Hamilton will end all city-run recreation programs — including March break camps for kids — in response to a ramped-up, cross-Ontario effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The decision was announced hours after Ontario's chief medical officer, Dr. David Williams, urged a temporary ban on all gatherings of 250 or more people. He also encouraged residents not to travel outside the country just a day before the busy March break travel period begins.
Hamilton will not close its facilities, but any program run by the city is on hiatus until early April.
The city normally offers multiple March break camps for thousands of kids aged four to 15 which are particularly heavily used by parents who have to work during the week.
Other March break events at city-owned arena FirstOntario Centre have also been cancelled, including concerts by Matthew Good and Pearl Jam, and popular, multiday Disney On Ice events.
The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has also cancelled its Mainstage Saturday concert "Haydn's London" scheduled at FirstOntario Concert Hall.
Hamilton's signature road race, Around the Bay, is also at least temporarily cancelled. The 30-kilometre race will no longer go ahead March 29, but organizers have yet to decide whether the popular event will be rescheduled.
The Hamilton Conservation Authority has also cancelled the remainder of its March dates for the Maple Syrup Festival at Westfield Heritage Village.
Local organizers of Sikh Heritage Month have also announced it will not go ahead with a planned series of celebratory events in April. "It is our hope that cancelling our events during this global pandemic will help in keeping the community safe," said Sukhi Dhillon in a letter explaining the decision.
Hamilton will end all city-run recreation programs — including March break camps for kids — in response to a ramped-up, cross-Ontario effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The decision was announced hours after Ontario's chief medical officer, Dr. David Williams, urged a temporary ban on all gatherings of 250 or more people. He also encouraged residents not to travel outside the country just a day before the busy March break travel period begins.
Hamilton will not close its facilities, but any program run by the city is on hiatus until early April.
The city normally offers multiple March break camps for thousands of kids aged four to 15 which are particularly heavily used by parents who have to work during the week.
Other March break events at city-owned arena FirstOntario Centre have also been cancelled, including concerts by Matthew Good and Pearl Jam, and popular, multiday Disney On Ice events.
The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has also cancelled its Mainstage Saturday concert "Haydn's London" scheduled at FirstOntario Concert Hall.
Hamilton's signature road race, Around the Bay, is also at least temporarily cancelled. The 30-kilometre race will no longer go ahead March 29, but organizers have yet to decide whether the popular event will be rescheduled.
The Hamilton Conservation Authority has also cancelled the remainder of its March dates for the Maple Syrup Festival at Westfield Heritage Village.
Local organizers of Sikh Heritage Month have also announced it will not go ahead with a planned series of celebratory events in April. "It is our hope that cancelling our events during this global pandemic will help in keeping the community safe," said Sukhi Dhillon in a letter explaining the decision.
Hamilton will end all city-run recreation programs — including March break camps for kids — in response to a ramped-up, cross-Ontario effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The decision was announced hours after Ontario's chief medical officer, Dr. David Williams, urged a temporary ban on all gatherings of 250 or more people. He also encouraged residents not to travel outside the country just a day before the busy March break travel period begins.
Hamilton will not close its facilities, but any program run by the city is on hiatus until early April.
The city normally offers multiple March break camps for thousands of kids aged four to 15 which are particularly heavily used by parents who have to work during the week.
Other March break events at city-owned arena FirstOntario Centre have also been cancelled, including concerts by Matthew Good and Pearl Jam, and popular, multiday Disney On Ice events.
The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has also cancelled its Mainstage Saturday concert "Haydn's London" scheduled at FirstOntario Concert Hall.
Hamilton's signature road race, Around the Bay, is also at least temporarily cancelled. The 30-kilometre race will no longer go ahead March 29, but organizers have yet to decide whether the popular event will be rescheduled.
The Hamilton Conservation Authority has also cancelled the remainder of its March dates for the Maple Syrup Festival at Westfield Heritage Village.
Local organizers of Sikh Heritage Month have also announced it will not go ahead with a planned series of celebratory events in April. "It is our hope that cancelling our events during this global pandemic will help in keeping the community safe," said Sukhi Dhillon in a letter explaining the decision.