Information and Updates

Please check back often for new information and updates.

  • On February 17, 2022, in line with the Government of Ontario, the County of Wellington announced it will begin to ease some public health safety measures on March 1, 2022:
    • All County buildings will re-open to the public on March 1.
    • Lift proof of vaccination requirement to enter certain establishments on March 1.
    • Discontinue curbside pick-up at County libraries as of March 1.
  • On February 22, 2022, the County of Wellington announced plans to end the State of Emergency on March 1, 2022.

COVID-19 Visitor Screening Procedures

Individuals will be required to wear a face covering and respect physical distancing protocols at all times while inside all County facilities. Mandatory passive screening will be in place at the entrance of all County buildings.

County officials are working closely with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health to respond to COVID-19. 

Please review the following County operational changes and closures:

Administration Centre
The County of Wellington’s Administration Centre (74 Woolwich Street) is open to the public.

County Council and Committee Meetings

All Committee and Council meetings are being held in person.

Agendas and minutes will be posted to the Council and Committee calendar as they become available. 

County Garages
All County Garages are closed to the public until further notice. 

Green Legacy

Green Legacy tree nurseries are closed for volunteering. Orders may be placed online for distribution in Spring 2021. For more details visit www.greenlegacy.ca  

Housing and Emergency Shelter

Housing Services and Guelph Non-Profit have resumed usual work practices with added precautionary measures in place.

Need Emergency Assistance?

You may be eligible for short term financial support if you are in a crisis or emergency situation and you don’t have enough money for things like food and housing. If you are not already receiving support from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, you can apply for emergency assistance online.

You can also call the Ontario Works (OW) office to apply over the phone. Please call OW at:  519.837.2670 (press’1’) or Toll Free 1.800.265.7294 or TTY 1.800.855.0511
Need Tenancy Help?

Call staff directly by phone/email or speak to our reception staff by phone for assistance.

Call us at 519.837.6274 if:

  • You are self-isolating and need help with daily living needs, such as food and medicine, staff can help with referral information and access to resources.
  • You are requesting repairs. We are making emergency repairs, but all non- urgent repairs will be scheduled for a later date.
  • You want to make an appointment with staff, while our offices are closed. Staff are available over the phone and via email to support tenants. By appointment, staff will meet with tenants who are signing leases or picking up keys.
How can I my Pay Rent?
It is a tenant responsibility to pay rent on time, and we understand this situation may be challenging so we want to support you in making arrangements where possible. 

For all tenants that currently use Debit/Interac for rent payments or pay in person, we request that you would consider alternate options for rent payment for the next few months. Please contact the Housing Services office if you are able to make alternative arrangements to paying rent in person, including but not limited to:

  • Pre-Authorized Payments
  • Cheques; mailed to the office or dropped off at the office mailbox
  • Post-dated cheques (only accepted for rent payments after the first month's rent)
  • Online Payments. Please contact our office to learn more, or register for the online payment portal.
  • Ontario Works (OW) pay direct system
  • Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) pay direct system

In-person rent payment is not available at this time.
What Is Housing Services Doing to Protect Public Health and Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19?

Housing Services and Guelph Non-Profit has put in place these social distancing measures to protect public health and help slow the spread of COVID-19. 

  • Offices are closed to the public, however we will meet with you over the phone and email. Exceptions are being made for individual appointments for lease signings.
  • All community rooms, recreation rooms and amenity spaces are closed to social gatherings.
  • Laundry rooms remain open and will be cleaned several times a day.
  • We are continuing to provide emergency repairs, but all other requests will be completed at a later date.
  • We are cleaning and disinfecting our buildings at minimum twice daily, with a focus on common areas and all frequently touched surfaces.
  • We are advising people not to visit our buildings if they have returned from travel outside Canada or have respiratory illness, cough, fever or trouble breathing.
  • We recommend that you avoid social gathering within the buildings and that you keep a distance of at least 2 arms-length (approximately 2 metres) from others at all times.
  • Public Health recommends the use of face coverings and social distancing as methods to protect each other from the potential spread of COVID-19.  The County requires tenants to wear a mask if they are meeting with staff or if staff are entering units.
  • The County encourages the use of face masks in all common arears of our buildings.
  • The County has established hand sanitizer stations at each building main entrance and we encourage all residents and visitors to sanitize when entering the buildings.
Emergency Homelessness Shelter Services

Shelter staff are still working to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

If you are experiencing homelessness and would like to access shelter
If you are an adult (25 years+) and it is…

  • between 8am-8pm, please call: 226-821-3345
  • between 8pm-8am, please call: 519-837-0080

If you are a youth (16-24 years), please call 519-837-3892

Need a place to warm up?

  • 23 Gordon Street Emergency Shelter, Guelph – Overnight, 8:00pm-8:00am (7 days a week).
  • Royal City Mission (50 Quebec St., Guelph)  11:00am-7:30pm (Mon-Sat., closed Sunday).
  • Guelph City Hall (1 Carden St., Guelph): 8:30am-4:30pm (Mon-Fri, closed Saturday and Sunday).
  • Main Guelph Public Library (100 Norfolk St., Guelph): 9:00am-9:00pm (Mon-Thurs);  9:00am-5:00pm (Fri & Sat); 1:00pm-5:00pm (Sunday).
  • All other Guelph Public Library Locations*: 9:00am-8:00pm (Mon-Thurs);  9:00am-5:00pm (Fri & Sat)**; 1:00pm-5:00pm (Sunday).
    • *(380 Eramosa Rd., 1 Starwood Dr., 650 Scottsdale Dr., 21 Imperial Rd. S, 100-31 Farley Dr.)
    • **21 Imperial Rd. S. library is open until 9:00pm on Fridays

Concerned about someone in the community who is experiencing homelessness?
Guelph-Wellington Community Cold Weather Response for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

If you see someone unsheltered outdoors in need of assistance (not an emergency), call:

  • HERE 24/7, 1-844-437-3247
  • Guelph Police Service non-emergency line, 519-824-1212
  • Wellington County OPP non-emergency line, 1-888-310-1122
  • If it is an emergency situation: Call 911
Tenant Notices and Updates

October 7, 2020

September 15, 2020

September 14, 2020

May 28, 2020

March 17, 2020

March 24, 2020

March 26, 2020

April 17, 2020

 

RIDE WELL Rural Transit Service
RIDE WELL is currently operating but is taking proactive measures to limit further transmission of COVID-19. We have updated our terms and conditions. 

We are asking the public to not book or enter RIDE WELL vehicles if you have:

  • One or more symptoms of: Fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.
  • Travelled outside Canada in the past 14 days. 
  • If you have had close contact with either a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19.  

When using the service, we ask passengers to follow the safety measures below:

  • Restricted vehicles to only one booking per vehicle – multiple bookings will not share a vehicle until further notice.
  • Drivers and passengers are required to wear masks. Any passenger that does not have a mask will be provided one from their driver.
  • Passengers must sit in the backseat.
  • Hand sanitizer is available for passenger use upon entering the vehicle.
  • Safety measures information are available for passengers to read.
  • Drivers disinfect vehicles at the start of their shift, after each ride is completed, and at the end of their shift.
  • A new feature has been added to the RIDE WELL booking app/website called “Announcements”. Any and all future safety precautions will be detailed in this section

Social Services

As of March 1, 2022, County of Wellington social services offices are open to the public with continued COVID-19 precautions in place. Services continue to be offered online and over the phone.

Dropping off documents

The drop boxes located on the exterior of our office buildings are available anytime, both during and outside of office hours. Documents can also be dropped off in person.

In-person Services

All social services clients are encouraged to contact our office in advance to book an appointment for in person services wherever possible. Please call 519-837-6274 to book an appointment.

Although our office is open to the public, staff continue to be available to assist via phone and online.

Child Care Subsidy

Help for families to pay for licensed child care for children is available for families who are financially eligible and have an approved reason for service.

For more information visit the Child Care Fee Subsidy webpage.

To apply call 519-837-3620 x3090

Solid Waste Services

All County waste facilities remain open with their regular operating hours.

The health and safety of the public and staff is the top priority at County waste facilities. Please continue to maintain physical distancing on site, and as always, please follow staff directions.

Questions? Please contact Solid Waste Services at 519.837.2601 or wasteinfo@wellington.ca. 

Wellington County Library

Please visit the COVID-19 Library page for current information.

Wellington County Museum and Archives

Please visit the WCMA Visit Us page for current information. 

Wellington Terrace Long Term Care Home

We recognize the importance of social connection for seniors, please be assured that our team will contact families to determine strategies for you to stay in touch with your loved one.

The Wellington Terrace will continue to post updates as the COVID-19 situation evolves. Please visit our Wellington Terrace COVID-19 Information and Updates page.

For additional information on COVID-19 please visit Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health's Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) webpage.

Additional Resources

As we collectively work through this challenging period together, the County would also like to share helpful resources that are available. We encourage you to visit our COVID-19 Support and Resources page for government resources, and business, agriculture, and economic development supports.