Based on the announcement made on the morning of March 17, 2020 , Ontario had declared a state of emergency, and has ordered the closure of all facilities providing indoor recreation programs, among other venues. As such, the OFA in consultation with our Medical Health Committee mandates that all clubs refrain from holding practices and to adhere to public health recommendations.
Failure to adhere to this mandate may affect club standings within the OFA through the 2020-2021 season on a case-by-case basis.
The Ontario Fencing Association follows the strong recommendation from the Ontario Government in immediately suspending all gatherings of more than 250 people. As such, the following events have been cancelled or postponed until further notice.
- 2020 International Youth Challenge and Ontario Provincial Championships (March 13-15) – CANCELLED. Full refunds will be processed for all registrants in the coming weeks.
- HPDP Epee Camp (March 28-29) – POSTPONED.
- Top of the Lake Veterans Training Camp (April 4-5) – POSTPONED
There are many alternatives to fencing right now. Some ideas to offer your membership include:
- Many workouts for core training, footwork, agility, etc. can be done in a home space. YouTube is a wonderful resource.
- Catch up on some fencing videos online: https://www.youtube.com/user/FIEvideo/videos?app=desktop
- Coaches, use this time to catch up on your PD points by doing online courses! See coach.ca.
- Check out the top ten books on fencing: https://fightingreport.com/best-fencing-books-reviewed/
- Check out some fencing movies: https://bananaoilmovies.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/six-great-fencing-movies/
General COVID-19 precautionary guidelines:
- In accordance with PHAC and TPC guidelines, travelers who have returned from anywhere outside of Canada, including the United States, should self-isolate (i.e. sty at home and avoid close contact with others, including those in their home) for a total of 14 days.
- All members who are experiencing symptoms, or who have come into contact with individuals who tested positive for Coronavirus, should remain home, and contact your local public health unit or Telehealth Ontario immediately in an effort to reduce the potential spread of the disease.
- Frequent hand-washing is highly encouraged, and we encourage all to review the WHO’s video on Coronavirus Protection Here.
- Members should bring their own face towel to wipe their face to avoid touching their face with hands during intense physical activity
- Cough and sneeze into a tissue, dispose of the tissue and wash your hands immediately. Sleeves and elbows can be substituted for tissues.
- Keep surfaces clean and disinfected. Wipe down high-contact surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, reel clips, remotes, and fencing masks with disinfectant, and clean high-absorbent materials like towels and fencing whites frequently. The CDC’s environmental cleaning and disinfecting recommendations can be found here
If you do experience symptoms, please contact your public health unit or Telehealth Ontario:
1-866-797-0000
TTY: 1-866-797-0007
For more updates, please refer to the links below:
Toronto Public Health (TPC) (Different languages available under “Other Resources”)
Ontario Ministry of Health (OMH)
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO)
This is a very unique and urgent situation that requires a collective response. We thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation.
