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Announcements

March 24, 2022

COVID-19

News

COVID-19 Information and Updates

As a precaution, and in line with recommendations from government and health agencies, Swim Ontario Staff will be working remotely, and there may be delays during this time. Please contact staff via email for any questions or queries. For general inquiries - info@swimontario.com

MOST RECENT UPDATE:

March 24, 2022

Please keep in mind that things are still changing rapidly. Swim Ontario continues to monitor and assess the changing regulatory landscape and will adapt the following procedures as necessary and appropriate going forward.

Swim Ontario position (March 14, 2022):

Swim Ontario will, at all times, support public health measures such as vaccine mandates and masking. It is due to these measures that we have been able to continue to operate during the last 2 years.

As public health requirements begin to be eased moving forward, we respect the discretion and authority of each facility and/or club to determine what measures will continue to be enforced and for how long. As such, Swim Ontario will require swimmers and clubs to meet the requirements of the facilities that we use at minimum.

Where Swim Ontario has the discretion over requirements in place, Swim Ontario will allow non-vaccinated swimmers to participate so long as all other current public measures are met.

Swim Ontario continues to monitor and assess the changing regulatory landscape and will adapt as necessary and appropriate going forward.

What Does this Mean?

  • Every Club and their participants is responsible to ensure all facility rules and requirements are followed. – Even if they are more strict than those of the Province of Ontario.
  • Clubs are allowed to enforce any enhanced COVID safety measures they feel appropriate.
  • All participants (swimmers, coaches, officials, etc.) and spectators are to feel safe and welcome to wear a mask and physical distance when in the facility and on deck should they so choose.
  • At this point, unvaccinated participants will be allowed to attend all Festival and Provincial Championship meets in June and July. This may change if either additional Provincial regulations are enacted before then or if the facilities hosting these events require those entering the facility to be vaccinated.

Please see our Return to Swimming and Racing documents for more details

Message from Dean - February 28, 2022

February 15, 2022

Frequently asked questions on:

Record Keeping

All Swim Ontario clubs are required to keep records of attendance at all workouts. This information should contain all athletes, coaches and other participants or staff in attendance and the date and time of the workout.

This information should be kept for 2 years beyond date at which the youngest athlete in the record turned 18 or left the sport, whichever is later. This information is required for many purposes, including safe sport obligations, covid-19 and liability.

Covid-19 Reports -

March 24, 2022 - COVID-19 Reports to Swim Ontario are no longer required.

Covid-19 reports made to Swim Ontario (COVID-19 Report Form) from Clubs should continue. We anticipate that we can cease collecting these reports when screening and social distancing measures are no longer required. The intention behind these reports is to ensure that Clubs are able to notify all necessary participants of a possible exposure and encourage them to follow necessary public health measures. These reports are only necessary when an individual has been at the pool/Club activity within 14 days of their presumptive case of Covid-19. These reports should be made at any time that public health guidance indicates to someone that they should presume they have contracted Covid-19, a positive test result is not required.

Travel

As clubs begin to start travelling it is necessary that at all times, travel be approved by Swim Ontario (Notice of Travel Online Form) or be considered to be conducted at their own risk. We remind Clubs that it is the right of Swim Ontario to determine what is or is not essential travel for Clubs. In addition, all participants must continue to follow the public health measures of either Ontario or the destination, whichever is stricter.

We remind clubs that all staff have the right to refuse unsafe work. This may include work at an increased risk of contracting Covid-19. In such cases, we encourage clubs to approach the matter with flexibility.[see reference]

If a coach is unable to travel to attend an event, we remind clubs that insurance coverage requires at least one registered coach’s supervision.

Important Ongoing Links

Employment Information for Clubs

Swimming Canada Links

Older Swim Ontario Updates

February 23, 2022

The Return to Swimming and Racing documents have been updated. These changes are in response to the steadily improving situation around the Omicron variant and easing public health restrictions in Ontario. All changes are subject to change.

  • It is imperative that clubs confirm with their facility representatives that they will approve the guidelines outlined in the Return to Swimming and Racing documents.
  • Clubs may be asked by their facility to follow COVID safety procedures that are more stringent than those of Swim Ontario.
  • Individuals are responsible to ensure all entrance to the facility requirements have been met.

January 24, 2022

January 21, 2022

January 19, 2022

January 11, 2022

Return to Racing Clarification
All competitions and sanction applications in Ontario are on hold until further notice.  

  • This includes Ontario sanctioned competitions for athletes on the Provincial HP exempted list.  
  • All approved sanctions and sanction applications that were to take place in January have been canceled. 
  • Swim Ontario is not approving/insuring ANY out of province travel – until further notice.
  • If a swimmer/coach – partake in “unapproved activities” – they do so in an uninsured manner.

January 7, 2022

January 4, 2022

  • Provincial High Performance Exemption Reinstated
  • Return to Swimming and Racing update
    • Please review all updates to the following documents
      • Return to Safe Operations Guide v.19
      • All competitions, including In House competitions are on hold until further notice.  All events up until January 31 will be cancelled.  

December 21, 2021 

Update in regards to changes until January 2022 in regards to training, competitions and travel (updated December 2021 with minor changes highlighted)

December 15, 2021

The current status of COVID 19 and the new Omicron variant is constantly changing.

Among the changing status is New Provincial Vaccination Requirement for 12-17 Year Olds.

Many facilities and municipalities have already have this in place, however some have not.

  • Please stay abreast with Provincial and your local Public Health Units updates.
  • We advise clubs should approach your facility as a starting point; the facility will determine how they wish to receive information surrounding how proof of vaccination is to be communicated and what if any exceptions the facility will make to allow those not vaccinated (or fully vaccinated) to use the facility.

https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001327/ontario-taking-action-to-protect-against-omicron-variant

Please continue to adhere to provincial and federal updates.

November 26, 2021

  • Return to Swimming and Racing update
    • Return to Safe Operations Guide v.18 and our
    • Return to racing Framework v.5.

October 29, 2021

October 27, 2021

October 7, 2021

September 29, 2021

September 17, 2021

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