From the ORCKA Board of Directors:
Happy Canada Day everyone! We sincerely hope you are staying well, and that everyone you know is healthy. Ontario's emergency orders have been extended through July 10th, but with
Stage 2 reopening many public health units (PHUs) have given ORCKA a positive interpretation when it comes to running programming -- more on that in a minute; first, everyone needs to be aware of COVID-19 specific insurance considerations and program recommendations.
ORCKA has obtained legal opinion regarding COVID-19, and also the endorsement of our insurance provider regarding new waivers & forms:
- ORCKA Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims and Indemnity Agreement
- ORCKA Informed Consent and Assumption of Risk Agreement
- ORCKA Declaration of Compliance -- COVID-19
Login to your ORCKA account to take a look; please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions regarding these waivers & forms.
Per our insurance provider, and in order to be socially responsible members of Ontario's paddling community, we need to have certain COVID-19 protocols in place to run ORCKA programming; attached are two documents to be used by ORCKA's membership in order to get back up and running:
ORCKA has enquired of the various PHUs in Ontario regarding running programming; we have not yet received a response from everyone, but below is the list to date of PHUs which interpret ORCKA programming as being able to run under Stage 2 reopening:
- Algoma Public Health
- Grey Bruce Health Unit
- Leeds, Grenville and Lanark
- North Bay Parry Sound
- Northwestern Health Unit
- Ottawa Public Health
- Southwestern
- Sudbury and District
- York Region
- Peterborough Public Health
- Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
- Hamilton Public Health
- Niagara Region Public Health
In their interpretation, that ORCKA programming includes elements of paddling safety instruction increases its priority for reopening -- and they emphasize that physical distancing and compliant group-sizing is to be observed at all times. Remember, before running programming you should contact your PHU to inform them of your intent and to double-check on their interpretation of Stage 2 reopening. We will keep you informed as we receive more feedback from the PHUs.
Let's all do a good job in getting properly safe and responsible programming back up and running. Please contact us with any questions!
