After a summer of gradual expansion, the use of outdoor facilities on campus has returned to near-normalcy, and gym-goers will soon be back at the ARC for the first time since March. 

Effective Jul. 19, Athletics and Recreation (A&R) increased the capacity of outdoor programming and facilities in line with Step 3 of the Reopening Ontario Plan, while indoor fitness and gym facilities at the ARC will re-open on Aug. 3. 

Step 3 allows the reopening of both indoor and outdoor sport and recreational facilities for everyone—not only for professional and amateur athletes as seen in Step 2 regulations.

To align with the new regulations, masks are no longer required for outdoor A&R programming and field capacity has increased to 100 people. Contact will also be permitted in outdoor leagues and games. 

While Step 2 restricted personal fitness and training to the outdoors, Step 3 allows fitness classes and personal training to move indoors with maximum 50 per cent capacity. 

At the ARC, indoor facilities will gradually increase in capacity and usage over the course of August and September. While fitness and gym facilities will open at 50 per cent capacity on Aug. 3, the Q-shop and Q-Sports Medicine Clinic are set to re-open on Aug. 9. Pool and changeroom facilities will re-open on Sept. 7. 

Masks are still required to be worn at all times indoors and the ARC remains modified to accommodate for physical distancing—to use the facilities, one must reserve an activity pod with a 50-minute time limit. Pre-entry screening, attendance tracking, and daily self-assessments using the seQure app will be required for both indoor and outdoor facilities.  

A&R will align further expansions and reopening plans with KFL&A Public Health, University guidelines and sport requirements, and provincial plans and directives.