June 30, 2021
Hello Volunteers and Riders:
We are thrilled to announce we are operating a modified summer program, beginning July 5th!
While we are very excited to welcome you back to CARD, we wanted to ask you to please take some time to review our modified operating protocols since it is not yet business as usual. In consultation with the local health authorities, we have refreshed these protocols to make sure that they are in line with current public health guidance. We are asking everyone to please review the details in this document as these protocols will be strictly enforced at all times. Please note that these protocols are applicable to anyone who is physically on our premises, not just our riders and volunteers.
The operating protocols are available on our website, and copies will be posted in the arena, in the barn, and in the lounge area at CARD.
The safety of our riders, volunteers, and staff is our number one priority. Outlined below are the key procedures that have been put in place to keep everyone safe and well while we navigate through Covid-19.
Facility
- All persons entering the CARD facility will be required to wear a mask that covers their mouth, nose, and chin at all times.
- All persons entering the CARD facility will be required to complete a health questionnaire before each visit, that includes questions about:
- The presence of any symptoms associated with COVID-19
- Any possible or known exposure to someone diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past 14 days
- Any travel outside of Canada within the last 14 days
If the answer to any of the questions is YES, access to the CARD facility will not be permitted.
- Contact information will be collected each week for all persons entering the facility (including riders, volunteers, and guests) to assist with contact tracing, should that become necessary.
- The lounge is set up for physically distanced seating, and people will need to abide by this set up. Chairs cannot be moved around at this time.
- The kitchen and offices will be off-limits to everyone except staff members.
- No food or drink will be permitted in the lounge.
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- We kindly ask that anyone requiring food or drink while at CARD step outside for this so that indoor masking guidelines are maintained.
- This request also extends to individuals who must remove their mask to make/take a phone call.
- The front door will be locked at all times to ensure we do not have visitors from the park and to ensure that protocols regarding arrival times and guest limits are adhered to.
For your added safety, there are numerous hand sanitizing stations set up throughout the facility. Each of our washrooms has also been outfitted with hand sanitizer, and the washrooms will be sanitized after each session.
In-Class Protocol
- Each class will have a designated person that will monitor the front door, sign in volunteers, ensure that protocols regarding arrivals/departures and guests are adhered to, gather records from the individual COVID-19 health questionnaires, and sanitize the area once done.
- Clients may arrive a maximum of 10 minutes before their class time and must leave immediately after dismounting.
- Clients may only be accompanied by one (1) person; siblings, friends and additional family members cannot be accommodated at this time.
- Clients are encouraged to purchase their own riding helmet to minimize shared equipment. If a rider requires a CARD helmet, it will be sanitized immediately after use.
- There will be only two (2) people in the barn tacking up, the rest will set up the arena.
**In between classes all reins will be sanitized
- Class props will be restricted to pylons, poles, etc.; there will be no item transfer activities.
Volunteer PPE Requirements
- Volunteers must always wear a mask while in the common areas (including the lounge, washrooms, arena, and barn). The mask must cover the nose, mouth, and chin.
- Volunteers must always wear gloves while in the barn area (beyond the lounge doors).
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- Barrier-type gloves are preferred (e.g. fabric gloves with rubberized palms/fingers such as gardening gloves).
- We ask that volunteers bring their own gloves and masks that adhere to the above protocols. If you forget your gloves and/or a mask, we will supply you with them for that day, and you must wear them while in the facility.
- Volunteers and staff will sanitize their hands before interacting with a new client.
Client PPE Requirements
- All clients will be required to wear a mask that covers their nose, mouth, and chin while in the facility and while riding.
- It is preferred that clients wear a barrier-type glove if possible (e.g. fabric gloves with rubberized palms/fingers such as gardening gloves).
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- If wearing gloves is not possible, clients will be required to sanitize their hands before and after mounting.
Other Considerations
- We are asking any friends, guardians, or family members who drop off a rider or volunteer to please leave the facility immediately and to return for pick up at the designated time. We cannot accommodate extra people in the lounge at this time.
- Some class times will be amended to allow time to sanitize surfaces/hands between classes. These amendments will be communicated to all individuals who will be affected by the changes.
A note regarding our riders: the first riders to return will be our most independent clients, those who need little to no physical support from volunteers.
We are hoping that with some patience and understanding we can stand together and keep CARD strong! These guidelines will help us navigate through the early stages of reopening. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact myself or Judy Wanless.
Looking forward to seeing you all again!
Warm regards,
Elaine Brooks, Executive Director
Community Association for Riders with Disabilities
4777 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON M3H 5T3
B: 416-667-8600 www.card.ca F: 416-739-7520