As the City of Burnaby grapples with how and when to open its arenas, community centres and other indoor facilities, one private group has managed to open its doors – albeit with strict limitations.
The Burnaby Winter Club, which owns a facility on Canada Way, suspended its operations earlier this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic following an order from Fraser Health’s chief medical officer Dr. Martin Lavoie to close all gyms and fitness facilities.
“During this closure, we have been doing as many repairs and maintenance at the club as possible so to avoid closures when we do open,” reads a letter sent to members.
The closure order is in place until May 31, but according to the letter, the Burnaby Winter Club has been given the go-ahead from Fraser Health to reopen under an agreed-upon operating plan with strict requirements on physical distancing, cleaning and disinfecting.
Under the operating plan, the Burnaby Winter Club is allowed to offer four options for booking the rink: a single skater for the whole rink; up to two instructor-student pairs, assuming each pair stays at either side of the rink; members of the same household; and up to four skaters with one instructor.
