Public Washrooms to reopen
Following the lifting of restrictions on outdoor amenities, the Town of Midland will be reopening public washrooms as follows:
Friday, May 28, 2021:
All park washrooms will be open for use from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.
Saturday, May 29, 2021:
Harbour washrooms will be open for use from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., seven days a week.
All washrooms will be cleaned twice daily.
A message from the Fire Chief:
Penetanguishene Fire and Emergency Services and the Midland Fire Department, like all emergency services, are working hard in our communities balancing response to those in need with current COVID-19 protocols. We appreciate your patience and understanding; all our actions are in aid of keeping your family safe and our firefighters healthy and able to respond.
- First and foremost, our ability to respond to your 911 calls is unchanged.
- We follow health protocols; please answer our basic COVID-19 screening questions, wear a mask, social distance from the apparatus and firefighters.
- We have ceased all public education activities; the office is taking calls if you have fire safety questions. If you require a fire inspection, please contact the department in the Municipality the property is located to book an appointment. Appointments will be booked based on the complaint or request.
- What can you do to help? Ensure all your smoke detectors and CO alarms are in good working order to reduce false alarms. Ensure cooking is never left unattended, candles are used with caution, and that you have practiced your home escape plan.
Together we can all keep our communities safe and healthy.
Paul Ryan,
Director of Emergency Services / Fire Chief / CEMC
Penetanguishene Fire & Emergency Services
Director of Fire Service / Fire Chief
Midland Fire Department
Until further notice, the Town of Midland will only be issuing Marriage Licences to residents of Midland
Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in Ontario, and numerous inquiries from Toronto area residents, as of December 11, 2020 the Town of Midland will only be issuing marriage licences to permanent residents of Midland.
We apologize for any inconvenience, however this temporary change is being made to discourage travel to and from other areas in an effort to protect our community and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
For more details, please contact the Clerks Department at 705-526-4275 ext. 2208 or clerks@midland.ca
How to have a safe and happy Halloween
- Stay home if feeling ill or if you have mild symptoms.
- Only go out with members of your direct household.
- Only trick or treat outside.
- Both trick or treaters and people handing out candy should wear a face covering.
- A costume mask is not a substitute for a face covering and should not be worn over a face covering as it may make it difficult to breathe.
- Consider building your face covering into your, or your child’s, costume.
- Do not congregate or linger at doorsteps. Line up two metres (6 feet) apart if waiting.
- Avoid high-touch surfaces and objects.
- Whether collecting or handing out treats, wash your hands often and thoroughly or use hand sanitizer.
- Do not leave treats in a bucket or bowl for children to grab.
- Consider using tongs, or other similar tools to hand out treats.
For more COVID-19 information and guidance from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, please visit their dedicated
COVID-19 web page.
New Testing Criteria for Midland COVID-19 Assessment Centre
Assessment Criteria
Midland COVID-19 Assessment Centre is located at 1156 St. Andrews Drive, Midland, inside the clinic building in the Georgian Bay General Hospital's parking lot.
Face coverings to be mandatory while in indoor public placed beginning Monday, July 13, 2020
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) has announced that persons within publicly accessible indoor locations, including public transit systems, will be required to wear face coverings/non-medical masks beginning on Monday, July 13, 2020.
In a statement, Dr. Charles Gardiner, Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer said:
"My rationale for proceeding with this course of action at this time is as follows: As we proceed through the stages of the province’s plan to open the economy there is an increasing risk of resurgence of COVID-19 transmission in our communities. There have been very worrisome examples of resurgence internationally, and we have had some experiences of limited resurgence in Ontario (including in recent weeks in Simcoe Muskoka).
With the summer upon us, Simcoe Muskoka is experiencing the arrival of a large and increasing number of visitors from parts of the province with a much higher incidence of COVID-19, and with resultant crowding in public spaces. There is emerging evidence, primarily based on ecological studies and modelling, suggesting that COVID-19 transmission rates can be reduced with a high level of population compliance of face covering/non-medical mask use in conjunction with physical distancing, hand sanitation, and self-isolation and testing when ill. Voluntary compliance with mask use in indoor public places appears to be suboptimal at this time in Simcoe Muskoka.
There has also been a high degree of support expressed from community partners, physicians, hospital leadership, some in the business community, and municipal CAOs and politicians for leadership from SMDHU to require face coverings/non-medical masks in indoor public places.
It is also important to ensure the availability of alcohol-based hand sanitizer at all entrances and exits for the use of all persons entering or exiting the business or organization.
It is important to know that while we will commence with an educational and supportive approach, as per the EMCPA, those who do not comply with the above noted requirements may be fined. Individuals may be liable for a fine of $750 -$1,000 up to a maximum of $100,000, while corporations may be liable for a fine of up to $10,000,000 for each day or part of each day on which the offence occurs or continues."
For more details on this announcement please visit:
SMDHU website
2007-07 Businesses & Organizations EMCPA Letter
FAQs - Face Coverings in Indoor Spaces
Consumer Alert: Beware of scams during the COVID-19 emergency
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is aware of increasing efforts by scam artists attempting to take advantage of consumer uncertainty during this COVID-19 emergency. The OEB has taken steps to ensure that the power to your home or low-volume small business cannot be disconnected for non-payment by your utility until July 31, 2020. If you receive a message, text or phone call from someone posing as a utility representative and threatening to disconnect your power, do not respond to it - contact your utility directly using the telephone number displayed on your bill.
Consumer Tips:
- Beware of messages with COVID-19 in the subject line and claiming to be from your utility. There have been several reports of emails, texts and websites sharing fake information about bill relief programs, refunds and alternative payment methods during the COVID-19 emergency.
- Protect your personal information – Do not feel compelled to share your personal information. Your utility bill is private. It contains personal information like your account number and energy usage.
- Remain vigilant and continue to use safe web browsing and email practices. Make sure you are accessing a safe and trusted source such as the utility's website or call centre telephone number exactly as displayed on your bill.
Consumers with questions or concerns about any suspicious communications claiming to be from their utility are also encouraged to contact the OEB.
- Call (Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.): 1-877-632-2727 (toll-free within Ontario) or 416-314-2455 (within Greater Toronto Area)
- Text: 1-844-621-9977 (toll-free within Ontario) or 416-544-5190 (within Greater Toronto Area)
- Email: consumerrelations@oeb.ca
Resources:
Transit Update: Mid-Pen Transit to shut down over Easter Weekend
The Mid-Pen Transit Service will not be running on Good Friday (April 10), Saturday, April 11, Sunday, April 12 (as usual) or on Easter Monday (April 12). Normally the service runs on the Saturday of Easter Weekend, however, due to the reduced transit staff available the decision has been made to shut down service over the long weekend to give transit operators a much-needed break to spend with their families.
Service will resume on Tuesday, April 14 and will operate on the reduced hour "Saturday" service at least until Monday, May 4, 2020. Transit will remain free to use, but we ask that riders limit their use of the service to essential trips only.
Town of Midland closing all outdoor recreation amenities
With the Province announcing the extension of the Declaration of Emergency on March 30 (Ontario extends emergency declaration), all outdoor recreational amenities are to be closed immediately.
The Town is complying with this order by:
- Barricading entrances to sports field parking lots;
- Barricading entrances/parking lots to parks and picnic shelters;
- Removing picnic tables from parks;
- Taping off playground equipment;
- Signs will be installed advising that amenities are closed.
Green spaces in parks, trails and ravines will remain open for pass-through access, however visitors must continue to practice physical distancing.
Under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, there are fines set by the Province for any person who fails to comply and continues using these closed amenities. Enforcement of these closure orders can be carried out at the discretion of the Ontario Provincial Police and Municipal Law Enforcement Officers.
The Town of Midland urges all residents to please continue to follow recommendations of public health officials & practice proper physical distancing. It is important that we all do our part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Council to consider Community Relief Measures for Taxes and Utility interest.
Council will receive staff report FIN-2020-05 at its meeting on Wednesday, April 1. This report outlines recommendations for providing community relief in the form of revised due dates for tax bill payments and interest deferrals on utility bills.
View the full report.
The Council meeting will be the Town of Midland's first all-electronic Council meeting, with all members of Council and staff participating using Teams so they can attend remotely. To watch the meeting, tune into RogersTV (cable 53) or watch on the live stream.
Mid-Pen Transit shifting daily schedule to reduced Saturday hours
Beginning tomorrow (March 31) Mid-Pen Transit will be reducing hours of operation for at least the remainder of this week. The new operating schedule will be the same as the normal Saturday schedule. This means the first run for Midland South will begin at 8:45 a.m., last run at 4:45 p.m., first run of the Penetanguishene route will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the last run will be at 4:30 p.m.
The reason for this change is a combination of lower ridership, and extra caution being taken for an employee at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, resulting in fewer transit operators being available.
An update on how long this reduced schedule will be in effect will be provided later this week
