will not take place until November 1, 2021. As a

Proof Of Covid-19 Vaccination Required At All Indoor Town Facilities WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE, ON – The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, under the direction of the Government of Ontario, will require patrons to provide proof of identification and full COVID-19 vaccination to access indoor Town facilities starting September 22, 2021. This step is being taken to help increase vaccination rates, protect individuals in higher-risk indoor settings, and keep businesses open as the province continues to confront the Delta-driven fourth wave of COVID-19. “For the safety of our residents, all Town staff will be fully vaccinated; we ask that residents do the same to keep

Town Enters Step Three of Reopening Ontario As part of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville (the Town) will enter Step Three of the roadmap on Friday, July 16, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. Residents can expect to once again enjoy the Town’s recreational facilities and cultural centres, which will open subject to a maximum 50 per cent capacity of the indoor space. The Leisure Centre’s facilities will be ready for residents to use as of Friday, July 23. Indoor group fitness classes such as Cyclefit and Aquafit will be available in addition to public swimming and the fitness

Town Enters Step 2 of Reopening Ontario As part of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville will enter Step 2 of the roadmap on June 30, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. Residents can expect to once again gather indoors with small groups and expand their outdoor group gatherings. Step 2 allows a maximum of five people for indoor gatherings and 25 people for outdoor gatherings. Public libraries can now open with 25% capacity and other restrictions. The Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library will be re-opening to in-person visits on Tuesday, July 6 at 10 a.m. The Town’s summer camps are also

Town Enters Step 1 of Reopening Ontario As part of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville will enter Step 1 of the roadmap on June 11, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. Residents can expect outdoor fitness classes, day camps, and outdoor dining among other activities to resume in town. Step 1 allows in-person outdoor fitness classes for a maximum of 10 people. The Town is offering various classes starting Monday, June 14. Outdoor classes include Boot Camp, Cardio Salsa, Chair Fit, Circuit Training, and Forever Fit. Registration and full schedules are available at townofws.ca/active. The Town’s summer camps are

York Region Expanding COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Effective today, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, York Region residents age 50+, individuals 18+ who live or work in any of York Region’s 16 high priority areas and people who cannot work from home are now eligible to book an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccination. Registration at Stouffville’s SoccerCity can be made here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/…/soccercity-covid-19… Vaccine is Moderna. COVID-19 vaccines are available at SoccerCity to the following individuals: All York Region residents age 50+ (born in 1971 or earlier) Individuals age 18+ (born in 2003 or earlier) living or working in the following identified high priority

Town Closes Most Outdoor Recreational Amenities to Comply with Ontario’s Enhanced Covid-19 Response In light of the enhanced regulations announced Friday by the Provincial government in our fight against the COVID-19 virus, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville has closed most outdoor recreational amenities. Effective immediately, all sports courts in the municipality, including basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts, are closed.  In addition, outdoor fitness equipment, soccer fields, baseball and softball diamonds, cricket pitches, skateboard parks, community gardens, and lawn bowling facilities are closed. All trails, open green spaces, playgrounds, the off-leash dog park and the outdoor walking track remain open.  Users are

WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE, ON – The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, the Stouffville Medical Centre and York Region Public Health have partnered to open a COVID-19 drive-thru vaccination clinic at SoccerCity on Innovator Avenue in Stouffville. COVID-19 vaccinations will be offered in the priority sequence as outlined by York Region Public Health. Please visit york.ca/covid19vaccine for eligibility criteria to determine if you are able to book your vaccination. Eligible persons (currently patients 60+) can make an appointment by registering online at stouffvillemedicalcentre.ca/covid-19. All vaccinations are by appointment only. “Getting Stouffville residents their COVID-19 vaccination is our highest priority this spring,” said Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Iain

Town Of Whitchurch-Stouffville To Enter Province-Wide Shutdown The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville will enter a province-wide shutdown as of 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 3, 2021 as part of the Ontario government imposing a province-wide “emergency brake”. The news comes today as Premier Doug Ford announced that due to the rapid spread of variants and record number of COVID-19 patients in Ontario’s intensive care units, the government is pulling the province-wide “emergency brake” for a minimum of four weeks. “The news of the 28-day shutdown for our province is once again difficult to hear,” says Mayor of Whitchurch-Stouffville Iain Lovatt. “Just

York Region expanding COVID-19 vaccines to residents age 75 years and older The Regional Municipality of York is advancing those eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations to York Region residents age 75 years and older (born 1946 and earlier) as the Region continues to deliver vaccines identified in the Government of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan. Effective Thursday, March 18, 2021 beginning at 8:30 a.m., York Region residents age 75 years of age and older can book an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccination by visiting york.ca/COVID19Vaccine York Region Public Health is working with our local health care partners to provide COVID-19 vaccines

Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library to Assist Seniors with COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment Registration On Friday, the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library, in partnership with the Office of the Mayor, the Stouffville Christian Ministerial Association and Markham Vaccinates, announced the launch of Stouffville Vaccinates. This free assistance program will help Stouffville seniors (ages 65+) register for their vaccination appointment.  It will also provide transportation to the appointment if required. “The Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library recognizes that making COVID-19 vaccination appointments can be a daunting task,” said Margaret Wallace, Chief Executive Officer of the Library. “This is especially true for those who lack the technical skill or

Town Lays Off Full-Time Staff In Response To Revenue Shortfall The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville announced today that because of shortfalls in revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 19 unionize and non-unionized full-time staff have been temporarily laid off. The staff layoffs are contained to the Leisure and Community Services Department and will result in the complete closure of all Town facilities, the cancellation of all Town events and the cancellation of all programs and camps, both online and in-person.  The layoffs will be for a minimum of 12 weeks and are effective immediately. “This is a sad day

Town Offering Tax and Water Billing Relief Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Council on Tuesday approved a COVID-19 deferral policy for water and tax bill relief. There is now a 60-day grace period for upcoming tax and water payments to relieve property owners requiring financial support due to the pandemic.The grace period applies to any tax or water bill with due dates between January 27, 2021 and June 30, 2021. Property owners wishing to request deferral of payments for the bill due date of January 27, 2021 have until February 3, 2021 to make such requests providing payment has not already been

Town Reopens Outdoor Skating Rinks, Toboggan Hills For 2-Week Trial Period On January 13, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville closed all Town operated outdoor skating and community rinks in response to the State of Emergency and Stay-At-Home Order issued by the Provincial government. The closures were done in an effort to maintain Whitchurch-Stouffville as a safe and healthy community during these pandemic times. On January 14, the Provincial government clarified its position regarding outdoor recreational amenities. As a result of these clarifications, effective immediately, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville will open Greenwood Park outdoor rink (weather permitting) and monitor Memorial Park &

Town Responds To Further Provincial Lockdown Measures As a result of Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s announcement today of extended COVID-19 lockdown measures, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville has closed or further limited several services. To help further stop the spread of the virus, Whitchurch-Stouffville Town Hall remains closed, and services requiring appointments have been suspended.  The Town has also closed all outdoor skating rinks, toboggan hills and the off-leash dog park for the next 28 days. All town trails, including those at the Stouffville Reservoir, will remain open and residents are reminded to please adhere to social distancing practices.  Please note

Town to Expand Enforcement of Private Gatherings The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville would like to remind residents that York Region continues to be under the Red Control Zone for COVID-19 restrictions. Under these the Red Control restrictions,social gatherings, including those associated with a wedding, funeral, or religious service, are restricted to 5 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, trips outside of the home should only be for essential reasons (work, school, groceries/pharmacy, health care, assisting vulnerable individuals or exercise and physical activity)families should not visit any other household or allow visitors in their  homes everyone should avoid social gatherings, and work

Whitchurch-Stouffville Enters Modified Stage 2 The Government of Ontario announced this afternoon that York Region will be placed under Modified Stage 2 COVID-19 restrictions, effective Monday, October 19, 2020 for a period of at least 28 days. These restrictions include Whitchurch-Stouffville. In accordance with the province’s guidelines, the Town is required to close the following locations: The Lebovic Centre for the Performing Arts (“19 on the Park”); Indoor fitness centre, including fitness studios, at the Leisure Centre; and Indoor gymnasium (including gym programs) at the Leisure Centre. The following facilities and/or programs will remain open with little or no new

Town Hall To Remain Closed Until The New Year In an effort to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Whitchurch-Stouffville Town Hall will remain closed to the public until at least January 4, 2021. Town Hall, located at 111 Sandiford Drive, Stouffville, has been closed to residents since March 13, a week before Town Council declared a State of Emergency. “In the best interest of public safety, we feel that Town Hall should remain closed,” said Town Chief Administrative Officer Rob Adams. “We are following the lead of many other municipalities in York Region and the GTA and will

Town Fitness Facilities Are Now Open As of Monday, August 24, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Fitness Centre in the Leisure Centre has re-opened with new procedures and protocols in place to maintain a safe exercise environment. Due to COVID-19, the fitness centre has been closed as of March 15. Due to the province’s Phase Three regulations, the fitness centre is permitted to open. “We are excited to safely welcome the community back into our facilities,” said Marilou Murray, Director of Leisure and Community Services. “We have taken this opening very seriously and are committed to ensuring we’re doing whatever we

Library to Resume Offering Full Service Starting August 25 The Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library will open stage three of its phased reopening plan on Tuesday, August 25. “We are so excited to fully re-open our doors to our community!” says Margaret Wallace, WSPL Chief Executive Officer. Customers will be able to browse the Library collections, use computers, book study rooms, access photocopying and printing services, and pick up holds. As a courtesy to others who wish to use the Library, we ask that visits be kept to one hour or less. Physical distancing measures, hand hygiene, and mandatory face coverings are

Town Launches New Online Events Calendar The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville has launched a new events calendar on their L4A.ca – Everything Stouffville website. The calendar, located at L4A.ca/events, lists events located in Whitchurch-Stouffville and open to the general public. All businesses, for-profit organizations, non-profit organizations or charities who operate in the town, can submit their events for listing. “We hope to capture many of the town’s great events,” said David Tuley, Whitchurch-Stouffville Economic Development Officer. “We want to list everything – major fundraisers, annual-semi-quarterly activities, live shows, walks-in-the-forest, Christmas craft shows, business or community interest lectures, studio tours, runs and

Town Offers Relief To Those In Need Regarding Tax & Water Payments On July 16, 2020, during a Special Council Meeting, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Council approved an application process to defer tax and water payments for those who have financial difficulty due to COVID-19. Applications will be made in writing via email to deferrals@townofws.ca. Pending application, residents will have 60 days after the due date for no penalties or interest for all tax/water bills with due dates until December 31st. This deferral program begins on July 17, 2020. Applicants must apply within two weeks following July 17, or no