To reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 and overwhelming the public health system on the Sunshine Coast, recreation and other public facilities have been closed and a slate of community events cancelled and postponed.
Effective March 17, all Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) recreation facilities have been closed – including the Sechelt Aquatic Centre and Gibsons and Area Community Centre, community halls and sports fields.
The Dakota Ridge Winter Recreation Area will now remain closed for the season with the gates locked.
SCRD parks will remain open for public use, although service levels may be reduced.
The District of Sechelt is also closing down facilities. The Visitor Information Centre, Community Meeting Room at the Municipal Hall, Seaside Centre, Rockwood Lodge and Mission House have all been closed.
In Gibsons, Brothers Field, located beside the community centre, is closed, but crews will be performing regular maintenance.
Libraries closed
The Gibsons Public Library closed its doors until further notice at the end of the day March 16. Online services, such as e-books, are still available through both libraries.
The Sechelt Public Library also announced Monday that it would be closing “until such time as deemed safe for our patrons,” effective at 6 p.m. March 17. Service to Pender Harbour has been cancelled. Due dates and late fees will not apply for the duration of the closure.
The Pender Harbour Reading Centre closed on March 16 for about two weeks, “out of concern for the health of both our members and volunteers,” said the centre’s website, and so has the Roberts Creek Library and Reading Room. It was expected to close March 18.
Childcare and other service closures
• The mem7iman Child Development Centre and Wellness Centre is closed
• As of March 17, Community Services was assessing the delivery of Elders home support and Meals on Wheels and will inform shíshálh Nation community of any changes to those programs as soon as possible.
• The Family Place at 5520 Trail Ave. in Sechelt is closed for group activities but will remain open for phone assistance and one-on-one meetings. All lending of equipment is suspended until further notice. Please call 604-885-5657.
• All programs including Play Big and Parent-Child Mother Goose at the Parent-Tot Drop-In and Bellies and Babies in Gibsons have been postponed until further notice.
• All shíshálh Nation gatherings such as the Baby Welcome, Spring Break Camp, new council swearing-in ceremony, all public engagements, the Fishing LP AGA, wellness and recovery group, grief and loss and youth club activities are postponed.
• All shíshálh Nation facilities will be closed and current bookings can contact the Nation for full refunds.
• The Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Gibsons is still accepting volunteers.
• The Gibsons Public Art Gallery is also closed.
• The Sunshine Coast Museum & Archives is closed until further notice. Core Museum staff will continue to work through the closure and be available for research requests and other Museum related inquiries via telephone and email. Online collections will still be accessible.
• All four Legions – Gibsons, Roberts Creek, Sechelt and Pender Harbour – are closed until at least the end of the month.
• Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre is closed until at least the end of the month.
• Sunshine Coast Community Services has cancelled programs and closed several locations and is implementing extra cleaning and sanitizing procedures throughout the organization to ensure the safety of all staff and participants.
• All Community Volunteer Income Tax clinics on the Sunshine Coast are cancelled.
• The Community Services Thrift Store, 731 North Rd. in Gibsons, is closed until further notice.
• All programs including Dads and Kids Play Group and Ukulele Group at the Parent-Tot Drop-In and Bellies and Babies in Sechelt have been postponed until further notice.
• The Infant Massage Class in Gibsons has been cancelled.
• The Infant Development Play Group in Sechelt has also been cancelled
• The Keeping People Housed service remains available. Call Andrea on 604-885-5881 ext. 231 or ask to speak with the Client Navigator.
• Dads United is cancelled until further notice.
• Spring Break Camp for Special Services to Children is cancelled.
• The Pender Harbour Health Centre has cancelled its Harbourside Friendship program and all Senior Initiative programs for the remainder of this month.
•Both Salvation Army Thrift stores were closed as of March 18 until April 1. Donations will still be accepted.
•Sunshine Coast Community Services Society will be regularly updating information about its programs at www.sccss.ca/news-events/covid-19-updates.
Other community events cancelled
• Gibsons Community Leaders Meeting – originally scheduled for March 31, 2020, has been postponed
• Sunday and Wednesday worship services at St Bartholomew’s Church have been cancelled for the next two weeks. Qi Gong and Osteo exercise classes have also been suspended until further notice. The monthly Food Bank will be held as usual, with on-air registration in the outdoor plaza rather than in the hall (weather permitting). For further updates please visit the church website: stbarts-gibsons.com or its Facebook page, or email [email protected].
• Sunshine Coast Sailing Association’s Meet and Greet and Information Event planned for Saturday, March 21 and Saturday, April 4 have both been cancelled.
• Bellies and Babies Clothing Swap scheduled for Saturday, April 4 is postponed.
• Screenagers Documentary showings April 4 at Elphinstone Secondary and April 25 at Chatelech Secondary have been postponed.
• The 2020 BMO Sunshine Coast April Fool’s Run has been postponed to Sunday Aug. 9.
•The remainder of regular season Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey League activities have been cancelled.
• All events at High Beam Dreams have been suspended and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
• The March 29 Sunshine Coast Community Orchestra concert at Chatelech Secondary School has been cancelled.
• The Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre Society has cancelled all regular bus trips to the Lower Mainland. Tai-chi and Argentine tango classes have also been cancelled.
