Below are links to information and advice from official authorities regarding the current COVID-19 outbreak. Below are trusted sources for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19. novel coronavirus.
PROVINCIAL ROADMAP TO REOPEN – STEP THREE
As of Friday July 16th the Province of Ontario is in Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen. Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen includes but is not limited to:
GENERAL GUIDELINES
- Face masks are advised but not required for outdoor events
- Physical distancing of 2 metres is still required
- Masks are still required for indoor activities
- Capacity limits must be posted
- Gatherings are a maximum of 25 people indoors or 100 people outdoors
Restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments
- Indoor dining is permitted
- Tables must be configured to be at least 2 metres apart or have a plexiglass barrier
- Take out and delivery (including alcohol) is permitted
- No limits on the number of people per table
- Buffets are permitted
- No capacity limits as long as socially distanced measures are in place
- Must record contact information of patrons
- If dancing is occurring, capacity should be kept to 25% indoors (or 250 people) and 75% outdoors (or 5,000 people)
SHOPPING
- No capacity limits as long as socially distanced measures are in place
Sports & Recreation Facilities
- Indoor facilities permitted with 50% capacity
- No capacity on outdoor facilities
ENTERTAINMENT VENUES
- Indoor venues open with a maximum capacity of 50% or a maximum of 1,000 people
- Outdoor open with a maximum capacity of 75% or a maximum of 5,000 people
GAMING (Casinos and Horse Racing)
- Indoor open with 50% capacity
- Outdoor open with 75% capacity or a maximum of 5,000 people
ATTRACTIONS
- Landmarks, historic shits, gardens and similar attractions open with a capacity limited to 50% indoors or 75% outdoors
- Amusement parks and waterparks open with a capacity limited to 50% indoors or 75% outdoors
Fairs & Outdoor Events
- Open at 50% of maximum capacity indoors or 75% outdoors
TOURS
- Indoor and outdoor tours open with a capacity limited to proper physical distancing measures in place and other restrictions
WEDDINGS, MEETINGS & EVENTS
- Indoor open at a maximum 50% capacity or 1,000 people
- Outdoor open at a maximum 75% capacity or 5,000 people
- Tables must be configured to be at least 2 metres apart or have a plexiglass barrier
- Religious services permitted with no capacity limit as long as physical distancing measures are in place
Please plan ahead and contact any businesses or attractions prior to visiting for updated services and hours.
Tourism Windsor Essex Tourism Partners Information
- Ontario’s Southwest Ontario Southwest Tourism Corporation
- TIAO Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
- TIAC Tourism Industry Association of Canada
- Destination Canada
- Destinations International
Municipal Partners
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Digital Main Street Program
Supporting the growth of Main Street businesses by making the adoption of digital tools and technologies easier (click here).
Digital Main Street Program includes Digital Service Squad (Offers one-to-one assistance to main street businesses with their adoption of technology – click here), ShopHERE (Get an online store for your business built for free – click here), Digital Ontario Grants (Learn digital skills and apply for a $2,500 grant for your business – click here), and FutureProof (Detailed deep dive to support business transformation – click here). Learn more about Digital Main Street by visiting digitalmainstreet.ca.
With the Digital Main Street Future Proof Program, Windsor Essex small businesses and restaurants have access to the following programs and services:
- ShopMyTown Connecting local vendors with new and existing customers who like to shop local – click here
- Entrepreneurs on the Front Lines Providing free, tailored and on-demand support, programming and resources to business owners, entrepreneurs, and their staff with the goal of ensuring well-being is a priority – click here
- In-Store Contact Tracing Through an innovative user-friendly contact tracing solution, businesses will be able to meet local public health requirements safely by improving the customer experience for in-store contact tracing – click here
Tourism Economic Development and Recovery Fund
The Tourism Economic Development and Recovery Fund (TEDRF) is an application-based, cost-sharing program designed to provide non-capital funding to projects that either: encourage the development of innovative new tourism products, support tourism investment, or build the capacity of Ontario’s tourism industry.
Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster
The Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster program supports costs related to hosting: major one-time events in Ontario, events that do not recur annually or biennially in Ontario, and national or international events in Ontario.
ACCESS TO RAPID TESTING KITS
Rapid Testing Kits Available for Small & Medium-Sized Windsor Essex Businesses
The Windsor-Essex Chamber, in partnership with WEtech Alliance, the Leamington District, Amherstburg and Ontario Chambers of Commerce and the Ontario and Canadian governments, launched the COVID-19 Rapid Screening Initiative known as ‘WEStaySafe’. Through this initiative, they are distributing FREE rapid test kits for small-to-medium-sized businesses across Windsor and Essex County. Businesses (including non-Chamber Members) with 150 employees or less are welcome to order their tests by clicking here.
SAFE TRAVELS CERTIFICATION
Businesses can now get a self-certified Safe Travels Stamp based on worldwide industry protocols the World Travel & Tourism Council has put together for every aspect of the hospitality and tourism sector. Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island was the first DMO in Ontario to receive their Safe Travels stamp, and we encourage you to apply today for the opportunity to be engaged in this valuable visitor education program and join the list of our current approved businessses..
- To apply, please click here.
- For further guidelines, please click here.
- For terms and conditions, please click here.
- For more information on the program, please click here and for a list of approved Safe Travels Stamp applicants in Ontario, please click here.
RESOURCES AT A NATIONAL LEVEL
Federal Funding & Support Measures for Businesses
- The Government of Canada is providing COVID-19 Resources for Business and a Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.
- The Business Development Bank of Canada is providing federal and provincial support measures during the pandemic. Click here for more. Timely webinars assisting businesses to adapt and recover can be found here.
- The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has created the Canadian Business Resilience Network offering critical resources to assist businesses through the pandemic.
- The Tourism Relief Fund, launched by the Government of Canada and delivered through FedDev Ontario, supports tourism businesses and organizations to adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while investing in products and services to facilitate their future growth. Focusing on product and destination development, the fund will empower businesses to create or enhance tourism experiences and products to attract visitors and to help the sector provide the best Canadian tourism experiences. For more information and to access the application for funding, click here.
RESOURCES AT A PROVINCIAL LEVEL
- The Ontario Federation of Agriculture is providing COVID-19 updates for the agri-food industry
- The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has created a COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness for Ontario Businesses
- The Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) is providing COVID-19 updates for BIAs across the province.
- Destination Ontario has created an Impact Report updated as of July 27th, 2021.
- Findings from TIAO’s Survey on the Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant available here.
- Support for not-for-profits, tourism and culture operators and sports organizations will be able to access government support of an additional $100 Million over the next two years imminently through the Community Building Fund. The Ontario Trillium Fund support can be found here.
- For the latest on Ontario’s COVID-19 status, click here and for the Roadmap to Reopen Ontario, click here.
Contact Us
Please contact the Tourism Windsor Essex team with questions or concerns. Our team values the health and safety of everyone in our region – our staff, visitors, and our industry partners.
Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island is the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the regional tourism industry. We are a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting and selling Windsor, Essex and Pelee Island as a remarkable destination for tourist, convention goers and business travelers. To view our mission and mandate please click here.
