2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

• The Township Municipal Office is OPEN for in-person appointments for select Township services that cannot be delivered on-line, through video conference or by phone. In-person appointments can be scheduled by contacting (519) 632-8800 or email.
• Indoor recreation / leisure programming areas at the NDCC and the walking track opened September 21st.
• Recreation and leisure programs and activities offered at these facilities, including organizations, service providers and private rentals, will commence on September 21st. 
  • Ayr Community Centre
  • Community Hall, Ayr Fire Station
  • North Dumfries Community Complex
  • Roseville Community Centre
• These outdoor recreation spaces are OPEN:
  • Cowan Park splash pad and outdoor washroom facility from 9 am to 7 pm, seven days a week. Maximum 6 participants at a time and stay 2 m (6 ft) apart.
  • All playgrounds, play structures, and equipment are open and available to use. Playground surfaces, benches, and picnic tables are not sanitized.
  • Sports fields, such as baseball diamonds and soccer fields in Victoria Park, Schmidt Park, and Cowan Park are open for public use. Outdoor gathering thresholds of 100 persons with a spatial distancing of a minimum of 2 metres.
  • Tennis courts in Victoria Park are open.
  • Leash-free dog park at the NDCC.
• Green spaces, trails, ravines and conservation areas that are not otherwise closed remain open for walk-through access, however, individuals must maintain the safe physical distance of at least two metres apart from others.
• Ontario Provincial Parks are all OPEN. See the Ontario Parks website for specific uses.
• Grand River Conservation Area parks and trails are mostly open. Please see the Grand River Conservation Area website for specific details.
• Council & Advisory Committee meetings are assessed as events continue to unfold. Council and Advisory Committee meetings are currently being held by teleconference. Please refer to the Agenda/Minutes web page for updated information for Council and Committee meetings, including any upcoming Special Council meetings and details on how to watch and/or participate. 

General Inquiries

• Email mail@northdumfries.ca
• Use the Staff Directory to contact a specific staff member 

Building Division

• To submit a Building Permit, please email buildingpermits@northdumfries.ca

• To book a building inspection (in unoccupied buildings only) please email building@northdumfries.ca

Fire Department and Public Works

All essential services provided by these departments will remain operational.

Making a Payment to the Township

1. Payment through a financial institution - Customers may also set up Automatic Payments through their banking institutions, which allows payment schedules to be set up by the customer

2. Telephone and Internet Banking

   • Check with your financial institution to register for telephone or internet banking. Payments can be made under BILL PAYMENTS by Searching for the payee “North Dumfries” and using your property roll number when asked for your account number (all 19 digits are required

   • For payments other than Taxes, some Banking institutions will allow payment by using a “Customer Number”.  This can be found on the top of an invoice the Township has sent and contains 5 alpha and 4 numeric digits (AAAAA0000).

3. Payment By Cheque - Please include a remittance stub and indicate the tax roll number or invoices number on the cheque memo line, along with a contact  and telephone phone number with the payment. 

   • Payments can be mailed or couriered to: Township of North Dumfries 2958 Greenfield Road, PO Box 1060, Ayr, Ontario NOB 1E0
   • Cheques may be placed in the black overnight deposit outside the main entrance doors at the North Dumfries Community Complex (NDCC) at 2958 Greenfield Road, Ayr.
   • Please Note: We will accept cheques postdated for the instalment due dates, however once submitted they will not be pulled/returned.

4. Pre-authorized Payment Plan - The Township offers both monthly or due date pre-authorized payment plans. The following information and forms is available on the Township website:

   • Monthly plan enrollment takes place semi-annually. Monthly plan enrollment deadlines are May 31st and November 15th. Payments are withdrawn on the first business day of each month with the amounts calculated to start each year and recalculated when the final billing has been issued.

   • Due date plan payments are withdrawn on the usual four installment dates. Complete a Pre-authorized Payment Form and submit it to the Township office by mail, email or in the drop box at the NDCC. To change or cancel payments, complete and submit a change or cancel pre-authorized payment form. This form must be received in writing, 30 days in advance of the next scheduled withdrawal.

5. During COVID-19, Council has approved that all penalties and interest on property taxes have been waived for the months of April, May and June (through to July 1^st).   With this exception, at all other times, payments must be received by the due date or will be considered late and a penalty charge will be applied.

Payments by Township to Vendors

Electronic Payments By the Township to Vendors - The Township has the ability pay to vendors electronically through Electronic Fund Transfer. Please complete the Electronic Fund Transfer Form and provide a void cheque to enroll in this process.   Please submit any questions to invoices@northdumfries.ca.

Face Covering By-law

On Monday July 6, 2020, the Region passed the Face Covering By-law. 

Regional Pandemic Control Group

• Did you know, the Region, area municipalities & local community partners meet regularly as the Regional Pandemic Control Group to make sure our COVID-19 response efforts are coordinated throughout the region?  This group provides a weekly COVID-19 Coordinated Response Newsletter.

Well Water Testing

• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a temporary plan has been put in place to resume private well water testing for bacteriological testing only (i.e., E. coli and coliforms). The service will continue to be funded by the Region of Waterloo.  Information is available on the Region's website.

• Visit the Government of Canada website for updates on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus global pandemic
• Government of Canada Travel Advisories
• See the latest news releases issued by the Government of Canada
• Information from Public Health Agency of Canada
• See Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan for Individuals 
• Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) details
• See Canada's Resources for Canadian Businesses  
• Sign up for a Canada Revenue Agency MyAccount
• Connect with your Member of Parliament (MP) Bryan May at 519-624-7440 or bryan.may@parl.gc.ca

• Reopening Ontario: Information about Stage 3
• Reopening Ontario: FAQs about Stage 2
• Visit the Government of Ontario website for updates on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus global pandemic
• See the latest news releases issued by the Government of Ontario
• Information from Public Health Ontario
• List of essential workplaces
• Support for Ontario businesses call 1-888-444-3659 for details
• Connect with your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Belinda Karahalios at 519-650-2770 or belinda@pc.ola.org

Coronavirus symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Like the flu, most people recover on their own. Use the Region of Waterloo's COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool to determine if further care is required. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, please contact Region of Waterloo Public Health at (519) 575-4400. 

• How to safely wear a mask
• How to safely remove gloves
• Public Health recommends everyday steps to help prevent the spread of germs and viruses:
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid social gatherings and practice social distancing (2 meters or 6 feet from another person). 
  • Stay home if possible.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Please see additional Public Health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Region.

211

211 is a free service that connects individuals and families with social supports in their communities, such as access to food and food delivery services, mental health support, and financial supports available. Phones are answered 24/7 in 150 languages by a real person! To access the service, dial 2-1-1 or visit www.211.ca.

BIPOC Sustainability and Recovery Fund

The Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation has created the COVID-19 BIPOC Sustainability and Recovery Fund, a pilot initiative to provide funding to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) organizations in Waterloo Region as they work to recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

Supports for the Vulnerable Population

The Region of Waterloo is working with its municipal and community partners to ensure that vulnerable people affected by COVID-19 get the supports they need. The community supports for the vulnerable page is updated regularly.

Canadian Mental Health Association

Visit the Canadian Mental Health Association website for useful tools and techniques to manage the stresses of dealing with COVID-19. Resources are categorized according to:

• Children, Youth & Parents/Guardians
• Adults
• Seniors and caregivers
• Employers and employees
• Front line health care

Recreation and Leisure at Home

Visit the Recreation and Leisure at Home page for great ideas to keep you busy!

Everything Local

Want to know what businesses and organizations are open in our area during COVID-19? Visit the Everything Local page for more information.

If there are concerns about physical distancing and social gatherings occurring in the Township of North Dumfries, contact the Region of Waterloo Call Centre at 519-575-4400. This line is open 24/7. Thank you for your cooperation in helping to #plankthecurve.

On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) a public health emergency of international concern. On March 11, 2020 the WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. 

Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Waterloo Region on March 5, 2020. Additional confirmed cases are updated daily on the Region's website. Region of Waterloo Public Health is working closely with local hospitals, health care partners, the Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario and national partners to monitor the situation. The City is receiving regular updates and guidance from Public Health.

• June 11, 2020 - COVID-19 Update: Township to Gradually Reopen some Community Amenities in line with the Province's Stage 2 Announcement 
• May 27, 2020 - Reopening of Municipal Administrative Buildings
• May 20, 2020 - Some Outdoor Recreation Amenities Re-open
• May 14, 2020 - Relaxed Rules at Parks and Open Spaces
• May 4, 2020 - Community Gardens to Re-open
• May 1, 2020 - Fireworks Safety
• April 29, 2020 - Public closure of municipal administrative and operations facilities extended to May 31, 2020
• April 15, 2020 - Closure of Facilities Extended until June 30, 2020
• April 1, 2020 - Closure of Facilities, Cancellation of Programs and Events Extended Until May 4th

• March 27, 2020 - Business and Economic Support Team Forms to Help Businesses Navigate COVID-19
• March 26, 2020 - Economic Response Plan

• March 25, 2020 - Declaration of Emergency
• March 24, 2020 - Notice of Special Council Meeting
• March 17, 2020 - Township Offices Closed
• March 17, 2020 - Waterloo Region Update on Closures
• March 15, 2020 - Waterloo Region Closures
• March 15, 2020 - Township Closures
• March 15, 2020 - Facility Closures & Cancellations
• March 13, 2020 - COVID-19 Update

The Governments of Canada and Ontario are supporting the agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sectors to capture online e-business opportunities that will help create new, expanded or enhanced markets and open new retail channels to help generate new revenue streams for future growth.

The Agri-Food Open for E-Business targeted intake will help businesses/organizations quickly expand their marketing channels and respond to new market challenges, increase online sales in the sector and provide consumers with access to more local food.

• Do you want to make a difference in our efforts against COVID-19? Become an agri-food hero and play an essential role in Ontario’s food supply chain to help put food on store shelves and kitchen tables. Check out this one-stop shop for agriculture and agri-food jobs.

• April 16, 2020 - Township Mayors on 570 News: The Mike Farwell Show
• April 8, 2020 - Mayor Foxton on Rogers TV.