Visiting reopened City facilities
You will find many COVID-19 safety measures in place at City-operated facilities.
Before you visit
Effective September 3, 2021 , proof of COVID-19 immunization is now required to visit City-operated pools, fitness and leisure centres, and arenas.
Proof of immunization is not required to visit a library branch; however, select indoor programming will require proof of immunization – participants will be notified accordingly.
Individuals that do not show proof of immunization will not be permitted to enter the facility or participate in indoor programming, unless they fall under an exemption in the provincial public health orders.
Customers are required to bring a piece of government-issued ID to confirm that their identity matches their COVID-19 immunization card.
For more information, see: Ongoing Response.
Face masks are also required, and we encourage residents to review the self-assessment symptom checklist. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms will be asked to not enter our facilities. More information can be found on Ongoing response.
Please do not visit a City of Winnipeg facility if you:
- are feeling ill and/or experiencing any of the following symptoms: cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose/congestion, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste and/or smell, sore muscles not related to overexertion or exercise.
- have had close contact (within 2 metres) with a confirmed case of COVID-19, or if someone in your household has.
- In the last 14 days, have you returned:
- From a Canadian province/territory and you have less than two COVID vaccinations or it has been less than two weeks since your second COVID vaccination?
- From non-essential travel outside Canada?
View safety measures for:
Animal Services safety measures
- Capacity is limited to ensure proper physical distancing guidelines are being followed.
- Hand sanitizing stations are available the entrance.
- Individuals are required to maintain a distance of at least two metres/six feet from every other individual who is not in their household.
- Limited use of washrooms is available.
- Staff are following handwashing protocols and disinfecting surfaces as needed throughout the day.
What can I do?
- Purchase or renew your pet’s license by visiting the front counter on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
- Adopt a dog by viewing adoptable pets online or on our social media pages and contacting 311 to express interest in a specific dog.
- Book a Doggie Date.
- If you lost your dog check Winnipeg Lost Dog Alert Inc. on Facebook. All stray dogs impounded inside Animal Services are posted on the site then contact 311 to arrange a visit to Animal Services.
What can't I do?
- Visit the dog kennels.
- Volunteer.
Archives safety measures
- Capacity is limited to ensure proper physical distancing guidelines are being followed.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be available at the entrance.
- Staff will be following handwashing protocols and disinfecting surfaces as needed throughout the day.
- Staff will retrieve records and prepare workstations according to safe-work procedures.
- Where possible, records may be electronically provided.
- Records handled by researchers are quarantined before being re-shelved.
What can I do?
- Visit the research room located at 50 Myrtle St. by appointment only. To book an appointment, contact the Archives. Please allow for a minimum of 48 hours notice.
- Work with Archives staff to identify records in advance of your visit.
- Only bring the materials you require, such as pencils, paper, and if applicable, a camera, cell phone, or hand-held scanner to copy records.
- Follow posted instructions and floor markings in the research room.
- Access Archives services online.
- Use the computer or microfilm reader in the research room.
What can't I do?
- Visit without an appointment.
- Browse the vertical files in the research room.
- Bring guests with you to your appointment without notifying staff in advance.
Arenas safety measures
- Individuals must follow all public health orders, including COVID-19 immunization requirements, and physical distancing guidelines.
- Capacity is limited to help ensure physical distancing guidelines are maintained.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be available at each entrance.
- Arenas will be closed for 15 minutes between rentals to sanitize and allow for reasonable time for public to vacate prior to the next scheduled user group.
- Access to dressing rooms will be limited to 30 minutes prior to reservation time and 15 minutes after.
- Limited use of washrooms will be available.
- Staff will be following handwashing protocols and disinfecting surfaces throughout the day and between user groups when possible.
- Visitors are encouraged to use the QR Code contact tracing process upon entry to the facility.
What can I do?
- Wear your mask at all times, except when participating in on-ice activities.
- Bring your own water; limited use of water fountains will be available.
- Limited use of showers will be available.
- Make a general facility reservation booking. Limitations on building capacity may impact the availability of rooms and number of guests. Persons/groups reserving an amenity must follow all requirements in place.
What can't I do?
- Dry land training.
- Spit.
- Spectators may not stay longer than your rental time.
City Hall safety measures
- Hand sanitizing stations are available at each entrance.
- Staff are following handwashing protocols and disinfecting surfaces as needed throughout the day.
- Visitors are required to line up and follow posted instructions (signage and floor markings) for physical distancing guidelines.
- Plexiglass shields are installed at all front counter areas.
- Capacity is reduced in consideration of the provincial public health orders. Please allow additional time when visiting the front counters.
What can I do?
- Visit the 311 customer service counter.
- Visit the City Clerk’s Department front counter.
- Meet with elected officials by appointment.
- Appear as a registered delegation in person or remotely.
- Watch meetings of Council and Committees of Council on our YouTube channel.
- Book and hold an outdoor wedding ceremony provided guest attendance limits are followed.
What can't I do?
- A visitor capacity of 50 people is in place.
- Watch a Council and Committees of Council meeting in person.
Fitness and leisure centres safety measures
- Individuals must follow all public health orders, including COVID-19 immunization requirements, and physical distancing guidelines.
- Hand sanitizing stations are available at each entrance.
- Booking a time block in advance prior to arriving at the facility is recommended. Reserve a block on leisureONLINE, on site, or contact 311 for assistance.
- Access to lockers and change rooms/showers is limited. Come dressed to use the facility.
- Staff are following handwashing protocols and disinfecting surfaces as needed throughout the day.
What can I do?
- Visit one of our open fitness and leisure centres and enjoy the amenities
- Bring your own lifejackets, flutter boards, and toys at locations with pools
- Casual facility reservation bookings, subject to availability and resourcing
What can't I do?
- Stay longer than your admission time block
Golf courses safety measures
- All golfers are screened for COVID-19 symptoms prior to the start of their round.
- Proof of immunization is required to use restaurant and patio areas at City golf courses.
- Hand sanitizing stations are available at each entrance.
- Clubhouse capacity is limited to ensure proper physical distancing guidelines are being followed, and outdoor patio guidelines will follow applicable public health orders.
- Contactless form of payment is preferred.
- Power carts are sanitized before each use.
What can I do?
- Book a tee time and enjoy a round at one of our golf courses.
- Power carts are available and are sanitized before each use. The power carts are limited to single riders only, unless the riders are from the same household.
What can't I do?
- Golf ball washing stations, rakes, and divot mix boxes have been removed.
- You cannot remove the pins from the hole.
- Groups are limited to four players;
- All league and tournament play is suspended until further notice.
- Spectators are not permitted to accompany a golfer(s) while they play the course.
Libraries safety measures
- Library users must follow all public health orders, including physical distancing guidelines.
- All individuals entering the library must wear a face mask.
- Library users are asked to use the self-assessment symptom checklist. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms will be asked not to enter the library.
- Select indoor programming will require proof of immunization; participants will be notified accordingly.
What can I do?
- Browse collections
- Use computers (limited capacity)
- Use public printers and photocopiers
- Use study spaces
- Self-checkout and self-pick-up of holds
- In-person holds pick-up and returns of library material
- Place hold requests online, through the WPL Mobile App, or by phone
- Telephone reference service
- Visit our digital library any time to access downloadable eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, newspapers, streaming movies and music, and research database
What can't I do?
- Use tutorial rooms
- Rent meeting and program rooms
- Book class visits and tours
- In-library programming
Pool safety measures
- Individuals must follow all public health orders, including COVID-19 immunization requirements, and physical distancing guidelines.
- Capacity is reduced to help ensure physical distancing guidelines are maintained.
- Do not gather in groups larger than the provincial group size restrictions.
- Hand sanitizing stations are available at each entrance.
- Access to change rooms/showers is limited. Come dressed to use the facility.
- Limited use of washrooms will be available.
- There are limited quantities of lifejackets and no other equipment onsite for public use.
What can I do?
- Visit select indoor pools
- Pre-register for swim blocks at indoor pools
What can't I do?
- Stay longer than your admission time block
- Whirlpools and saunas are closed at indoor pools
- No chairs or seating available
- Lockers on-site are not available for use
Winnipeg Police Service stations safety measures
- Visitors are required to line up and follow posted instructions (signage and floor markings) for physical distancing guidelines.
- Hand sanitizing stations are available at each entrance.
- Staff are following handwashing protocols and disinfecting surfaces as needed.
- Plexiglass shields are installed at the front counter.
What can I do?
- File a police report, criminal record/police information checks, non-criminal fingerprinting in person at the Downtown Police Headquarters.
- Residents can make a report or discuss an issue with a police officer at the Downtown Police Headquarters during extended hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
- Report a crime online.
- Have a virtual police assessment if the incident meets the guidelines.
What can't I do?
- File a police report in person at the West, North, and East district stations.
- Visit the Winnipeg Police Museum.
Winnipeg Transit safety measures
- Passengers are required to use face masks while riding Transit or using Transit Plus. Persons under 5 years of age or unable to wear a mask due to medical concerns/limitations are exempt.
- An enhanced cleaning program has been implemented and sees all buses treated with a hospital grade sanitizer at least once every 48 hours, using electrostatic sprayers aimed primarily at high-touch point areas.
- Only buses equipped with operator shields are in operation and operators are mandated to drive with the shields fully deployed.
- Our bus operators have been provided non-medical cloth masks.
- Passengers are asked to maintain a reasonable separation between themselves and others.
- Passengers are reminded to practice good hand hygiene by washing hands before and after riding transit and refraining from touching their face.
- Customers at our Customer Service Centres are required to line up and follow posted instructions (signage and floor markings) for physical distancing guidelines.
- Hand sanitizing stations are available at each Customer Service Centre.
What can I do?
- Check the Winnipeg Transit website for the most up to date schedule and ride a Winnipeg Transit bus.
- Consider riding in off-peak hours if possible to help make sure there’s space for everyone who needs it.
- Exit at the rear door if you are able in order to reduce crowding. Passengers who need to exit using the front door, such as wheelchair users, can still do so.
- Visit one of our Customer Service Centres.
What can't I do?
- Ride the bus if you are sick or experiencing flu-like symptoms.