Visiting reopened City facilities
You will find many new COVID-19 safety measures in place and a new system for visiting City facilities.
Before you visit
Face masks are required in all City-operated 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.
- have, within the last 14 days, returned home from travel outside of Canada, from Ontario (east of Terrace Bay), Quebec or the Atlantic provinces.
View safety measures for:
Animal Services safety measures
- Capacity is limited to ensure proper physical distancing guidelines are being followed.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be available the entrance.
- Individuals are asked to maintain a distance of at least two metres from every other individual who is not in their household.
- Limited use of washrooms will be available.
- Staff will be 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.
- To adopt a dog by viewing adoptable pets online or on our social media pages and contacting 311 to express interest in a specific dog.
- 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.
- Book a Doggie Date.
- Volunteer.
Archives safety measures
- Capacity is limited to ensure proper physical distancing guidelines are being followed.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be available 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.
- Use gloves when handling records. Gloves will be supplied.
- Access Archives services online.
- Limited use of computer and microfilm reader in the research room.
What can't I do?
- Visit without an appointment.
- Request additional retrievals at the time of your visit.
- Browse the vertical files in the research room.
- Bring guests with you to your appointment without notifying staff in advance.
Arenas safety measures
- Capacity is limited to ensure proper physical distancing guidelines are being followed.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be available at each entrance.
- Individuals are asked to maintain a distance of at least two metres from every other individual who is not in their household.
- Booking a skate block in advance prior to arriving at the facility is recommended. Reserve a block on leisureONLINE, on-site, or contact 311 for assistance.
- A team/booking representative must present themselves to arena staff upon entry.
- Access to lockers, change rooms, ref and players boxes and spectator seating will be limited
- At this time change room access will not be permitted prior to your ice reservation.
- Limited capacity change room access will be provided 15 minutes after your ice reservation.
- Limited use of washrooms will be available
- Staff will be following handwashing protocols and disinfecting surfaces as needed throughout the day and between user groups.
What can I do?
- Visit arenas during Public skate and Learn to Skate programming.
- Come dressed to get on the ice.
- Bring your own water; limited use of water fountains will be available.
- Make a general facility reservation booking.
Note: 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?
- Arrive more than 15 minutes before your rental time.
- Spit.
- Use the showers.
- Dry land training.
- Use the vending machines.
- Exit more than 15 minutes after your rental time.
City Hall and the Susan A. Thompson Building safety measures
- Hand sanitizing stations are available at each entrance.
- Staff will be 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 have been installed at all front counter areas.
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 a wedding ceremony provided guest attendance limits are followed.
What can't I do?
- Watch a Council and Committees of Council meeting in person.
Fitness and leisure centres safety measures
- Capacity is limited to ensure proper physical distancing guidelines are being followed.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be available at each entrance.
- Individuals are asked to maintain a distance of at least two metres from every other individual who is not in their household.
- 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.
- Amenities will be closed to the public for 30 minutes between the two-hour blocks to sanitize and allow for reasonable time for public to vacate prior to the next scheduled block.
- Access to lockers and change rooms/showers will be limited.
- Limited use of washrooms will be available.
- Staff will be following handwashing protocols and disinfecting surfaces as needed throughout the day and between scheduled blocks.
What can I do?
- Visit one of our open fitness and leisure centres and enjoy the amenities.
- Come dressed to use the facility.
- Wipe down fitness equipment after use.
- Bring your own water; limited use of water fountains will be available.
- Make a general facility reservation booking. Note: 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?
- Arrive more than 5 minutes before your scheduled block time.
- Stay longer than your two-hour time block.
- Fitness drop-in, or drop-in programming.
- Offer private contract services.
Golf course safety measures
- All golfers will be screened over the phone for COVID-19 symptoms before playing.
- Hand sanitizing stations are available at each entrance.
- Attendance will be limited in the pro shops to allow for physical distancing.
- Tap form of payment is preferred.
- Golf carts will be sanitized before use.
What can I do?
- Book a tee time and enjoy a round of golf at one of our four courses.
- Groups are limited to four players.
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.
Libraries safety measures
- All individuals entering a library must wear a face mask.
- We encourage quick visits to the library. Plan your visit and keep it short.
- Library users are asked to use the posted self-assessment symptom checklist. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms will be asked not to enter the library.
- Library users must sanitize their hands when entering the library.
- Library users must maintain physical distancing of 2 metres/6 feet from others at all times.
- Library staff will be following handwashing protocols and are disinfecting frequently used equipment and surfaces regularly.
- Plexiglass shields have been installed at every desk.
- Every branch has a maximum occupancy limit. Library users may be directed to a queue to wait for space to be available.
- Returned library materials are quarantined for a minimum 96 hours and then processed.
What can I do?
- Browse the stacks.
- Use the public computers in a limited capacity.
- Use limited study spaces and complementary tutorial rooms.
- Use the ideaMILL in a limited capacity. Visit times must be booked in advance online or by phone.
- Print and photocopy.
- Place hold requests online, through the WPL Mobile App, or by phone with pickup at library of your choice.
- Telephone reference service.
- New library memberships and card renewals.
- Return library materials.
- Visit our digital library any time to access downloadable eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, newspapers, streaming movies and music, and research databases.
- Home Service.
- Interlibrary loan service.
What can't I do?
- Rent meeting and program rooms.
- Book class visits and tours.
- Read physical newspapers and magazines.
- Use the lounge furniture.
- In person library programing.
Parks and outdoor spaces safety measures
- Park users are required to follow physical distancing guidelines and maintain a distance of at least two metres from every other individual, except people living in the same household.
- Individuals and businesses operating in a park are required to follow provincial public health orders, including following group size restrictions.
- Playgrounds will not be cleaned or sanitized more frequently than normal. Use of these spaces is at your own risk.
What can I do?
- Play on the playground.
- Use the skateparks.
- Book an athletic field.
- Apply for a park rental permit provided provincial group size restrictions are followed.
- Book a picnic shelter provided provincial group size restrictions are followed.
- Use the washroom facilities.
What can't I do?
- Gather in groups larger than the provincial group size restrictions.
Pool safety measures
- Capacity is limited to ensure proper physical distancing guidelines are being followed.
- Hand sanitizing stations are available at each entrance.
- Individuals are asked to maintain a distance of at least two metres from every other individual who is not in their household.
- 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.
- Pools and fitness areas will be closed for 30 minutes between the two-hour blocks to sanitize and allow for reasonable time for public to vacate prior to the next scheduled block.
- Access to lockers and change rooms/showers will be limited.
- Limited use of washrooms will be available.
- Staff will be following handwashing protocols and disinfecting surfaces as needed throughout the day and between swim blocks.
- There will be limited quantities of lifejackets and no other equipment onsite for public use.
What can I do?
- Visit our indoor pools.
- Come dressed to use the facility.
- Bring your own lifejackets, flutter boards, and toys.
- Bring your own water; limited use of water fountains will be available.
- Wipe down fitness equipment after use.
- Make a general facility reservation booking. Note: 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?
- Arrive more than 5 minutes before your scheduled block time.
- Whirlpools are closed.
- No chairs or seating will be available.
- Stay longer than your two-hour time block.
- Offer private contract services.
Spray pad safety measures
- Spray pad users are required to follow physical distancing guidelines and maintain a distance of at least two metres from every other individual, except people living in the same household.
- We will not be cleaning spray pads more frequently than normal. Use of the spray pads is at your own risk.
What can I do?
- Enjoy our spray pads during hours of operation.
What can't I do?
- Washrooms on-site are not available for use.
- Gather in groups larger than the provincial group size restrictions.
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 will be following handwashing protocols and disinfecting surfaces as needed.
- Plexiglass shields have been 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.
- Report a crime online.
- Have a virtual police assessment if the incident meets the guidelines.
- Visit the Winnipeg Police Museum.
What can't I do?
- File a police report in person at the West, North, and East district stations.
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.