Freestyle Ontario Statement Regarding Vaccinations
As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, Freestyle Ontario remains committed to the health and well-being of its members and stakeholders. The best line of defense against transmission and severe symptoms has proven to be vaccination in combination with other health measures. It is essential to our community’s health and well-being that all members of Ontario’s snow sports community take action to ensure that the 2021-22 ski season proceeds safely and without interruption. For these reasons, FREESTYLE ONTARIO STRONGLY ENCOURAGES ALL MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO BECOME FULLY VACCINATED.
REGULATIONS & PROTOCOLS
In September, 2021, the Ontario government updated its COVID-19 regulations to address proof of vaccination requirements in certain circumstances. In addition to these provincial regulations, facilities, municipalities, and regional health units have or will be implementing their own proof of vaccination requirements. Freestyle Ontario members should expect to experience different requirements from location to location, with the provincial regulations serving as the bare minimum in terms of COVID-19 restrictions.
Freestyle Ontario’s COVID-19 Protocols requires that club leaders be responsible for their club’s education and adherence to all applicable facility, municipality, regional, provincial, and federal proof of vaccination requirements. Freestyle Ontario will not be providing an interpretation of these regulations to its clubs. However Freestyle Ontario will hold a forum for club leaders to share their COVID-19 approaches and experiences with one another. An invite to this meeting has been sent to each club’s identified leader.
VACCINATIONS & THE 2021-22 SKI SEASON
The COVID-19 situation continues to evolve. The future is not always predictable. While the current provincial regulations do permit certain types of activity to proceed without full vaccination among participants, the last year and a half have proven that both the regulations and pandemic can change with little warning. Meanwhile, the process to becoming fully vaccinated is lengthy. Full vaccination status requires that a person receive their final dose at least 14 days prior to the current date.
FREESTYLE ONTARIO CANNOT GUARENTEE THAT IT WILL ACCOMMODATE MEMBERS WHO HAVE MADE THE PERSONAL CHOICE TO NOT BECOME FULLY VACCINATED. This means that if a person is unable to participate in an event or program as a result of their prior decision to not become fully vaccinated, they risk being ineligible for a refund, athlete selection opportunity, professional development qualification (e.g. coach certification), or other such services.
FREESTYLE ONTARIO WILL MAKE EVERY REASONABLE EFFORT TO ACCOMMODATE MEMBERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A VACCINATION EXEMPTION UNDER THE PROVINCIAL REGULATIONS. Eligible reasons for vaccination exemption include age (e.g. those under the age of 12) and certain documented medical reasons, as defined by provincial regulation 645/21. Provincial regulations and the Ontario Human Rights Code do not currently recognize personal preference as an eligible reason for vaccination exemption.
In support of the safety and well-being of our community, Freestyle Ontario is requiring that all of its full-time and part-time staff members who engage in regular face-to-face interaction as part their role to be fully vaccinated, unless eligible for an exemption. Short-term contractors and volunteers (e.g. learning facilitators, coaches, judges, officials, sports science & sports medicine service providers, etc…) are not included in this requirement at this time.
Thank you,
Eli Budd
Executive Director
Freestyle Ontario