Local offices and services are starting to reopen after shutdowns and service changes due to COVID-19.
Flin Flon City Hall will reopen for limited hours June 1, opening to the public weekdays from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Locals looking to pay bills or City fees are asked to pay them using online banking during the reopening.
In Creighton, the Town Office will reopen starting June 1 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Only one member of the public will be allowed inside at a time. Like the City of Flin Flon, the Town is requesting all payments regarding taxes, leases, utilities or others to be made online. Instructions on social distancing and other matters will be posted at the office.
The Village Office in Denare Beach was the first regional office to reopen, doing so May 19. The office has opened from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Monday to Friday. A one person limit will apply at the building. People are asked to avoid the office if they’re experiencing any signs of illness and, like the other municipalities, to not come to the office unless matters are urgent and can’t be handled via phone or online. A hand sanitizer station at the building is up at the building - all visitors are asked to use it before entering.
Recreation
In Flin Flon, Summer in the Parks will open up June 9 and will continue throughout the summer until August 21 - 11 weeks in total. The program will include its typical five-day-per-week schedule, instead of an altered twice-weekly schedule previously proposed.
The day camps this summer will run from 12 p.m.-5 p.m. at the Rotary Wheel, with separate entries and exits for the building.
“We’re actually starting three weeks earlier than we usually do,” said Caitlin Bailey, assistant recreation director for the City of Flin Flon.
“We will also be trying to run some older kids’ programming. Before, it was kind of touch and go because we didn’t know about group numbers and things like that, which we do now.”
Children ages 5-10 can be registered, along with possible exceptions for some four-year-olds.
The Joe Brain Petting Zoo opened to the public May 29 and will continue on throughout the summer months, opening every day - weather permitting - from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Special COVID-19 procedures are in place at the zoo, with staff detailing them to people during visits.
Meanwhile, a proposal to run swimming lessons and other aqua recreation at Channing Beach over the summer has hit a snag. Due to COVID-19, relevant lifeguard training for the beach which would allow courses to be held there has been called off, likely meaning no lessons will be held.
“I think it’s still something we hope we might be able to have in the future, but it would be based more on the ability of us to get staff trained appropriately to run those programs,” Bailey said.
Saskatchewan
Things aren’t quite the same in Creighton, where public recreation areas and playgrounds will continue to be officially closed. In a statement issued by the Town online, the equipment “cannot be properly sanitized and should be considered closed.”
“We have no recorded positive cases and the travel ban restrictions have been removed. However - and we cannot stress this enough - we encourage everyone to be vigilant on the public health orders,” reads a May 27 update on the Town of Creighton website.
It’s a similar story in Denare Beach for the DenarePlex, which will remain closed during the third phase of Saskatchewan’s provincial reopening plan, including the weight room inside. The Village has cited strict regulations, including setting machines six feet apart and having a weight room be staffed full-time, as a prime reason for the closure.
According to the Village’s website, the community’s playgrounds, bunks and beaches are still closed until further notice.
“We apologize, but need to ensure our community remains safe and well,” the site reads.
