September 20th, 2021

(WHITBY, ON) - On September 14th, 2021 the Ontario Government released its Guidance to Support Proof of Vaccination Policy. Within this article lies the updated regulations, as well a further guidance for businesses and organizations.The government regulations for the Proof of Vaccination policy will come into effect September 22, 2021 at 12:01 AM. 

 What does this mean for our clubs? 

- Indoor Sport Participation (18 years of age and older): Must be double vaccinated and provide proof of identification and proof of being fully vaccinated upon entry to  the facility.  

- Indoor Sport Participation (under 18years of age): An exemption has been issued for patrons under 18 years of age who are entering the indoor premises of a facility used for sports and recreational fitness activities solely for the purpose of actively participating in an organized sport. This exemption relating to youth under 18 years of age actively participating in indoor organized sport applies to training, practices, games and competitions. Examples include: sport leagues, organized pick-up sports, and others. 

- Clubs with clubhouses: Please review the updated regulations carefully to ensure that your facility is following the regulations that apply to restaurants / bars. For clarity, there is an exemption within the above regulations that allows for patrons to enter a facility for the sole purpose to use a washroom or access an outdoor area that can only be accessed through an indoor route. There are other exemptions within the document, so please review in full.  

At this time, the Proof of Vaccination regulations pertain only to organized sport for indoor facilities. Rugby Ontario has completed the necessary updates to the Return to Play Framework to align with the provincial regulations. The guidance document published by the government should be referenced for explicit details on applicable exemptions. Please visit www.rugbyontario.com/return-to-play to review the most updated Return to Play Framework. 

Rugby Ontario is working closely with various key stakeholders to assess the Proof of Vaccination policy and other protocols that will ensure the safety and well-being of all participants.  

We remain committed to providing clubs with the most up to date information and processes to ensure that you are all informed on the provincial requirements for our sector. As always, we will continue to monitor the situation and make any necessary adjustments to our Return to Play Framework.