Stratford, Ont. – The
ALLIANCE
Hockey Vaccination Policy will continue to apply for all
Affected Persons, including those aged 12 (2009 birth year) to 18.
ALLIANCE Hockey continues to monitor the evolving public
health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and incorporate provincial and local
public health unit Orders, regulations and directives into our policies,
practices and guidelines. ALLIANCE Hockey remains committed to doing what is necessary to keep
our participants as safe as possible by following the recommendations from
public health care professionals to provide sustainable programming throughout
the season.
Due to the inconsistencies across the ALLIANCE Hockey footprint, including varying standards across local Public Health Units, municipalities, and arena facilities, the ALLIANCE Hockey Vaccination Policy provides the consistency required to ensure the best opportunity to maximize safe and sustainable participation within the ALLIANCE Hockey Member Associations.
On September 14, 2021, the Province of Ontario announced amendments to Ontario Regulation 364/20 (Rules for Areas at Step 3 and at the Roadmap Exit Step) made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. The regulations underlie the “Vaccine Passport” recently announced by Premier Ford. Under these new regulations, effective September 22, 2021, proof of identification and of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be required to enter an enumerated list of businesses or organizations, including “The indoor areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities…including, for greater certainty, the indoor areas of facilities where spectators watch events”. This will affect every hockey arena in the province.
While the Vaccine Passport regulations provide an exemption for children under 12, children aged 12 to 18 who are entering a facility used for sports solely for the purpose of participating in organized sports, and those with a valid medical exemption, the regulations and guidance documents issued by the Ministry of Health specifically contemplate that these regulations are a baseline, and may be supplemented by businesses or organizations where necessary and appropriate. ALLIANCE Hockey has carefully considered the regulations, guidance documents, and advice reviewed from the Ministry, Public Health Ontario, and local public health units and determined that in the best interest of the entire ALLIANCE Hockey family and for the health and safety of all of our participants the ALLIANCE Hockey Vaccination Policy will continue to apply for all Affected Persons, including those aged 12(2009 birth year) to 18.
However, please note that the provincial Vaccine Passport regulations do override section 7 of the ALLIANCE Hockey Vaccination Policy pertaining to Spectators. This means that all spectators of any ALLIANCE Hockey Sanctioned Activity aged 12 and over, including the parents or guardians of players, should be prepared to provide proof of vaccination to facility staff to obtain entry to the facility. While the ALLIANCE Hockey Vaccination Policy can supplement the provincial regulations, it cannot override them. Accordingly, all spectators and adult Affected Persons (i.e. players, coaches, staff, volunteers, and officials over the age of 18) should comply with the provincial Vaccine Passport regulations and expect to be required to prove proof of vaccination or a valid medical exemption to obtain entry to arenas.
In consultation with public health authorities, the OHF, and our Member Partners, ALLIANCE Hockey has concluded that the best way to protect the health and safety of all our participants and to preserve safe and sustainable minor hockey programming this season is to require all Affected Persons who are able to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in accordance with the ALLIANCE Hockey Vaccination Policy.
Please refer to the ALLIANCE Hockey Vaccination Policy and Frequently Asked Questions for more information.