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.

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.

Yes. The GRCA’s Administration Centre in Cambridge is open for walk-ins and by appointment. You may also connect with us over the phone, by email and through our online permit application system. 

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

GRCA owned and managed trails and natural areas are open for activities.

While using these properties, we ask that you:

• 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.
• Only park in designated areas. If parking lots are full or inaccessible, please return at another time.

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

GRCA nature centres remain closed to the public, but are open for school groups.

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.

After careful consideration, the GRCA has made the difficult decision to not offer day camps in 2022.

The impact of the pandemic, coupled with the recent changes to the Conservation Authorities Act, continue to have a significant and ongoing impact on our outdoor environmental education program. Consequently, we are in the process of re-evaluating our program with a goal of long-term sustainability.

At this time, we have made the decision to focus our limited resources on our school board partnerships and the delivery of the school program, as well as the ongoing program review. As part of our longer-term re-evaluation of the outdoor education program, we will consider our ability to offer day camp programs once again in the future.

Grand River Conservation Areas are open. For real-time information on conservation area and activity status, visit www.grandriver.ca/parkstatus.

To view hours, gatehouse hours, and other information, please visit the conservation area'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 status of conservation areas and activities, visit www.grandriver.ca/parkstatus. Should the area be open but the gatehouse closed, please use the ePass system where available, or 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. 

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

Visitors are reminded to adhere to provincial guidelines and restrictions.

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

Once a conservation area 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 conservation area 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.

Ontario’s provincial park system is operated by our provincial government, while Grand River 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 Conservation Areas 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 Grand River 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 Conservation Areas 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. Camping is available at all Grand River Conservation Areas that offer this service. All guests are expected to follow all provincial and local public health regulations, including gathering limits and physical distancing requirements.

Camping at Grand River Conservation Areas is normally available annually between May 1 - October 15. For more information, visit our camping webpage.