Do your part, Stay safe, stay apart. Moving the region safely forward. Together.



Last updated – April 8, 2021

** By order and direction of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), all events and social gatherings are suspended to significantly reduce COVID-19 transmission related to social interactions and travel. Effective Friday February 5, 2021 this PHO has been extended until further notice. Click here to review the full order and additional information. The same restriction, including on social gatherings in people’s homes and in public venues, and all events and sports activities continue to apply.

**Effective midnight, Tuesday March 30 2021 - new and amended orders and guidelines are in effect through April 19, 2021, and include:

• For restaurants, bars and pubs, all food and liquor-serving premises must only provide take-out or delivery service. Dine-in service is prohibited, except for outdoor patios. People dining on patios should do so with their immediate household or core bubble.
• Indoor, adult group fitness activities of any kind are also paused. Gyms and fitness centres are restricted to individual or one-on-one activities only i.e. one-on-one personal training.
• The previously announced class variance for limited indoor worship services has been suspended. Outdoor worship services under the current variance may continue.
• Travel continues to be limited to essential travel, work or medical reasons only. For those who have travelled outside their health region, if you or anyone in your family develops any signs of illness, you must stay home from work, school or daycare, and arrange to get tested immediately.
• Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort is closed through to April 19, 2021, to address and prevent community spread related to non-essential travel.
• All workers are strongly encouraged to work from home, where possible.
• Public health guidance for schools has also been amended to support and encourage students down to Grade 4 to wear masks while at school.

To review the specifics around the restrictions: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions

The City has also enacted measures to support local restaurants to expand outdoor patio spaces during COVID-19. All necessary information and application forms for the outdoor patio program can be found on our website at www.cranbrook.ca/patios.

Following guidance from the Province of BC and the Provincial Health Officer, the City of Cranbrook has re-opened most facilities, with certain parameters the public is being asked to abide by.  As more facilities are phased in, this page will be updated. We ask you to visit this page often to get up to date information on what recreational opportunities are available at the City, during the COVID pandemic.

Our residents can enjoy the following City recreation facilities. Please follow the guidelines and best practices for each activity listed below:

Curling Club
The Curling Club located at 1777 2nd Street North behind Western Financial Place, will be home to Interior Health’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Cranbrook beginning on Monday, March 15, 2021.  The clinic will be open seven days per week. Learn more: IH COVID-19 Immunization Site In Cranbrook To Be Curling Club Starting March 15, 2021 (March 10, 2021). 

You can also get more information about COVID-19 vaccine clinics, by visiting Interior Health’s website at https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/covid-19-vaccines/. 

For general non-health related information about COVID-19, please call 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319).

Western Financial Place (Aquatic Centre, Ice Surface & Walking Concourse)    
Download the reopening informational flyer here.

Operations will look very different than they did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The facility will not be open to the general public.  All patrons will be required to be pre-registered for all activities as drop ins for programs and services will not be permitted at this time.  This is required to facilitate staff safety, maintain our ability to contact trace, and keep us operating within the rules and guidelines surrounding COVID-19.

Aquatic activities currently offered include lap swimming, private lessons, swim therapy, instructed low intensity water exercise, parent and tot swimming and family swim.  

The concourse walking program has a set schedule and has limits to the number of participants currently.  There will be a 45-minute time limit for each prescheduled walking session.

The racquet court is now open for solo play only.

The concourse walking program will be re-opened to a set schedule and will have limits to the number of participants at this time.  There will be a (1) one-hour maximum time limit for each prescheduled walking session. Walkers will be required to preregister as no drop in walking will be permitted at this time. 

To reserve a time, please use our online registration portal. You can also call 311 between 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday. Due to the large volume of calls, it may take our team time to get back to you. You are strongly encouraged to reserve online.

New protocols have been developed which guide users on how they register for activities, enter and exit the building, how they must pre-register for all activities, how they are screened for any COVID symptoms, mask usage, and other requirements.

• Idlewild Lake, Baker Park & Pop Price Park (Outdoor Rinks)
  Outdoor rinks at both Pop Price and Baker Park, along with Idlewild Lake scheduled to officially open week of December 21, 2020. We will monitor all ice conditions regularly to ensure all the outdoor rinks are safe to use. All outdoor rinks will operate under provincial COVID guidelines. Signage will be in place at all locations. If the guidelines are not being followed, access could be restricted, or the rinks closed to public use altogether. Read more - https://cranbrook.ca/news/rinks-at-baker-pop-price-idlewild-officially-open-to-public-monday-following-covid-protocols.
   
• Cranbrook Public Library
  The Cranbrook Public Library is open 7 days per week. Provincial inter-library loans have also been reinstated. The Library has also installed a new self-check out kiosk and a cloud library app to provide contactless borrowing options for users. Visit their website for more information at www.cranbrookpubliclibrary.ca/.
   
• Parks & Greenspace (including Moir Park)
  Parks and green space has remained open but is only for activities that can respect the general guidelines around safe physical distancing, and for family and small circle use. Family picnics are welcome. Organized field sport activities, even team practices are not permitted.
   
• Public Washrooms
  Outdoor public washrooms at Rotary, Kinsmen, Gyro, NorthStar Rails to Trails and Idlewild Park on the lake level, opened on May 29^th.  Idlewild playground level washroom reopened June 1^st.  Washrooms at Moir Park, Kinsmen Quad Ball Park and Lions Mountain View field will remain closed for the short term.  Park washrooms are open from 10 am to 8 pm.  Please note that washrooms are only cleaned 1-2x daily.  Users should follow all the safety guidelines, and carry their own hand sanitizer or wipes when using public facilities.
   
• Trails
  The City has a variety of trails including Rotary Way and the NorthStar Rails to Trails.  Cycling, jogging and walking are some of the activities you can enjoy. Please maintain the 2m distancing, and make extra space on the right of the trail when someone is passing you from the opposite direction.
   
• Tennis and Pickleball 
• Keep 2 metres apart at all times, including if you are waiting for a court
• Limit play to singles, or doubles play with partners from the same household or within your small circle 
• Do not share racquets or other equipment
• Clearly mark your ball and refrain from picking up others’ tennis or pickleballs
• Casual game play only: no lessons or league play allowed
• Remain courteous and limit play time to 30 mins when others are waiting
• Leave the court when you are done
   
• Disc Golf
  Keep well distanced and limit your groups to three participants (four if within family or close circle). Do not share discs.  Please use the “Ten foot Gimme”  - If you are within ten feet of the basket, don’t putt it out - to help limit hand contact at the basket.
   
• Basketball Courts – McKinnon Park
  Two nets are now open at the McKinnon Park location.   For individual and family use.  Users should not share equipment.
   
• Skateboard Park
  Keep your distance while skateboarding.  Do not share equipment.  If the park is busy, please try another time.  Please do not congregate in the area if you are not participating in the activity.  The onus is on the users to work within these guidelines to ensure the facility is able to remain opened.
   
• City Playgrounds and the Seniors Fitness Park (Western Financial Place)
  These facilities are open. These facilities are not cleaned, so users are strongly urged to bring their own hand sanitizer and follow the general safety guidelines.
   
• Fishing
  Idlewild Lake remains open for fishing.  Keep your distance and don’t forget to follow the Provincial Fishing Regulations currently in place.
   
• Riding Arena (Idlewild Park)
  For individual use only. Please limit to no more than two horses on site at a time, and limit riding if others are waiting.

While each activity has some specific guidelines, the public is responsible for deciding on whether they choose to participate or to use these spaces.  Remember that no matter which activity, you should abide by these general guidelines:

• stay home and away from others if you are sick
• following physical distancing by keeping at least 2m apart from others
• practicing good hygiene by washing hands before and after visiting amenities
• be self sufficient and carry your own hand sanitizer/wipes
• keeping your circle small.  Keep your group limited to members of your household and very select friends/family
• no congregating in groups and no large group activities
• wait your turn at a safe distance and give everyone the opportunity to enjoy the facilities
   

You can continue to find the latest news and information around the COVID-19 response both locally and regionally on the City’s website at https://cranbrook.ca/residents/covid-19-updates-information/. You can also find important links to additional information from both provincial and federal health agencies and governments.