It will take some time before we can get back to regular programming and reopen the doors to the CHIRS Club, but we wanted you to know that a plan is in the works. A plan that aligns with the provincial roadmap and allows us to get ready to open those services most impacted by closures, lockdowns and health guidance measures, while keeping our clients and our staff safe and well.

Over the next few months, we are planning to start offering some small in-person groups at Head Office. If things keep improving, we have dreams of opening the Club doors in January 2022. That will of course depend on the situation at the time; as before, we will be guided by data and not by dates.

As we reopen activities, things will look a little different; we will be sending you periodic updates to keep you informed as to what is happening and when. One of the things we will be doing in the coming weeks will be modifying our environment to make sure that we can offer programs in the safest way possible; a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation is helping us do that. We received funding from the Resilient Communities Fund of the Ontario Trillium Foundation to purchase Plexiglas barriers, specialized masks for people with communication challenges, and technology that will allow us to continue to support virtual programming.

Yes, we fully intend to keep virtual programming as a part of the way we offer services. While the pandemic created many challenges for everyone and we have missed seeing you in person, we have learned that virtual programming works really well for some activities and for some people - and it will be such a great option on snow days!

Thank you for your continued support and patience. Stay well and be safe. We are so looking forward to welcoming you back in person again soon.