Local Closures & Cancellations due to COVID-19

The following is a running list of events, businesses and organizations that have announced cancellations, closures or postponements due to COVID-19. If you would like your notice added to this list, please contact [email protected]. For information about the precautions you should take, see Alberta Health Services.

Alberta implemented public health orders restricting mass gatherings to protect Albertans’ health and limit the spread of COVID-19, effective March 27.

A gathering is any event or assembling that brings people together in person, in a single room or single space, indoors or outdoors, at the same time. At this time, it does not include operations in certain workplaces and businesses not specifically defined by the chief medical officer of health.

Mandatory mass-gathering restrictions

No gatherings with more than 15 people are allowed, including:

• conferences
• workshops
• worship gatherings
• family events, such as weddings and funerals
• social gatherings outdoors

Cancel gatherings with fewer than 15 people if the event:

• includes any attendees travelling from outside of Canada
• has, as its focus, attendees that are members of critical infrastructure or critical service roles (e.g. healthcare workers, first responders, electric/power workers, telecommunications)
• includes attendees from demographic groups at greater risk of severe disease, such as people 60 years of age or older and individuals with chronic medical conditions
• has attendees participating in activities that promote disease transmission (e.g. singing, cheering, close contact, sharing food or beverages, buffet style meals)
• is in a space that does not allow for recommended social distancing (at least 6 feet between attendees)
• If you violate this public health order and proceed to hold an event with more than 15 attendees, you may be subject to a fine.

Shopping and dining

As part of public health orders  announced March 27, Albertans are prohibited from accessing retail, clothing and gaming stores, including book stores, hobby stores and antique stores. These businesses may choose to offer online shopping and curb-side pick-up.

Restaurants, cafes and bars:

• All dine-in services are prohibited. Take-out, delivery and drive-through service is still permitted.
• Albertans are prohibited from attending bars and nightclubs, where law prohibits minors.
• Restaurants in a food court may stay open for take-out only (no seating).
• Licensed facilities are permitted to deliver liquor (PDF, 112 KB)
• Not-for-profit community kitchens, soup kitchens and religious kitchens are exempt at this time, but risk mitigation strategies must be followed.

Personal services:

Albertans are prohibited from accessing close contact personal services, including personal services facilities, cosmetic enhancement services, wellness studios and clinics, non-emergency and non-critical health services.

Personal services facilities and cosmetic enhancement services include:

• esthetics
• manicure
• pedicure
• body waxing
• make-up
• body, nose and ear piercing
• tattoos
• artificial tanning and spray tanning
• hair styling
• barbering
• facial treatments
• eyebrow and eyelash treatments
• laser hair and tattoo removal
• cosmetic skin and body treatments

Wellness studios and clinics include:

• floatation tanks
• colonic irrigation
• massage
• reflexology

Non-emergency and non-critical health services provided by regulated health professionals or registered professionals include any non-emergency or non-urgent:

• dentistry
• physiotherapy
• massage
• foot care and podiatry
• acupuncture and acupressure
• chiropractic services
• naturopathy

Recreation and entertainment

Albertans are prohibited from attending all public recreation facilities and private entertainment facilities, including:

• gyms, swimming pools, arenas
• science centres, museums, art galleries
• libraries, community centres, children’s play centres, bowling alleys
• casinos, racing entertainment centres, bingo halls

City of Airdrie facilities

The following facilities have been closed to public access:

• All playground structures (including those located in school yards)
• City Hall (Staff are working and available by phone and email. Residents are encouraged to use myAIRDRIE or call 403.948.8800.)
• Chinook Winds skate park
• All City Park washrooms
• Airdrie Public Library
• Genesis Place (click here for more info)
• Recycle Depot (The Waste Transfer Site remains open at this time.)
• Public Works
• Arenas (Genesis Place Twin Arena, Rob Ebbesen, Plainsmen)
• Bert Church LIVE Theatre (click here for further info)
• Town and Country Centre
• Municipal Enforcement - limited access (click here for further info)
• RCMP Reception - limited access (click here for further info)
• Licensing (click here for further info)
• All Fire Stations

Schools

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced March 15 all kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) classes are cancelled as a measure to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The move to online learning was announced March 20.

Child care

All licensed child care, out-of-school care programs and preschool programs in Alberta were closed March 15, as well.

"Approved day homes are exempt because they care for fewer than seven children at a time. These programs are encouraged to use enhanced sanitation practices," the provincial release said.

Religious services

Announced March 15, the province removed the exemption to mass gathering restrictions for places of worship.

Long-term care facilities

Though not banned, the province recommended only essential visits to any continuing care or long-term care facility in Alberta. The March 15 release from the Alberta government stated individuals more than 60 years of age and those with pre-existing health conditions are most at risk of severe symptoms from COVID-19.

"Families and friends of those in these facilities are asked to think of other ways besides visiting that they can support and encourage their loved ones through this difficult time," the release stated.

Community events

• Rocky View County's Managing Wildlife Encounters, set to run April 29, has been postponed to a yet to be determined date.
• Legacy Run to End Family Violence, scheduled for April 19, has been postponed until Sept. 27
• Airdrie Over 50 Club's spring musical fundraiser, originally scheduled for April 19, has been postponed to Sept. 27.
• Rocky View County's Build a Bumble Bee Box Workshop, slated for April 8, has been postponed to a yet to be determined date.
• Rocky View County's Vegetable Gardening Seminar, scheduled for April 1, has been postponed to a yet to be determined date.
• Airdrie Children's Festival, scheduled for May 30 and 31.
• Nature First Foundation Airdrie Rocky View's guided Nature Walk at Big Hill Springs Park on March 22 .
• Bragg Creek Community Association’s (BCCA) Skuzzy Beach Party fundraiser, originally scheduled for March 21, has been postponed. Tentatively, BCCA is looking at scheduling the fundraiser in the fall, eyeing a possible date of Oct. 24.
• The Airdrie Rotary Festival of Performing Arts (ARFPA) 2020, scheduled to run March 16 to 27, was cancelled March 15 as a result of school closures.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area (BBBS) has indefinitely postponed its annual Bowl for Kids Sake event in Airdrie March 15, and is looking into similar actions regarding the March 22 event in Cochrane.
• March on Your MLA, described as a "peaceful protest" that would have seen participants depart Airdrie City Hall at 3 p.m. and walk to Pitt’s constituency office, to deliver a letter outlining the constituent concerns on March 13, has been postponed due to novel coronavirus concerns and inclement weather.
• The Taste of Bragg Creek committee and The Bragg Creek & Area Chamber of Commerce have postponed the eighth annual Taste of Bragg Creek, previously slated for April 3, until September 25.
• The Tails to Tell Rescue Animal Shelter's Jail 'n Bail event, slated for March 27, is also cancelled. The first-time event would have seen VIPs in Crossfield and Airdrie "arrested" and brought to a mock prison, where they would elicit donations for the Crossfield-based cat shelter until they had reached their "bail" amount.

Sporting events

• The 2020 Olympic Games were postponed until 2021, following a March 23 announcement from the International Olympic Committee officially. The event was originally scheduled for this July in Tokyo, Japan. Athletes in Airdrie and Rocky View County have supported the decision.
• The Alberta Schools Athletic Association (ASAA) announced its 2020 provincial high school basketball championships, scheduled for March 19 to 21, would be “postponed indefinitely.”
• Hockey Alberta also brought the 2019-20 season to a premature halt with its announcement that all Hockey Alberta-sanctioned activities would be cancelled, effective March 13. The events include league games, playoffs, practices, camps and provincial, regional and national championships.
• Swim Alberta announced it would postpone the 2020 Short Course Provincials, scheduled for March 13 to 15, as well as the 2020 Spring Championships, slated to be held in Edmonton the following weekend. Members of the Nose Creek Swim Association, based out of Airdrie, would have competed in the events.
• The Calgary Spring Football Association – the league the Airdrie Raiders midget football team plays in – also announced it would temporarily cease all league operations.
• Alberta Soccer's 2020 indoor provincial championships for minor and senior age groups would be postponed.
• U SPORTS announced it would be cancelling its national championship tournaments for volleyball and hockey. The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) issued a similar statement, saying all ACAC competitions would be cancelled, effective immediately.
• The Airdrie Cochrane Athletic Association, which oversees the municipalities’ three AAA minor hockey teams, announced its annual awards banquet, scheduled for April 1, would be postponed.
• The Airdrie Techmation Thunder junior B hockey team announced its end-of-season sponsor and team wind-up dinner March 14 would also be rescheduled.
• A slate of ringette events in Airdrie that would have taken place March 13 to 15 have been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including provincial championships, regionals, practices and exhibition games
• The Airdrie Ringette Association's Ring of Fire tournament and a free come-try-it event, set to be held March 13 to 15, were cancelled.
• Curling Alberta cancelled all remaining competitions for the 2019-20 season.