Contact Us
As the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, the Township of Asphodel-Norwood will continue to keep its residents informed regarding changes in Township services. Please check back with us regularly, as this page will get updated daily.
Peterborough Public Health (PPH) is actively monitoring the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and collaborating with local hospitals, primary care, emergency services, the Ministry of Health, provincial and national colleagues. Please visit the PPH Novel Coronavirus Page for local updates. If you observe an individual who you believe is not following self-isolation or quarantine requirements, you can submit a COVID-19 Complaint Form and they will be contacted by Peterborough Public Health.
Take basic protective measures to protect yourself and your community from the Novel Coronavirus. The World Health Organization's (WHO's) Website has advice for the public and information on social distancing, which includes videos and posters you can download and share.
| Changes to Municipal Facilities & Services |
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Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre: CLOSED Asphodel-Norwood Transfer Station: OPEN with strict guidelines and restrictions Municipal Office: CLOSED (staff are still available by phone 705-639-5343 or email info@antownship.ca) Norwood Library: CLOSED Westwood Library: CLOSED Essential services will continue including Water, Wastewater, Public Works and Fire. |
| July 20, 2020: Mandatory Face Coverings |
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On July 20, 2020 Peterborough Public Health (PPH) released a directive outlining the instructions for mandatory face coverings within the geographical area served by Peterborough Public Health. The directive is to owners and operators of commercial establishments, public transit, and commercial transportation. Beginning August 1, 2020, face coverings will be mandatory in various settings as outlined in the directive. For full information, please visit Peterborough Public Health's website. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact PPH directly at 705-743-1000. |
| July 17, 2020: Stage 3 Framework for Reopening Ontario |
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Nearly all businesses and public spaces will be able to gradually reopen in Stage 3, with public health and workplace safety restrictions in place, while some high-risk venues and activities will remain closed until they can safely resume operations. For information on new restrictions, gathering limits, workplace safety and much more, please visit the Government on Ontario's website. |
| May 27, 2020: Asphodel-Norwood Transfer Station Hours |
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As of Saturday May 30, 2020, the summer hours at the Transfer Station will resume. Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Monday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Wednesday 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The following protocols remain in place:
We encourage residents to utilize the curbside pickup services available. |
| May 26, 2020: Drive Through Testing for COVID-19 |
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Starting on Wednesday, May 27, local residents without symptoms can access drive-through testing for COVID-19 at the Kinsmen Civic Centre on a first-come, first-served basis. This announcement was made today by local healthcare partners Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), Peterborough County-City Paramedics, and Peterborough Public Health. Residents with symptoms are directed to book an appointment with the PRHC COVID-19 Assessment Centre by calling 705-876-5086. Drive-through testing for asymptomatic residents will be provided at the Kinsmen Centre by the Peterborough Paramedics, who will take specimens using a nasopharyngeal swab and then send it to a public health lab for analysis. Residents who arrive by other means, such as on foot or by bicycle, will also be tested. Testing is available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. seven days a week starting Wednesday, May 27. The Kinsmen Centre is located at 1 Kinsmen Way, just off Sherbrooke St. Residents are asked to bring their Ontario Health Card. Individuals are asked to stay in their vehicles and/or maintain appropriate physical distancing while waiting to be tested. |
| May 21, 2020 Press Release: Re-opening of Some Outdoor Areas |
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In support of the Province’s amendment to Regulation 104/20 to allow for the opening of some outdoor recreational amenities the picnic areas and outdoor sports fields have been re-opened in the following parks:
Playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment and the splash pad will remain closed. The sports fields are open for individual play only. No team sports are permitted. |
| May 17, 2020 Press Release: Asphodel-Norwood Transfer Station Re-Opening |
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Please be advised that the Township of Asphodel-Norwood’s Transfer Station located at 187 County Road 40 will re-open on Tuesday May 19, 2020 under the following guidelines and restrictions. Please note that the hours of operation will be reassessed after two weeks to determine if additional opening days are still required. Hours of Operation for May 19 - 23, 2020
Hours of Operation for May 26 - 30, 2020
Guidelines
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| May 15, 2020 Press Release: Trent River Access Points |
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Following the announcement made yesterday by the Ontario Government all Township owned access points to the Trent River will be re-opened as of Saturday, May 16th.
Please be advised that the social distancing requirements of two metres is still in effect and social gatherings are still limited to five individuals. To report COVID-19 related concerns, please contact your local police service using the non-emergency number. Ontario Provincial Police non-emergency line: 1-888-310-1122 |
| May 12, 2020: Garage Sales Strongly Discouraged in Peterborough City & County |
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Peterborough Public Health is advising residents that garage and/or yard sales should not be held within its jurisdiction until further notice. This is in accordance with the extended emergency order issued by the Government of Ontario which prohibits public and social gatherings of more than five people. These types of sales tend to attract large groups of people and enthusiasts tend to visit several sales in a short period of time, increasing the risk of spreading COVID-19. Peterborough Public Health recommends that if residents want to sell private property and second-hand items using online platforms, social media, etc., that they use contactless pick-up and drop-offs and use contactless payments like e-transfers rather than cash or cheques. If contactless pick-up and drop-off of items is not possible then residents should:
As Ontario begins to relax emergency measures and more businesses start to open, strict public health measures are enforced and mandatory. Garage and yard sales do not allow for public health measures needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 including physical distancing and hand hygiene and therefore, must be avoided. Complaints related to social gatherings should be directed to the local non-emergency Peterborough Police Service or the Ontario Provincial Police:
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| May 11, 2020: MPP Piccini to Host Economic Recovery Consultations |
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Consultations across Northumberland-Peterborough South will gather ideas on how best to protect and support people and jobs, restart the economy and move towards recovery David Piccini, MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South, will be hosting sector specific consultations with industry stakeholders across the riding to discuss the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our local economy and to gather ideas as Ontario prepares to restart the economy. Building on municipal virtual town halls with Mayors and First Nation Chiefs across Northumberland-Peterborough South that MPP Piccini has already launched and expanding on a previous virtual roundtable with the Ministry of Finance and local businesses, these consultations will be key in restarting Ontario’s economy. The Province also recently released A Framework for Reopening our Province that outlines the criteria Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and health experts will use to advise the government on the loosening of emergency measures. To register for one of the upcoming sector specific consultations, please email David.PicciniCO@pc.ola.org or call 905-372-4000. |
| May 11, 2020 Press Release: Burn Ban Rescinded |
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Effective immediately the Burn Ban in Asphodel-Norwood is hereby rescinded. Please be advised that the regulations adopted in Burn By-law 2016-79 will be strictly enforced with a no tolerance approach. Prior to burning please, ensure the following:
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| May 6, 2020: Ontario Further Eases Restrictions |
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The Ontario government is allowing all retail stores with a street entrance to provide curbside pickup and delivery, as well as in-store payment and purchases at garden centres, nurseries, hardware stores and safety supply stores. The business owners should review the health and safety guidelines developed by the province and its health and safety association partners. Today's announcement was made by Premier Doug Ford, Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance, and Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. |
| May 1, 2020: Lab Error - False Positive COVID-19 Results |
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Peterborough Public Health (PPH) was notified today from BioTest Laboratories in Ottawa that a technical error has resulted in a decision by the lab to reject all 94 COVID-19 positive test results performed last weekend, including 22 specimens from local residents. There is a concern that these results may have been falsely positive. Dr. Salvaterra explained that 22 of 27 positive cases reported for the period of April 22 to 29 were processed at BioTest and will now require further testing to determine their validity. Unfortunately, one person is now deceased. PPH will engage Public Health Ontario’s guidance and support for any potential changes to our COVID-19 reporting. PPH has already contacted all 21 individuals to advise them of the potential error and recommended they be retested. This will also impact the close contacts of these cases. PPH recommends that anyone identified as a close contact please continue their isolation and self-monitoring until the results of the retesting have been received. All contacts can expect to hear from a PPH public health nurse for further guidance. There is no reason to question the validity of any negative results from Bio Test. |
| May 1, 2020: Certain Businesses Allowed to Reopen Under Strict Safety Guidelines |
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Today's announcement was made by Premier Doug Ford, Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance, Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. The Chief Medical Officer of Health has provided general recommendations on how the openings of businesses and workplaces could be implemented to support safe operations, including strict adherence to health and safety requirements. By following the proper health and safety guidelines these businesses will be permitted to begin operations on Monday, May 4 at 12:01 a.m.:
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| April 30, 2020: Health & Safety Assoc. Guidance Docs for Workplaces During COVID-19 |
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The Ontario government works closely with four provincial health and safety associations (HSAs) to help set, communicate and enforce the Occupational Health and Safety Act. In partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, the HSAs have released a series of more than 50 technical sector guidance documents to further support employers and employees in remaining safe in the workplace during the COVID-19 outbreak. |
| April 24, 2020: Governments Invest $2.5 Million to Grow Agri-food e-Business |
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The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $2.5 million to help the agri-food sector expand online, providing more opportunities for producers to grow their business and offer more food choices for families who are shopping from home during the COVID-19 outbreak. The funding is being provided through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership). The Agri-Food Open for E-Business initiative will help food producers, farmers markets, retailers, garden centres, greenhouses, nurseries, and agricultural associations develop online business, providing consumers with greater access to a wide variety of food and agriculture products. For more information on this funding stream, please visit Government of Canada's website. |
| April 24, 2020: Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program |
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The Ontario Government is committing $241 million to partner with the federal government and deliver more than $900 million in urgent relief to small businesses and their landlords through a new program, the Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program (OCECRA). The OCECRA will provide forgivable loans to eligible commercial property owners experiencing potential rent shortfalls because their small business tenants have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. For more information on how this program works, please visit the Government of Ontario's OCECRA web page. |
| April 24, 2020: Ontario Provides Urgent Relief for Small Businesses and Landlords |
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The Ontario government is partnering with the federal government to provide urgent relief for small businesses and landlords affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The province is committing $241 million through the new Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program (OCECRA). The total amount of provincial-federal relief that would be provided is more than $900 million, helping to ensure small businesses are ready to reopen their doors when the emergency measures are lifted. Details of the new program can be found on the Government of Ontario's website. |
| April 22, 2020: Provincial Parks Closed Until April 30, 2020 |
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As COVID-19 continues to quickly evolve, the Government of Ontario wants to ensure that they respond in a way that prioritizes public safety and the well-being of visitors and staff in Ontario’s provincial parks. In order to assist the province to further those efforts to keep Ontarians safe during this time, the ministry closed all provincial parks to the public until April 30, 2020. Ontario Parks is now offering a penalty-free refund to reservation holders who wish to cancel their 2020 camping reservation, regardless of arrival date and will waive fees for making changes to any 2020 campsite reservation. Please continue to check OntarioParks.com regularly for the most up-to-date information. |
| April 21, 2020: Help Feed Canadians |
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Many Canadians have seen their jobs affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Now is the time to take advantage of the many employment opportunities available in the agriculture and agri-food sector. Workers across our food supply chain provide essential services to our country. Their valued contributions are key to managing the outbreak of COVID-19 and ensuring that affordable food continues to reach our grocery store shelves and kitchen tables. Jobs in agriculture and agri-food are diverse, rewarding and employ many different skill sets. They include positions on farms, in food and beverage manufacturing, in distribution, and much more. Step up to the plate and find a job helping feed Canadians! |
| April 14, 2020: COVID-19 Support for Businesses |
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Visit the Government of Ontario's COVID-19 Support for Businesses web page for information and advice to help your business navigate the economy during COVID-19. On April 14, 2020 Ontario's Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade updated Ontario's Action Plan - Support for Businesses and Individuals. This document provides information and links to get you the resources you require. |
| April 14, 2020: Ontario Extends Declaration of Emergency |
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On the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and with the approval of the Ontario legislature, the Ontario government is extending the Declaration of Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act for a further 28 days. This will allow the government to continue to use every tool at its disposal to protect the health and safety of the people of Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| April 9, 2020 Press Release: Access Points Closures |
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On March 31, 2020, the Ontario government issued a new emergency order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act to close shared, public, and private outdoor recreational amenities. In support of that order, effective immediately, all Township owned access points to the Trent River have been closed.
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| April 7, 2020: Event Cancellations |
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TheTownship of Asphodel-Norwood has made the difficult, but prudent decision to cancel the following public events in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19:
Also, for the first time since the Second World War, the Norwood Fair will not be running in 2020. This decision was not made lightly by the Board of Directors for the Norwood Agricultural Society, but was done for the protection of our community. |
| April 1, 2020: Burn Ban Declaration |
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Fire Ban in Effect for the Township of Asphodel- Norwood. Effective immediately no open-air burning will be tolerated. Unnecessary fires have the potential to affect the health and safety of your Volunteer Fire Department due to possible COVID-19 exposure. Residents will be notified when the Fire Ban has been rescinded. This will not occur until the risks associated with COVID-19 are manageable. Violations are subject to penalties outlined in the Township of Asphodel-Norwood By-law 2016-79. Order of the Fire Chief |
| March 31, 2020 Press Release: Additional Park Closures |
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Last night the Province of Ontario released a new emergency order for municipalities to close, “all communal or shared, public or private, outdoor recreational amenities everywhere in Ontario, including but not limited to playgrounds, sports fields, basketball and tennis courts, off-leash dog parks, beaches, skateboard and BMX parks, picnic areas, outdoor community gardens, park shelters, outdoor exercise equipment, condo parks and gardens, and other outdoor recreational amenities. Green spaces in parks, trails, ravines and conservation areas that aren't otherwise closed would remain open for walkthrough access, but individuals must maintain the safe physical distance of at least two metres apart from others. Ontario's provincial parks and conservation reserves remain closed.” In response, the Township of Asphodel-Norwood will be taking additional measures to ensure the closure of the following locations:
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| March 27, 2020 Press Release: Playground Closures |
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To support the Township of Asphodel-Norwood’s full commitment to our community during the increased daily threat of COVID-19 and to follow the recommendation of Peterborough Public Health, Asphodel-Norwood is closing all playgrounds effective immediately. Please note that this closure does not include the Mill Pond Forest Trails, the Great Trail or park spaces. The closure does include the playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment and skateboard park at the following locations:
Please remember to practice two (2) metre physical distancing if you are utilizing any other outdoor green space. |
| March 26, 2020 Press Release: Message From Mayor Bonneau |
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Dear Residents & Stakeholders of Asphodel-Norwood, I know this is a challenging time for each of us as we try to understand and cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our families, friends, colleagues and ourselves. Please be rest assured that the Township of Asphodel-Norwood is working closely with the Province, the Peterborough Public Health Unit and our municipal neighbours to stay informed and to provide the highest level of service possible during these uncertain times. I cannot stress enough the importance of adhering to the following safety measures:
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| March 25, 2020: Playground Equipment Safety Warning |
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Please be advised that playground equipment are not sanitized. Public health officials remind you to:
If you choose to use parks and playgrounds, you do at your own risk. |
| March 24, 2020 Press Release: Asphodel-Norwood Transfer Station Closed |
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To further support the Township of Asphodel-Norwood’s full commitment to our community during the increased daily threat of COVID-19, the Asphodel-Norwood Transfer Station will be closed effective immediately. This closure will remain in effect until further notice, with the decision being reviewed on a consistent basis. |
| March 19, 2020: Sanitation & Waste |
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During this time of social distancing, we would like to remind residents of what NOT to flush or pour down the drain. Many items we use on a daily basis cannot go down our toilets or drains. Several products, even those labelled “flushable,” do not dissolve. This can cause:
To help keep the entire sewage system working well, please do not flush or put the following products down the drain:
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| March 16, 2020 Press Release: Facility Closures |
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In order to remain vigilant and do all that we can to protect the community, our employees and their families the Township of Asphodel-Norwood is implementing the following: 1. Effective immediately the Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre is closed for the season. We encourage everyone to follow the guidelines as released by Peterborough Public Health and the Government of Canada to assist each other with slowing the spread of COVID-19. |
| March 13, 2020 Press Release: Program Changes |
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As COVID-19 continues to evolve, the Township of Asphodel-Norwood wishes to advise you of the following: 1. All public skating scheduled at the Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre is cancelled until further notice. The Township of Asphodel-Norwood will continue to monitor the need to implement other precautions and will advise of any updates. |
For Provincial updates on the Novel Coronavirus and restrictions that might affect you, visit the Government of Ontario's Website.
The Government of Canada is working hard to keep you informed. For updates on Travel, Economic and Financial Support, and other resources, please see the Government of Canada's Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Page.