City of Surrey Recreation Centres, Ice Arenas, Pools and Libraries will be closed effective tomorrow (Monday, March 16) until further notice.

Mayor Doug McCallum has directed the closure of all City of Surrey Recreation Centres, Ice Arenas, Pools and Libraries to minimize the risk of transmission of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Full refunds will be provided to anyone who has registered for activities affected by the closure and library due dates will be suspended during this period.

“Given the ongoing concerns surrounding COVID-19, I am taking a proactive approach to ensure the health and safety of our residents” said Mayor Doug McCallum.

“The decision to close our public recreation facilities is being done in the best interests of public health. While it is imperative that we all do our part to mitigate the risk of exposure and transmission of COVID-19, we should also be mindful to carry on with life. As Dr. Bonnie Henry stated on Friday, ‘you can still do your shopping, go to restaurants, attend family events and continue to enjoy many other activities.’ It’s important that we take care of ourselves and to add to Dr. Henry’s advice, I would encourage everyone to take advantage of this spell of good weather to get outside, get some fresh air and stay active. Making the time to go for a walk, run or a bike ride in our parks and beaches two to three times a day is something I highly recommend. It is equally vital that you ensure you are eating healthy and getting the proper amount of rest and sleep.”

The City of Surrey’s spring break camps and licensed childcare programs will continue to operate. These programs are a valuable service to families who are working during this unprecedented time of COVID-19. The decision to remain open is done following the guidelines of:

• “2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) B.C. - Public Health Guidance for Schools and Childcare Programs” (Feb. 23, 2020) which advised schools and licensed childcare programs do not need to close at this time.
• BC Centre for Disease Control (http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19)

Enhanced preventative measures in spring break camps and licensed childcare programs have been put in place in order to reduce the risk of transmission of respiratory illnesses including COVID-19. The City of Surrey will continue to work with Fraser Health to closely monitor for any changes in guidelines for day camps and licensed childcare programs.