Victoria, BC– The Capital Regional District (CRD) is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and reviewing its essential services and decision-making processes to ensure business continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic. As an essential service provider, the CRD must continue to operate and maintain service delivery that is crucial to the well-being of residents.
Significant effort has been put into planning and preparedness for water and wastewater service delivery, solid waste management, housing and emergency response services such as emergency coordination and communication for fire protection.
“I want to reassure the public, the Board and staff that, we, as the CRD are taking this situation very seriously and are doing everything possible to respond to the situation in a safe, measured and concerted manner,” said CRD Board Chair Colin Plant. “The health and safety of our public, staff and the provision of our essential services remain our primary focus.”
The CRD’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Bob Lapham addressed the Board today to provide an update on steps the CRD is taking to protect the health and safety of the public and staff and to ensure continuity of essential services. The CRD directly employs more than 1100 people, with over 600 regular and 500 auxiliary staff. In addition, the CRD currently has more than 30 active construction sites with more than 800 project and construction staff actively working.
In order to minimize risk of COVID-19 exposure, additional measures to ensure occupational health and safety for staff include enhanced cleaning of essential service workplaces including common touch points, work spaces, washrooms, fleet vehicles, tools and equipment. Enhanced cleaning will take place daily with cleaning supplies and instructions deployed by CRD Facilities Maintenance and cleaning contractors.
The CRD is actively looking at the redeployment and accommodation of staff to maintain essential service operations. Effective March 17, Panorama, SEAPARC and Salt Spring Island PARC recreation facilities are closed and effective today, public access will be restricted to CRD facilities.
In addition to measures being taken to protect staff, the CRD has changed the organization of the Board room to allow for social distancing best practices between attendees, and a process for not exceeding 50 people in the room. Updates to the Board Procedures bylaw approved today will also allow for electronic participation in meetings.
For updated information on the CRD’s response to COVID-19, please visit www.crd.bc.ca/covid
Site Specific Information
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 health emergency, various CRD facilities will now be open by appointment only starting Thursday, March 19, 2020. The only exception to this will be the Hartland Landfill.
For the public, contractors and deliveries to gain access to CRD services and for general information, please call 250.360.3000 or toll free at 1.800.663.4425. The public is recommended to visit the CRD’s website for full details.
To make appointments, please refer to the following phone numbers. All other facilities will be closed to the general public until further notice.
CRD Headquarters Facility
625 Fisgard Street
250.360.3000
Salt Spring Island Electoral Area Administration Office
108-121 McPhillips
250.537.4448
Integrated Water Services
479 Island Hwy
250.474.9600
Water Billing Inquiries & Payments
250.474.9601
CRD Animal Shelter
5401 Pat Bay Highway
250.658.5745
Bylaw and Animal Care Services
212-2780 Veterans Memorial Parkway
250.478.0624
Capital Region Housing Corporation
631 Fisgard Street
250.388.6422
JdF Building Administration
3 – 7450 Butler Road
250.642.8100
SSI Building Inspection
206-118 Fulford-Ganges Road
250.537.2711
SGI Building Inspection
625 Fisgard Street
250.360.3230
Royal McPherson Theatre Society
850 Broughton Street (Royal Theatre)
#3 Centennial Square (McPherson Theatre)
302-1005 Broad Street
250.361.0800
Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Andy Orr, Senior Manager
CRD Corporate Communications
Tel: 250.360.3229
Cell: 250.216.5492