Abbotsford closing recreation centres, non-essential facilities to help curb spread of COVID-19

ABBOTSFORD (NEWS 1130) – The City of Abbotsford has joined other Lower Mainland municipalities in closing or limiting access to recreation centres and non-essential facilities as of the end of business hours Monday.

Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, White Rock, Port Moody and Port Coquitlam have done the same.

The Fraser Valley Regional Library has also closed all of its locations which includes those in Abbotsford, Chilliwack Langley City, Langley Township, and Hope.

Abbotsford has also cancelled or postponed all gatherings in that city with 50 or more people until further notice — based on the directive from the povincial health officer.

“In the interest of protecting our residents and working to flatten the curve of COVID-19, the City of Abbotsford is closing most civic facilities and non-essential programs,” Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun says in a release.

All Recreation Centres and non-essential facilities closed:

❎Abbotsford Recreation Centre – Closing at midnight
❎Matsqui Recreation Centre (MRC) – Closing at 10pm
❎Matsqui Centennial Auditorium – immediately
❎MSA Arena – immediately

More details: https://t.co/FPcJ6JM3Sh pic.twitter.com/tU6vOPv5gr

— City of Abbotsford (@City_Abbotsford) March 16, 2020

“This is a time for our community to support one another by practicing social distancing as a way to care for our neighbours who are most at-risk. Safety and the well-being of our community is at the forefront of our decision-making.”

In Abbotsford, the Abbotsford Recreation Centre and Matsqui Recreation Centre will remain open for day camps on Tuesday to assist parents with finding alternate child-care, but will close Wednesday. The Matsqui Centennial Auditorium and MSA Arena are closed immediately.

Events at the Abbotsford Centre have also been cancelled.

Recreation centre memberships will be placed on-hold until those facilities re-open.

Anyone who has already paid for a city program at a closed facility location will receive a full refund.

Other city services and facilities not referenced will remain operational at this time, although service delivery may be adjusted for appropriate social distancing.

City staff say they continue to work with public health officials and stakeholders on the COVID-19 response. There is the potential for further service closures in the days to come as they try to maintain the highest level of essential services.