County of Brant
66 Grand River St., N N3L 2M2 Paris, ON, Canada

Please see an update from Dr. Urbantke about the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Ontario Provincial Police - West Region is reminding the public not to call 911 with COVID-19 questions. For accurate and up-to-date information on provincial pandemic-related regulations, please visit the Province of Ontario's COVID-19 page at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/zones-and-restrictions. If you are looking for information on County of Brant programs and services please visit www.brant.ca/COVID19, for information on public health please visit the Brant County Heal...th Unit website at www.bchu.org/coronavirus. If you’d like to learn more, ask a question or lodge a complaint regarding COVID-19 restrictions locally, please contact the Joint Enforcement Team which includes collaboration from County of Brant Bylaw, OPP and the Brant County Health Unit. Contact [email protected] or call the COVID phone line at 519.761.8391. The COVID phone line will be monitored daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm including weekends. For issues that occur on weekends, after hours and on statutory/public holidays that require immediate response, contact the County of Brant 519.442.2241 (after hours number) or the OPP at *OPP or 1.888.310.1122. We are working diligently to educate the public and businesses with respect to the Enforcement of Orders under Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA). Our number one goal is protecting the health and safety of our residents. Please note, the County of Brant and City of Brantford are different municipalities. If you are located within the City of Brantford and have a complaint, please contact 519.759.4150 or visit www.brantford.ca/en/your-government/by-law-enforcement.aspx.

Start 2021 off right with FREE Online Fitness Classes! Registration is now open - register today with COB Connect. You will be registered for two FREE Classes when you register.... Visit www.brant.ca/COBConnect to register (ages 16 yrs +): Cardio Combo - FREE Dates: Mondays, Jan 11 & 13 Time: 9:30-10:30 am Barcode: 00002364 Zumba Gold/Yoga - FREE Dates: Wednesdays, Jan 13 & 20 Time: 9:30-10:30 am Barcode: 00002357 Pound Fitness - FREE Dates: Tuesdays, Jan 12 & 19 Time: Pre-recorded - you will be email a link to participate Barcode: 00002365

Engage with us! The County of Brant invites you to engage with us as we investigate and evaluate water and wastewater servicing alternatives and drainage improvements for the community of Burford. The Master Plan will consider the various alternatives for both water and wastewater servicing as well as alternatives to improve surface water drainage throughout the community to the 2050 design horizon. The approximate extent of the Study Area is shown on the map.... We’re interested in receiving your comments. Public, review agency, and Indigenous communities’ consultation is a key element of the process and input will be sought from various parties throughout the study. To provide comment or to request additional information concerning this study or if you would like to be added to the Project Contact List to receive future project notices, please contact either of the following project team members: Mark Eby, P.Eng., Director of Infrastructure County of Brant, 26 Park Ave, Burford, ON N0E 1A0 T 519.449.2451 x2229 [email protected] Jeff Langlois, Consultant Project Manager R.J. Burnside & Associates 3 Ronell Crescent, Collingwood ON L9Y 4J6 T 1.800.265.9662 x4269 [email protected] All Project information including notices and updates will be posted on the County of Brant’s website, www.brant.ca/BurfordMasterPlan.

A reminder to users that Brant eRide does not run on statutory holidays. There will be no service on Friday, January 1. For more information on Brant eRide please visit www.brant.ca/eRide

A reminder to County of Brant residents that Curbside Tree Collection will occur during the weeks of January 4 8, 2021 and January 11 15, 2021. Bagged trees will not be collected. To ensure your tree is collected, it must be:... At the curbside by 7:00 a.m. on your regular collection day. Free from decorations and plastic bags. If you miss your collection day, your tree can be taken to either the Paris Transfer Station or Biggars Lane Landfill. Tipping Fees will be waived for Christmas trees from December 26, 2020 to January 31, 2021. For your information, Christmas trees are collected separately from your regular collection and are recycled into compost or mulch. If you have any questions, please contact: County of Brant Public Works Department at (519) 44BRANT (2-7268) or 1-888-250-2295.

We know that #StayingHome is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community, but we also understand that getting outside is good for your physical and mental health. While you are enjoying the outdoors, please remember to practice physical distancing and wear a face covering when distancing may be difficult. Visit www.brant.ca/Trails for more information on visiting one of the County of Brant’s trails. Take care of yourselves and each other. #TeamBrant

Are you looking for updates on County of Brant services and programs? Visit brant.ca/COVID19, phone 519.44BRANT (M-F 8:30 am-4:30 pm*) or email [email protected]. *Please note that Customer Service Office are closed from Dec 24 at 12 pm and will reopen Jan 4 at 8:30 am. For up-to-date information on public health, visit the Brant County Health Unit at bchu.org or phone 519.753.4937.

Happy Holidays from the County of Brant! We would like to wish our community and neighbours the best this holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year! A reminder that County of Brant Customer Service Offices are closed from December 24 at 12:00 pm and will re-open for virtual services on January 4 at 8:30 am. For information on Customer Service Offices please visit www.brant.ca/ContactUs

Do you have questions about the COVID-19 Vaccine? The Brant County Health Unit has created the following webpage with answers to your questions. To learn more visit www.bchu.org/COVID19Vaccines.

Recycling Notice Plastic Bags/Film are not accepted in the County of Brant Blue Box Program. Please do not place these items in your blue box. Visit brant.ca/Recycling for more information.

Are you looking for online community resources for the County of Brant? Brant Cares was created as a one-stop-shop providing information on: Seniors' shopping... Food banks Mental health and crisis support Recreation and e-learning Important community contacts and much more! Visit www.brant.ca/BrantCares for more information. We are in this together Brant! #BrantCares #InThisTogether

Update from County of Brant OPP During the province-wide shutdown, The County of Brant Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will only be performing Criminal Record Checks for employment purposes for essential workers. This means that the OPP will no longer be doing Criminal Record Checks for volunteers during the provincial shutdown. ... The process will remain the same as applicants must contact the County of Brant OPP at 519.442.2242 and make an appointment prior to attending the detachment. We appreciate your patience and understanding at this time. For more information, please visit www.opp.ca/criminalrecordchecks

As announced by the Province of Ontario, effective Monday, December 21, 2020 at 12:01 am, the County of Brant will move into the 'Red/Control' level of the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework. This level includes impacts to recreation and fitness programs. The changes include; Group sizes reduced to 10 participants plus coaches/trainers No scrimmages or games can be played. Participants will only be allowed to work on skills during scheduled ice/turf times. One ...parent/guardian will still be permitted to attend for every participant under the age of 18. No change rooms are permitted to be used. Players should come as fully dressed as possible. Chairs will be set up in lobbies, hallways and open spaces to accommodate skate tying. To ensure that efficient contact tracing is performed, a new procedure will be in place requiring a parent/guardian to enter the facility at the same time as the child. Facility rentals will be impacted as Brant moves to 'Red' on Monday. Contact [email protected] to advise of changes between December 21, 2020 and January 3, 2021. Check www.brant.ca/communitycentres for updates

Please do your part to keep our community healthy. As directed by the Province of Ontario: Trips outside of the home should only be for essential reasons such as going to work, school, groceries/pharmacy, health care, assisting vulnerable individuals or exercise and physical activity. No indoor organized public events and social gatherings are permitted, except with members of the same household. People who live alone can gather with one household.... Work remotely, where possible. Wash your hands often, practice physical distancing and wear a mask when required. Stay safe Brant and take care of each other.

Did you know that January is Alzheimer's Awareness Month? Please follow the Alzheimer Society of Brant, Haldimand Norfolk, Hamilton Halton for resources available including online support groups, online workshops and virtual social programs.

The County of Brant Customer Service Offices located in Burford and Paris will remain closed following the holiday break due to the Provincewide Shutdown. As a result, offices will be closed from December 24, 2020 at 12:00 pm and will re-open on January 25, 2021, pending the Province’s re-opening announcement. Staff are still available to assist you virtually beginning January 4, 2021. Please call 519.44BRANT (519.442.7268), 1.855.44BRANT or email [email protected]. A number of services are available online such as submitting a building permit, paying taxes and purchasing bulk water. Visit www.brant.ca/OnlineServices for a full list of online services.

Update: Indian Line and Campbell Drive have been reopened to traffic. Your patience through any disruption has been greatly appreciated.

The County of Brant is continuing to closely monitor the situation and provide updates to the community. For up-to-date information on public health visit bchu.org or phone 519-753-4937. For information and updates on County of Brant Services visit brant.ca/COVID19.... Community resources can be found at brant.ca/BrantCares. Economic Development resources are available at brant.ca/BrantWorksTogether. In an effort to promote physical activity at home brant.ca/RecAtHome has been created. Also please connect with us in the following ways: News & Notices: brant.ca/news Subscribe to email updates: brant.ca/subscribe Follow: @BrantCommunity Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Email: [email protected] Phone: 519-44BRANT

Are you visiting a County of Brant facility, arena or community centre? The County of Brant is required to be compliant with the provincial regulations. On November 13, 2020, the County of Brant changed from Yellow level to Orange level as outlined by the Provincial COVID-19 framework. There are very minimal impacts for facility users, however, we would like to highlight a few important requirements.... Every person who enters a recreation facility is required to provide their contact tracing information. To simplify this process, we made some adjustments to the QR code check-in process. Staff are available to assist. In the Orange Zone/Level, no member of the public may be indoors at the facility for longer than 90 minutes at a time unless the member of the public is in the facility to engage in a sport. Parents who have back-to-back schedules for their children should ensure they leave the building for a short period of time so that they do not exceed the 90 minute limit. For situations where parents or coaches have to leave for a short period of time, staff will provide a sticker so we know that the check-in process has already occurred. This alleviates the need for people to re-enter their information. In the Orange Zone/Level, each person under the age of 18 years who is engaged in activities in the facility may be accompanied by one parent or guardian. Adult groups can have NO spectators. Facility capacity limits remain at 50 people in total per rink/area maximum when there is space for sufficient physical distancing. We thank everyone for their understanding and cooperation. If you have questions, please contact us 519.44BRANT or 1.855.44BRANT.

Construction Notice: Trail Parking Lot Forbes St., Glen Morris. Please be advised that construction will be taking place to make improvements to the trail Parking Lot located on Forbes St., Glen Morris from Wednesday, December 9 Friday, December 11. The parking lot will be closed during the construction. Limited on-street parking will be available. We appreciate your patience during the construction.... Please be advised that construction will be taking place to make improvements to the trail Parking Lot located on Forbes St., Glen Morris from Wednesday, December 9 Friday, December 11. The parking lot will be closed during the construction. Limited on-street parking will be available. We appreciate your patience during the construction.

Please be kind to others in the community during the pandemic. Remember that we are in this together. #TeamBrant Please do your part to keep our community healthy. As directed by the Province of Ontario: Trips outside of the home should only be for essential reasons such as going to work, school, groceries/pharmacy, health care, assisting vulnerable individuals or exercise and physical activity... No indoor organized public events and social gatherings are permitted, except with members of the same household. People who live alone can gather with one household Work remotely, where possible Please continue to wash your hands often, practice physical distancing and wear a mask when required. Thank you for doing your part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

Please join us today, November 24, 2020, for a County of Brant Council Meeting at 6:00 pm. The meeting will be held via video conference and live-streamed on the County of Brant's YouTube channel. Please note that Council Chambers remain closed.... To view the meeting, please visit www.brant.ca/NovemberCouncil To view the agenda, visit www.brant.ca/CouncilCalendar.

Holidays can be a difficult time of year and this year may be particularly difficult. If you know someone who is lonely, please call them or drop off a treat at their front door. If you need support, please reach out. There are many services in the County of Brant that are here to support you. You are not alone. For more information, visit www.brant.ca/BrantCares. To help protect those most vulnerable from COVID-19, please stay local and gather with those in your household. Stay home if you are ill. Wash your hands often. Practice physical distancing and wear a mask when visiting indoor public places. Stay well Brant and please take care of each other.

The County of Brant Community Grant Application is now available. The deadline for the application is February 5, 2021. The County offers four different grant opportunities including Operating/Event grants, Capital grants, Emergency grants and Travel grants. For eligibility criteria and to learn more, please visit www.brant.ca/Grants. ... If you have questions, please contact 519.44BRANT (519.442.7268), 1.855.44BRANT or [email protected] We’re here for you!

A reminder that the Brant County Health Unit offers free well water testing for residents whose drinking water comes from a private well. For more information please see the post below

Temporary Road Closure by OPP Robinson Road between Cleaver Road and Highland Drive has been closed to through traffic by the OPP on Friday, November 20,2020 until further notice. Note: No through traffic... Emergency access only Barricades will be in place It is our goal to minimize any inconvenience to our residents. Your patience through any disruption will be greatly appreciated. If additional information is required, please contact: Mike Huggins Road Superintendent County of Brant 26 Park Avenue Burford, ON N0E 1A0 519.44BRANT x2001 [email protected]

You are not alone. For County of Brant support services, visit www.brant.ca/BrantCares. Stay active. Visit www.brant.ca/virtualprograms for information on virtual programs, free online fitness classes and more! Get outside. The County of Brant trails are open, so get outside, be active and embrace the cold. Always remember to keep a physical distance from others while outdoors and on our trails. Visit www.brant.ca/trails for more information.

A Story Book Walk has been set up at Green Lane Park in Paris in partnership with the County of Brant Public Library. The walk runs along the disc golf trail in the park - look for the welcome sign! We hope you enjoy this outdoor activity while maintaining physical distancing. #BrantCommunity #StoryBookWalk

Did you know? Ontario allows for 3 general uses of Agricultural Lands: 1.Agricultural Uses (crops, livestock, greenhouses, etc.)... 2.Agricultural-Related Uses (farm supplies, farmers markets, wine and cider production, etc.) 3.On-Farm Diversified Uses (bakeries, petting zoos, wineries, farm-related offices, etc.) With these provincial policies in mind the County of Brant Development Services Division has created an Agriculture-Related and On-Farm Diversified Uses Guide to better assist our farming community with potential projects. The guide outlines the different types of uses and how you can diversify a farming operation in the County of Brant. For more information, please visit www.brant.ca/OFDUGuide or www.brant.ca/OFDUs

Holiday Collection Schedule: Garbage, Recycling and Curbside Tree Garbage and Recycling Collection Since the Christmas and New Year’s holidays fall on a regular collection day, the garbage and recycling collection will be completed one day later as follows:... Normal Collection Day Revised Collection Day Friday, December 25, 2000 > Saturday, December 26, 2020 Friday, January 1, 2021 > Saturday, January 2, 2021 Please remember that all materials must be curbside by 7:00 am. For more information on garbage and recycling please visit www.brant.ca/waste Tree Collection Curbside Christmas tree collections will occur during the weeks of January 4 8, 2021 and January 11 15, 2021. Bagged trees will not be collected. To ensure your tree is collected, it must be: At the curbside by 7:00 a.m. on your regular collection day. Free from decorations and plastic bags. If you miss your collection day, your tree can be taken to either the Paris Transfer Station or Biggars Lane Landfill. Tipping Fees will be waived for Christmas trees from December 26, 2020 to January 31, 2021. For your information, Christmas trees are collected separately from your regular collection and are recycled into compost or mulch. Please be advised that the Waste Management Facilities will be closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, December 28 and New Years Day. If you have any questions, please contact: County of Brant Public Works Department at (519) 449-2451 or 1-888-250-2295.

Be a Brant Safe Streets Ambassador! Obey the Speed Limit. Always drive at the speed that will allow you to stop safely. Where there is no posted speed in built-up areas, drive under 50 km. We want everyone to get home safely!... Visit www.brant.ca/BrantSafeStreets for more information. See more

On November 25 at 12:55 pm, there will be a test of the Alert Ready system in Ontario. This includes testing on compatible mobile devices, television and radio. Learn more: https://www.alertready.ca/ #AlertReady

Looking for ways to get outdoors and stay active this winter season? The trail systems within the County of Brant stretch over 70 kilometres and are ideal for hiking, jogging, cycling and interacting with nature. Under proper conditions our trails are perfect for cross country skiing and snowshoeing as well. ... For a full list of trails and maps, please visit www.brant.ca/trails.

Please join us today, December 8, 2020, at 6:00 pm for a Special County of Brant Council Meeting Re: New Official Plan - Growth Projections. The meeting will be held via video conference and live-streamed on the County of Brant's YouTube channel. Please note that Council Chambers remain closed.... To view the meeting, please visit www.brant.ca/SpecialCouncilDec8 To view the agenda, visit www.brant.ca/CouncilCalendar. Do you have questions or comments about the growth of the County of Brant? Get involved with the new Official Plan project at www.brant.ca/NewOfficialPlan.

Engage with us! The Cedar Street (in Paris) Reconstruction project is underway. The project will look at:... - a stormwater management plan for Cedar Street - road improvements - water and sanitary servicing - improvements to benefit cyclists and pedestrians. A Municipal Class Environmental Assessment is required for a new storm water management system. This means we need to follow a regulated process and your input is very important. Join us for the public meeting on November 25, 2020. Visit www.brant.ca/EA and click on Cedar Street Environmental Assessment for more information and to view our short video series.

This pandemic has been a challenge for many people in the community. Brant OPP’s call for service related to mental health and domestic violence have increased since March 2020. This week is also National Addictions Awareness week. If you are struggling, please know you are not alone. There are many resources in the community that can support you. Please reach out and get the support you need.... Visit www.brant.ca/BrantCares. We need to work together to keep our community healthy: Adhere to the gathering limits. Stay home if you are ill. Wash your hands often. Wear a mask when you are in enclosed public places. Practice physical distancing. We’re in this together, Brant. You are not alone.

The County of Brant has received a $14,500.00 grant from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to promote value-added agriculture. Ontario recognized that the agricultural industry is the largest employer in the region and we are happy to partner with the County of Brant to protect, grow and showcase this vital sector, said Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma. We will continue to work with Mayor David Bailey and County of Brant Council to ensure a robust ...and thriving agricultural community. The funding will be used to execute several initiatives including; Marketing the County of Brant as a destination for agricultural products and experiences; Implementing directional signage to help promote value-added agriculture throughout the County of Brant; and Delivering workshops on a variety of topics to support agriculture. Agriculture in the County of Brant is a very important aspect of our culture, heritage and economy, said Mayor David Bailey. We are so pleased to receive this provincial funding that will allow us to support and lift up the agricultural sector. The funding is part of a larger County strategy that supports the agricultural sector. Earlier in 2020, County of Brant Council passed the ‘On-farm Diversified Uses’ policy which allows farmers to reach new customers by allowing them to process commodities on-farm and sell them directly to the customer. Examples of this include craft breweries, food by-products like jam or other spreads, and lavender-infused skincare products. The strategy also includes the newly introduced Agricultural Equipment Operator pilot program being offered by Conestoga College that will commence in early 2021 in the County of Brant.

The holidays are getting closer! If you have shopping to do, consider shopping local. We have many great small businesses in the County of Brant who need your support and also offer online shopping options. Thank you to our local businesses for being resilient and for doing your part to serve the community safely. For a list of Brant businesses, visit www.brant.ca/ShopLocal. Please do your part:... Stay local and shop local Practice physical distancing Wear a mask when in enclosed public places Gather with those in your household. Stay well, Brant.

Are you planning on getting outdoors? Being active is good for both your physical and mental well being! As always remember to practice physical distancing while enjoying outdoor amenities! If physical distancing becomes difficult wear a face covering.

Over the past few months, the number of COVID-19 cases have continued to rise both locally and provincially. For seniors, those with health conditions and many others in our community, this is concerning. If the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise, it can impact a number of things that are important to us such as health care, businesses, schools and other amenities. Please do your part to keep our community healthy and open and protect those who are most vulnerable: ...Adhere to the gathering limits. Stay home if you are ill. Wash your hands often. Wear a mask when you are in enclosed public places. Always practice physical distancing. These are relatively simple actions that could have a big impact on the health of our community. We’re all in this together, Brant, and together is how we will get through it. #TeamBrant