BRAMPTON, ON (December 15, 2020) – During the upcoming holiday season, many City of Brampton offices, including City Hall, will be closed to the public from Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 12 pm until Monday, January 4, 2021 at 8:30 am.
All critical services, including Fire and Emergency Services, Traffic Services, By-Law Enforcement, Road Operations, and Security Services will continue to operate as usual to support the community.
Residents can call 311 or 905.874.2000 (outside of Brampton), use the Brampton 311 app (available on App Store or Google Play), visit www.311brampton.ca or email 311@brampton.ca for any inquiries. We are available 24/7 for any City of Brampton or Region of Peel matters, including queries related to COVID-19. Visit www.brampton.ca/COVID19 for more information.
Brampton Transit
Brampton Transit will be running on Holiday Service from December 21- January 3. Reduced weekday service will in effect with School specials and extras cancelled. Regular service resumes on Monday, January 4, 2021.
Brampton Transit will run on the following schedule for the holiday season:
• Monday, December 21, 2020: Reduced weekday service
• Tuesday, December 22, 2020: Reduced weekday service
• Wednesday, December 23, 2020: Reduced weekday service
• Thursday, December 24, 2020: Reduced weekday service
• Friday, December 25, 2020: Sunday/Holiday service
• Saturday, December 26, 2020: Sunday/Holiday service
• Sunday, December 27, 2020: Sunday/Holiday service
• Monday, December 28, 2020: Reduced weekday service
• Tuesday, December 29, 2020: Reduced weekday service
• Wednesday, December 30, 2020: Reduced weekday service
• Thursday, December 31, 2020: Reduced weekday service
• Friday, January 1, 2021: Sunday/Holiday service
• Saturday, January 2, 2021: Saturday service
• Sunday, January 3, 2021: Sunday/Holiday service
An enhanced cleaning and sanitizing schedule remains in effect. It is Brampton Transit’s goal to disinfect all hard surfaces, operator compartments and seats every 48 hours. The majority of buses are currently sanitized every 24 hours. Facilities and terminals that have hard surfaces are wiped down and sanitized on a daily basis.
The City urges riders to continue to maintain physical distancing at terminals, and at bus stops, even while wearing a mask, as much as possible. Riders are also reminded to carry their own personal disinfectant when travelling, such as hand sanitizer or wipes, wash their hands often, and cough or sneeze into their elbow. If you’re sick, please refrain from riding transit, get tested at the nearest COVID-19 assessment site and follow public health instructions.
With guidance from Peel Public Health, riders are reminded that non-medical masks covering your nose, mouth and chin are mandatory on buses and terminals. The City of Brampton is working closely with its partners at Peel Public Health and the Brampton Emergency Management Office to continue to monitor risks.
Visit www.brampton.ca/COVID19 for regular updates and visit www.bramptontransit.com or follow @bramptontransit on Twitter for service updates. Questions may be directed to Brampton Transit’s Contact Centre at 905.874.2999.
Brampton Recreation
Recreation Centres are closed this holiday season in Brampton. For more information on our recreation programs and services visit www.brampton.ca/recreation.
City of Brampton ice rinks will be open throughout the holiday season, weather permitting. Hours of operation can be found at www.brampton.ca/outdoorskating.
Community health and safety is the City’s main priority, especially during COVID-19. In line with Peel Public Health recommendations, a reservation system is in place to visit the rinks. This is to ensure capacity requirements are maintained and contact tracing is possible when necessary.
Reservations are available up to 36 hours in advance. Residents can reserve their spot by:
• Registering online at cityofbrampton.perfectmind.com
• Calling our booking line at 905.791.2240
• Calling Service Brampton at 311 from within city limits
All reservations are limited to one hour in duration. Reservations are required for all patrons, including parents, guardians or others who are accompanying skaters but not going on the ice. Residents are asked to check in with staff at an onsite welcome tent upon arrival. If you need to cancel your reservation, call 905.791.2240.
At-Home Recreation
Stay active and engaged at home with online fitness and craft tutorials! Try a full body circuit, learn how to make origami hearts, practice your calligraphy skills, and more. Access a variety of Rec At Home activities at www.brampton.ca/recathome.
Virtual Holiday Workshops for Older Adults Ages 55+
On December 17, 2020, and January 5, 2021, adults ages 55+ are invited to join virtual workshops in ceramics and 3D model kits, and a paint night. These activities will be led by trained City of Brampton instructors using WebEx.
Materials will be available for curbside pick-up the week before programs begin at Flower City Seniors Recreation Centre. During online registration, participants can choose their preferred material pick-up timeslot.
For more information and to register, visit www.brampton.ca/recreation or call 311.
Holiday Craft Kits
As part of Brampton Recreation’s Rec At Home platform, residents can enjoy at-home holiday crafts for free. Residents can take part at their own pace in these activities by following step-by-step online tutorials and using a ready-made supply kit. Free activity kits will be available for curbside pick-up at select outdoor rinks beginning December 19 while supplies last. Visit www.brampton.ca/recreation for details.
Mini Virtual Games and Activities
Children ages 6 to 10 can register for free 45-minute interactive, virtual games and activities, led by a trained City instructor, starting December 19. Play games, participate in scavenger hunts, and join in on arts activities online! Visit www.brampton.ca/recreation for details.
Brampton Library
All Brampton Library branches will be closed:
• Thursday, December 24, 2020
• Friday, December 25, 2020
• Saturday, December 26, 2020
• Thursday, December 31, 2020
• Friday, January 1, 2021
The highest priority is placed on the safety of Brampton Library staff and customers. Reserve borrowable items online with a Brampton Library card number and PIN and select a pickup location. Please wait to receive a notification before picking your items up. Curbside and In-branch Holds pickup, Grab-n-Go, Book Bundles, and more offer members multiple ways to use the Library’s services. Enjoy flexible returns through 24-hour external drop boxes at all branches. Discover free eBooks and eAudiobooks, entertainment streaming, online learning and more in our Digital Library and find out about virtual programs for all ages and interests in Calendar of Events at bramptonlibrary.ca. Subscribe to our email updates and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @bramptonlibrary.
Brampton Animal Services
The Brampton Animal Shelter will run on the following schedule:
• Thursday, December 24, 2020 – Closed after noon
• Friday, December 25, 2020 - Closed
• Saturday, December 26, 2020 – Closed
• Sunday, December 27, 2020 – Open 10am to 4 pm
• Monday, December 28, 2020 – Closed
• Tuesday, December 29, 2020 – Open 10am to 4 pm
• Wednesday, December 30, 2020 – Open 10am to 4 pm
• Thursday, December 31, 2020 – Closed after noon
• Friday, January 1, 2021 – Closed
The shelter will reopen for regular business on Saturday, January 2, 2021. When the shelter is open, it is by appointment only.
Animal Control will be on the road from 8 am to 6:30 pm from December 24 to 28, 2020 and January 1 to 3, 2021. Animal Control will be on the road from 7 am to 10 pm on December 29 and 30, 2020. Outside of these hours, Animal Control will be responding to emergencies only.
Animal Control is currently responding to the following calls:
• Pick up of sick/injured/aggressive domestic animals and wildlife
• Aggressive animal
• Dog running at large
• Dog bite investigation
• Pick up of confined stray dog
• Pick up of dead animal
Brampton’s New Year’s Eve 2021
The City of Brampton will ring in 2021 virtually with Haviah Mighty and Tokyo Police Club! The performance will begin at 8pm on Thursday, December 31 online at Brampton.ca/NewYearsEve. The fun continues with an online fireworks experience and family-friendly activities online. Be sure to enjoy takeout from local restaurants, and use #BramptonNewYearsEve and #BramptonTogether to share your at-home celebration with the community. There will be no in-person events this year.
Fireworks
New Year’s Eve is one of four approved days in a year when short-range fireworks are allowed on private property, without the need for a permit. Short-range fireworks are those that tend to travel less than three metres (10 feet) when set off (e.g. fountains, wheels, ground spinners, sparklers). All other rocket-type fireworks are banned in Brampton. The City reminds residents that fireworks are not allowed to be used on the street, sidewalks, within City parks or on municipal or school properties. For more information, visit www.brampton.ca.
When using short-range fireworks on your property, you must follow these safety precautions:
• You must have a container of water or a hose line that’s filled with water available to extinguish fireworks
• You must never light a firework or hold a lit firework in your hand, other than a sparkler
• After using sparklers, place them in a container of water to fully cool before disposal
• Allow all fireworks to fully cool before disposal
Peel Public Health Reminders for the Holidays
The holidays need to be different this year. Peel’s case counts remain high and our test positivity is the highest in Ontario. The virus is spreading in our communities and every contact we have with another person could spread the disease. This includes at the church, your home and in the community.
This year, you must:
• Only celebrate and socialize with your immediate household and essential supports.
• Virtually join celebrations with those who don’t live in your home.
• Livestream religious services rather than attend in person.
• Decorate your home but celebrate with people inside your household only – do not invite extended family or friends into your home.
• Make your favourite foods and share a meal virtually
• Drop gifts off outside the door.
• Call your friends and family and offer Christmas cheer over the phone or internet.
Returning home for the holidays
• University, college, and other students living away from home should consider self-quarantining, or drastically reducing close contact with others, 10 to 14 days before returning home for the holidays. This will help lower the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
• If students are unable to reduce close contact with others before returning home, please reduce the amount of close contact, especially with seniors and individuals with underlying medical conditions.
• International students who travel home will need to quarantine, and follow other institutional protocols, upon their return to Canada. Students should also inquire about their home country’s testing requirements before leaving.
For more information on how to protect yourself and loved ones, visit peelregion.ca/coronavirus/ or follow the Region of Peel on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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CITY OF BRAMPTON MEDIA CONTACT
Christine Sharma
Media Relations, City of Brampton
905.874.2880 | christine.sharma@brampton.ca
REGION OF PEEL MEDIA CONTACT
Ashleigh Hawkins
Communications Specialist – Public Health
Region of Peel
416.818.4421 | ashleigh.hawkins@peelregion.ca
