Current situation

For the most recent information regarding cases in Ontario, please visit the Ontario government's COVID-19 website.

On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 (Coronavirus) a global pandemic, so it is very important that individuals and organizations be prepared for a potential outbreak in our community.

The Town of Saugeen Shores has declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With this declaration and the provincial government’s decision to close non-essential businesses, the Town of Saugeen Shores will also see several changes. See "Impact on Town services," below.

In effect as of March 28, 2020, the province has banned gatherings of more than five people. Local authorities stress that this new restriction, along with other provincial and federal orders to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, is enforceable by law. Read on for more details.

Public health and support

In Saugeen Shores, the Grey Bruce Health Unit (GBHU) is the municipality’s lead agency in terms of managing a local infectious disease outbreak.

The Town will provide regular updates to the community via our website and social media platforms regarding Town services and programming.

If you need assistance during the pandemic, the United Way encourages you to submit a request to TheDo.ca. As well, you can call 211 to find resources and local services in our area.

During a pandemic it is not uncommon to struggle with mental health.There is support available through Grey Bruce Public Health and The Canadian Mental Health Association.

What you can do to prevent the spread of illness

Know the facts. Follow direction from the Grey Bruce Health Unit to know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
Call Telehealth Ontario toll-free at: 1-866-797-0000 or visit the GBHU website for information on how to care for the ill, infection prevention and control, self-treatment and when and where to seek medical attention.
Follow Public Health’s direction to use infection control practices such as hand washing, covering your cough and sneeze, staying home when you’re sick to reduce the spread of the virus.
Organizations and businesses should be preparing their own plans and policies to ensure business continuity in the event an infectious disease outbreak is declared locally.

Impact on Town services

Declaring a state of emergency means that the municipality can access additional resources and expertise throughout this period. Essential services will focus on the following: policing, fire and emergency response; water supply and waste water treatment; emergency infrastructure repair; winter control; and supporting other essential services as identified by the province.

Saugeen Shores staff are closely monitoring the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation in Ontario. Staff will continue to reassess the situation and will keep the public informed. Please follow @SaugeenShoresON on Facebook and Twitter for real-time updates and contact us for any questions or concerns.

View our helpful guide to the changes in how we deliver municipal services during this time.

Facilities

Due to COVID-19 precautions, and in consultation with public health officials, the Town of Saugeen Shores has closed further facilities to the public, including the Municipal Office. Operations will continue during this time, and staff can be reached by telephone or email. Recreational facilities have been closed since Saturday, March 14.

Municipal facilities closed to the public:

Municipal Office (600 Tomlinson Dr., Port Elgin)
Public Works facilities (339 Concession 6, Port Elgin and 429 Peel St., Southampton)
Saugeen Shores Fire Department (612 Emma St., Port Elgin and 50 Victoria St. S, Southampton)
Saugeen Shores Police Service (1240 MacKenzie Rd., Port Elgin)
The Plex and Rotary Hall
Centennial Pool
Southampton Coliseum
Southampton Town Hall auditorium
Southampton Curling Club
All playground structures, the Skate Park, BMX Park and Off-Leash Dog Park
All municipal public washrooms
All beaches and pavilions
All sports fields and basketball courts
Southampton and Port Elgin Municipal Campgrounds

Signage will be posted at most recreational facilities and major beach access points; however, the public is reminded that not every location can be signed but the same closures are in effect.

Please note: Green spaces in parks and trails will remain open for walkthrough access, but the public must maintain the safe physical distance of at least two metres from others.

Municipal Campgrounds and Harbour update:

Spring is here and many campers are eager to get to their sites for day use and spring inspections. However, based on the provincial COVID-19 emergency measures, the Southampton and Port Elgin Municipal Campgrounds are currently off-limits to campers and the public.

As well, work occurring on the dry dock at the Harbour is prohibited at this time. Hydro will not be turned on in the dry dock area at this time and no boats are to be launched until an official announcement is made by the Municipality. At this time, harbour washroom facilities will remain closed.

Garbage and recycling

To protect its employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling (BASWR) has made the difficult decision to stop sorting recyclables by hand, both at their facility and curbside. In Saugeen Shores, materials will still be picked up on their normal recycling day, but will be sent to the landfill temporarily.

BASWR is working on a longer-term solution to find a place that can accept the unsorted material. If possible, please consider holding on to recyclable materials in the meantime.

As well, the Southampton Landfill is closed to the public. Account holders will be allowed access on March 27 and April 3 from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm only. Help us flatten the curve and keep our employees safe by using curbside garbage collection on your regular day.

Council meetings

Staff and Council are also limiting in-person meetings. There will be a Special Council Meeting will be held on Monday, March 30, at 6:30 p.m. Click here to read more.

Stay up to date by regularly checking SaugeenShores.ca/Meetings.

Paying your bills

We've received questions from the public about how they can pay their bills at this time. You can stay up-to-date with your water and sewer bill and property taxes with the Town of Saugeen Shores through a number of ways without needing to visit the Municipal Office. Read more on Paying your Taxes and Paying your Utility Bill.

Information for businesses

The COVID-19 pandemic has put stress on our local business community. To find business supports during this difficult time, please visit our Business Support page.

Saugeen Shores’ small and locally owned businesses are woven into the fabric of our Town. To help support businesses during these challenging times, we’ve assembled a Saugeen Shores Strong page with information on how the community can help including a list of business updates created in partnership with the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus)