Parks, Recreation and Community Services update related to provincial restart plan

Yesterday, the province released its BC Restart Plan that includes a roadmap for safe resumption of a number of programs and services over time.

The District of Saanich will support the provincial effort of safely getting back to a more normal life as we gradually restart in a safe and steady way. We are very excited to hear that we can plan for the future in a more definite way.

The provincial health officer announced that phase 1 of the re-opening plan comes into effect May 25 and lifts the previously imposed "circuit breaker restrictions". This means that Saanich Recreation will start to re-introduce programs previously paused by the circuit breaker, including indoor low intensity fitness and other indoor adult programs. For Saanich Parks this means outdoor sports may resume once sport-specific safety plans are submitted. Doubles-play for tennis and pickleball can resume and some permits may be issued. Our staff have been busy ensuring safety protocols are up to date and that we are prepared to safely welcome back increasing levels of activity, both indoors and out.

Phases 2, 3 and 4 are expected to further increase the amount of activity and social interactions that BC residents can participate in! You can expect a phased approach to service resumption in Saanich as more information becomes available. We must ensure all programs and services resume safely, adhere to provincial guidelines and incorporate industry information from BC Recreation and Parks Association and viaSport.

We appreciate your patience as we work to ensure that our programs and services are safe and adhere to provincial guidelines.

Please watch our website and our social media accounts for updates as we gradually re-offer our programs and services.