COVID-19 | Measures and Procedures

• There will only be one entrance at each centre that will serve as a checkpoint to screen all members, employees and suppliers. Anyone who enters the centre will have to disinfect their hands when they arrive, wear a mask and answer six questions about their health.
• Vaccination passport for the participants aged 13 years and older: during your first visit, please arrive early and bring your proof of vaccination with QR code and a photo ID.*
• There will be cones or markers on the ground indicating where people should stand in line. In the centre, there will be arrows on the floor to signal the direction of foot traffic. Please be patient and courteous when getting around the centre.
• You will notice that there will be additional hand sanitizer stations throughout the centre and most of the furniture will have been removed, except for a few chairs for people with reduced mobility. Also, most common areas will be closed.
• Only people who have a reservation* will be admitted into the centre and they will be able to go into the centre no earlier than 15 minutes before their reserved timeslot.
  *No reservation required for the lanes swim City and for open swim.

Starting on September 1, in compliance with new Public Health guidelines, people aged 13 and older will need to show their COVID-19 vaccination passport to access certain areas and participate in non-essential activities. 

You will therefore need to present your vaccination passport to access facilities/participate in the following activities:

• Gym sports
• Conditioning room and running track
• Group courses
• Pool for free swim or lane swim sessions and adult swim lessons

Steps to follow to access the YMCA’s sports facilities:

The next time you visit our centre, even if it’s before September 1, please arrive early and bring your proof of vaccination with QR code and a photo ID.*

You must stop by the front desk to validate your QR card and update your member file.** As such, your vaccination status will be added to your file and you therefore won’t need to present your vaccination passport after that first visit. This way, when you scan your member card on any subsequent visits, we can ensure you meet public health criteria.

*We will accept proof of vaccination with QR code in paper format or in PDF on a mobile device or on the VaxiCode mobile app. Please note that regardless of the format you present you will also need to present a photo ID or your member card.

**If you do not qualify for the vaccination passport, you can pass by the front desk to come to an agreement with Client Services about your membership.

Steps to get your vaccination passport:

You can already download your QR code on the self-service portal. You then need to download the VaxiCode mobile app and follow the instructions to add your proof of vaccination. You can consult the detailed instructions on the government website.

• You will have to wear a mask to enter and use our facilities.
• If you need to take a photo for your membership card, you will have to remove your mask first.

• As far as possible, participants are invited to arrive ready for their activity.
• You will have access to the changing rooms, but there will fewer lockers available. If you have a personal locker, you will be able to use it, but please be patient and use your judgment if another member is using the locker next to yours.
• You will also have access to showers because they are equipped with dividers that make distancing possible.
• We will be adding more hand sanitizer stations and cleaning the facilities more frequently. Disinfectant spray and paper towels will also be made available if you would like to disinfect hair dryers, counters, door handles or any other surfaces before and after you touch them.

Authorities strongly recommend not drinking directly from water fountains, but you may choose to refill your reusable water bottle at your own risk. However, we suggest that you fill your bottle before coming to the centre, if you can.

Depending on its capacity, only one or two people, or members of the same household, will be permitted in the elevator at the same time.

• The courtesy phone will be removed and may only be used in the event of an emergency. 
• You will not be able to touch or try on items that are for sale at the Y Boutique or return them after purchase.
• We strongly recommend that you only pay with a card and avoid handling cash.

Lane swimming

• Wearing a mask will be mandatory in the pool area except for children who are ten or below.
• A spot must be reserved for YMCA lane swim periods. The reservation system will offer you a 60-minute timeslot. However, please note that you will only have access to the pool for the first 50 minutes of your timeslot; the last 10 minutes will be reserved for cleaning.
• The number of participants in the City’s lane swim periods will be limited to comply with physical distancing measures. Participants will be admitted on a first come, first served basis.
• Equipment cannot be lent out (except for personal floatation devices). 
• You will have to bring your own equipment and keep what you bring to a minimum (boards, goggles, flippers, pull buoys, paddles, etc.)
• Bathing caps cannot be lent out.

Open swim

• Wearing a mask will be mandatory in the pool area.
• The number of participants in the open swim periods will be limited to comply with physical distancing measures. Participants will be admitted on a first come, first served basis.
• Equipment cannot be lent out (except for personal floatation devices). 
• You will have to bring your own equipment and keep what you bring to a minimum (boards, goggles, flippers, pull buoys, paddles, etc.).
• Bathing caps cannot be lent out.

Aquafit

• Wearing a mask will be mandatory in the pool area.
• You will have to reserve a spot to participate in aquafit classes.
• The instructor will teach the entire class from outside the pool.
• No equipment may be used.
• The maximum number of participants will be based on ARAQ guidelines for the shallow end of the pool.
• You will have to stay at least 2 metres away from others at all times.

Private swimming lessons

• Wearing a mask will be mandatory in the pool area.
• Private lessons can be offered if distancing is possible or if the swimmer is accompanied by a member of their household who is at least 16 years old.
• The instructor will teach the lesson from outside the pool or will stay at least 2 metres away from participants at all times.

Group swimming lessons

• A parent/guardian must be present in the water to maintain a 2m distance from the instructor for the following programs: 0-3 years old (Splashers, Bubblers), 3-5 years old (Bobbers, Floaters, Gliders, Divers, Surfers, Dippers), 6-15 years old (Otter, Seal, Dolphin, Swimmer).
• The instructor will teach the lesson from outside the pool or will stay at least 2 metres away from participants at all times.

Measures to be respected by all swim lesson and aquatic certification participants:

• Children 10 years of age and older must wear a face covering right up until they get into the pool.
• Each child can only be accompanied by one parent/guardian during the lesson (exept for aquatic certifications).
• If the child has answered “YES” to one of the COVID-19 questions, they will not be allowed to take part in the lesson. No refunds will be given.  
• The parent/guardian will have to stay in the pool during the whole lesson if the child is at the Swimmer level or below.
• Swim instructors will generally give lessons from outside the pool. If they need to demonstrate a skill, participants will be asked to get out of the pool and sit poolside.
• Swim instructors will wear a procedure mask whenever they are out of the water.
• For swim certifications, the YMCAs of Québec will provide participants with a procedure mask and eye shield. Eye shields will be lent to participants then disinfected after use.
• Aquatic certification participants must wear a mask and glasses when the two-metre social distancing rule cannot be respected. They do not need to wear a procedure mask or eye shield when they are in the pool.

• You will have to reserve your spot to participate in group classes.
• Please note that you will only be able to reserve one group class per day.
• All group classes will take place in the gym or a room that is large enough for physical distancing. There will be markers on the ground indicating where participants should position themselves to comply with distancing measures.
• There will be additional hand sanitizer stations.
• Equipment must not be shared between participants. We recommend that you bring your own equipment whenever possible (yoga mat, straps, block, etc.).
• You will have to disinfect any equipment that you use before and after use.  
• For cycling classes, stationary bikes will be placed along the wall of the gym at the start of the class and you will have to bring your bike to a marked area on the floor. 
• Fans cannot be used.

• You will have to reserve your spot online.
• You will be able to play singles badminton and pickleball.  

You will have to reserve a timeslot to use the conditioning room so it can be kept under capacity at all times. Please note that the reservation system will offer you a 75-minute timeslot, but you will only have access to the conditioning room for the first 60 minutes of this timeslot; the last 15 minutes will be reserved for cleaning.

You will only be able to reserve a one-hour timeslot for the conditioning room per day.

Please note that:

• Our team will disinfect the conditioning room between reservation periods.
• A staff member will greet you and check who is entering and leaving the conditioning room.
• There will be additional hand sanitizer stations.
• We recommend that you do not touch your face during your workouts.
• You will have to keep 2 metres away from other members and employees at all times, including when using the running track.

Please note that wearing a mask will be mandatory while moving around and while using the machines, as stipulated in the public health measures for orange zones.

Cardio and weight machines:

• Will be moved or spaced out to comply with distancing guidelines.
• Will be unplugged and will have a sign or tape on them if they are out of use.
• Will have to be disinfected BEFORE and AFTER use (the disinfectant spray must be sprayed onto a paper towel and not directly on the machine’s electronic display panel).

Super series using several machines at once will not be permitted. 

Free weights such as dumbbells, barbells and kettlebells will be disinfected at your discretion; employees will regularly disinfect them.

Benches:

• Will be positioned over an ‘X’ on the ground to comply with distancing guidelines.
• Will have to be disinfected by members BEFORE and AFTER use.
• Will be disinfected by employees regularly.

Small equipment:

• Will be removed if it cannot be disinfected. 
• Will have to be disinfected by members BEFORE and AFTER use.
• Will be disinfected by employees regularly.

Mats (if there is a stretching station):

• Will be placed in predetermined areas to comply with distancing guidelines.
• Will have to be disinfected by members BEFORE and AFTER use.

Towel service will be unavailable until further notice. We recommend that you bring your own towel, if needed.

Whirlpools, saunas and steam rooms will remain closed until further notice because it is not possible to follow physical distancing measures in these facilities.