Visiting reopened City facilities
You will find many COVID-19 safety measures in place at City-operated facilities.
Before you visit
Proof of full COVID-19 immunization is required under provincial public health orders for anyone 18 years of age and over to visit and participate in indoor programming at City-operated pools, fitness and leisure centres, and arenas.
Effective December 6, 2021, as per provincial public health orders, anyone between the ages of 12 – 17 will require either at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or a confirmed recent negative test to participate in indoor programming.
Everyone entering the City Hall Council Building is required to provide proof of immunization and corresponding photo ID.
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 (or a school ID card for youth ages 12 – 17) to confirm that their identity matches their COVID-19 immunization card or immunization record. Please arrive early with your documents ready to ensure enough time for screening.
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 and mask requirements. Physical distancing is recommended.
- Effective December 21, 2021, as per provincial public health orders, spectator capacity is limited to 50 percent.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be available at each entrance.
- Access to dressing rooms will be limited to 20 minutes prior to reservation time and 30 minutes after.
- 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.
What can't I do?
- Dry land training.
- Spit.
- Spectators may not stay longer than your rental time.
City Hall safety measures
- Proof of COVID-19 immunization is required to enter the Council Building at City Hall.
- 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 in person by appointment (if fully vaccinated).
- Appear as a registered delegation in person (if fully vaccinated) or remotely.
- Watch meetings of Council and Committees of Council on our YouTube channel.
- Book and hold a wedding ceremony.
What can't I do?
- A visitor capacity of 50 people is in place.
Fitness and leisure centres safety measures
- Individuals must follow all public health orders, including COVID-19 immunization and mask requirements. Physical distancing is recommended.
- Effective December 21, 2021, as per provincial public health orders, spectator capacity is limited to 50 percent at leisure centres, and total capacity at fitness centres is limited to 50 percent.
- 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 may be limited.
- 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
- Wear your mask at all times, except when engaged in water or other athletic activities.
- 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
Libraries safety measures
- Library users must follow all public health orders, including physical distancing guidelines.
- Effective December 21, 2021, as per provincial public health orders, capacity is limited to 50 percent.
- 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, including tutorial rooms (limited capacity)
- Pick up requested items from the self-pickup holds shelf and use self-checkout machines
- Return items 24/7 (after-hours book returns)
- 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
- Attend programs online
What can't I do?
- Rent meeting and program rooms
- Book class visits and tours
Pool safety measures
- Individuals must follow all public health orders, including COVID-19 immunization and mask requirements. Physical distancing is recommended.
- Effective December 21, 2021, as per provincial public health orders, spectator capacity is limited to 50 percent.
- 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 may be limited.
- There are limited quantities of lifejackets and no other equipment onsite for public use.
What can I do?
- Visit select indoor pools
- Wear your mask at all times, except when engaged in water or other athletic activities.
- Pre-register for swim blocks at indoor pools
What can't I do?
- Stay longer than your admission time block
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.