COVID-19 FAQ

The regular GRCA General Membership meeting schedule is being maintained. Meetings are held virtually and streamed live on our Board Webcast page. Members of the public are invited to watch the meetings online.

The GRCA board meets monthly, usually on the fourth Friday of the month beginning at 9:30 a.m. The board agendas, reports and minutes are available in our board meeting calendar.

The GRCA's flood forecasting and warning system is critical to the safety of watershed residents. The GRCA is maintaining this critical service to the community, and will continue to work with municipal first responders to help protect the lives and property of our watershed residents in the event of flooding.

Please visit our flood forecasting and warning system page to learn more.

Yes. We continue to accept permit applications through our online permit application system.

Please note that due to an increased volume of applications being received, complete applications for GRCA permits may take between 4-6 weeks to process.

If you are unsure of how to apply for a permit, please review the information on our website about how to apply for a permit.If you have any questions about the application process you may contact the appropriate planner for your township or municipality via email with this completed form (and map). Complete applications that include technical reports and plans may require additional time. 

 Is GRCA responding to general questions and inquiries about properties for sale?

We are receiving a very high volume of GRCA permit and planning applications and staff are unable to respond to general inquiries. The planning section of our website provides important information about mapping of GRCA regulated areas and policies for development, grading and other related activities. Please visit the GRCA ‘Map your Property’ tool. Please review our policies for more information about activities that may be permitted in or near regulated areas.

This service disruption will be in effect until September 7, 2021. We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your patience.

Can I volunteer as an individual or group for environmental projects? 

No, not at this time. Please note the GRCA's volunteer program has been temporarily suspended. 

No, not at this time. All previously approved research permits have been temporarily suspended until further notice.

Please subscribe to this FAQ page for program status updates.

No. The GRCA’s Administration Centre in Cambridge remains closed to the public at this time. Please connect with us over the phone, by email and through our online permit application system. Most GRCA staff are working remotely.

For deliveries, please proceed directly to the Shipping and Receiving Area. If entering the building, please wear a mask. View the Administration Centre hours of operation.

Most GRCA owned and managed trails and natural areas are open for activities such as walking and hiking.

While using these properties, we ask that you:

• Share the space – plan short visits of 1 hour or less.
• Abide by government and public health unit restrictions and recommendations.
• Maintain physical distancing (at least 6 ft or 2.0 m).
• Keep your pet on a leash and dispose of dog waste properly.
• Leave if the trails get too crowded.
• Only park in designated areas. If parking lots are full or inaccessible, please return at another time.
• Pack out, what you pack in. Garbage in, garbage out - please take your garbage out with you and dispose of it at home.

Note: Properties may close due to safety concerns, maintenance and construction projects, among other reasons. Closures are published on our Service Disruptions page.

Some GRCA properties remain closed, including our nature centres.

In addition, the GRCA is maintaining the closure of a number of properties in order to minimize the hazard tree risks presented by the decline of ash trees due to emerald ash borer (EAB). For more information on the properties impacted by these closures please read the news release. Signage is being posted at these properties and people are asked to respect the closures for their own safety.

Properties may close for other reasons, such as public safety, maintenance and construction, among others. Closures are published on our Service Disruptions page.

Members of the public are not permitted on closed properties. Please respect the closures.

No. All GRCA nature centres are closed to the public. Outdoor environmental education programs for the public and community groups have been suspended and events are cancelled until further notice. 

No. After much consideration, we have determined we will not be offering summer day camps in 2021. At this time, we continue to anticipate that restrictions and health and safety requirements due to COVID-19 will significantly impact our ability to deliver quality day camp programs. Since the fall of 2020, the GRCA has focused its limited staff resources on developing modified and/or virtual outdoor environmental education school programs, working directly with some school boards in the watershed. 

The health and safety of our staff and campers remain our highest priority. The GRCA has a low threshold for risk when it comes to the safety of our campers and staff. We feel that erring on the side of health and safety is the right decision, given the style of programming that we are known for. 

We will consider our ability to offer day camp programs for P.A. days and school breaks in the 2021-2022 school year, and will update our website as new information becomes available. 

At this time, all GRCA nature centres are closed to the public and our public outdoor environmental education programs have been suspended. GRCA staff and some watershed school boards are working together to deliver modified and/or virtual outdoor environmental education school programs. Please subscribe to this FAQ for program status updates.

No. All GRCA nature centres remain closed. School programming is currently underway with limited school boards and being offered in a modified and/or virtual setting.

Grand River Parks are open for limited recreational activities. For real-time information on park and activity status, visit www.grandriver.ca/parkstatus.

To view park hours, gatehouse hours, and other information, please visit the park's webpage linked below.

• Brant Conservation Area 
• Byng Island Conservation Area 
• Conestogo Lake Conservation Area 
• Laurel Creek Conservation Area
• Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area
• Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area
• Shade's Mills Conservation Area
• Belwood Lake Conservation Area
• Elora Gorge Conservation Area 
• Elora Quarry Conservation Area
• Guelph Lake Conservation Area
• Rockwood Conservation Area

Note: Properties may close due to safety concerns, maintenance and construction projects, among other reasons. Closures are published on our Service Disruptions page.

For real-time park and activity status, visit www.grandriver.ca/parkstatus. Should the park be open but the gatehouse closed, please use the self-registration and honour box. Standard entrance fees apply.

Visitors should be aware that parking is limited. Garbage receptacles are available and will be emptied as frequently as possible, but please visit responsibly and if garbage bins are full, take your waste with you and dispose of it at home. Washroom facilities are available in our parks and shower facilities are open in campgrounds.

Pools at Brant and Byng Island conservation areas and the splash pad at Elora Gorge Conservation Area will remain closed in 2021. GRCA boat rentals and concessions are not open this year.

To help protect both staff and visitors, the GRCA has implemented a number of measures to address overcrowding and promote physical distancing in its parks and facilities. This includes limiting the number of visitors. See the "How will I know when a park has reached capacity?" section below.

Visitors must practice physical distancing and are reminded to adhere to provincial guidelines and restrictions. Grand River Parks may be subject to orders in place by the local public health unit. Visitors are required to adhere to all applicable orders in place.

To help you better plan your visits, please check www.grandriver.ca/parkstatus to find out if a park is welcoming visitors or if it has reached capacity. The webpage provides real-time updates regarding the status of each park. 

Once a park reaches full capacity, it will be closed until at least 4:30 p.m. and no additional visitors will be permitted. If attendance has decreased by 4:30 p.m. on a day that a park has been closed due to capacity, it will reopen at that time for additional day-use visitors who may wish to take advantage of an evening visit. Standard admission rates apply.

Although it is commonly thought that land owned by the GRCA is public land, the GRCA is, in fact, a private landowner and subject to the same legal obligations as a private landowner. Grand River Parks receive no tax dollars and operate only on the funds they receive through gate access fees, camping revenue, and pay-for-use items like canoe and tubing rentals. 

Ontario’s provincial park system is operated by our provincial government, while GRCA conservation areas are owned and operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority.

Ontario Parks, operated by the provincial government, receive tax dollars to provide the access and services they do to visitors. Grand River Parks receive no tax dollars and operate only on the funds they receive through gate access fees, camping revenue, and pay-for-use items like canoe and kayak rentals.

Canada’s federal park system is operated by the Government of Canada, while GRCA conservation areas are owned and operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority.

Federal parks, operated by the federal government, receive tax dollars to provide the access and services they do to visitors. Grand River Parks receive no tax dollars and operate only on the funds they receive through gate access fees, camping revenue, and pay-for-use items like canoe and kayak rentals.

Yes. Grand River Parks are following provincial and local public health guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. All guests are expected to follow all provincial and local public health regulations, including gathering limits and physical distancing requirements.

Camping at Grand River Parks is normally available between May 1 - October 15, 2021. To make a reservation, visit our Campsite Reservation System.

Yes. Visit our Campsite Reservation System to reserve a campsite.