It remains important to do all we can to prevent the spread of illness, and I take this responsibility as a health practitioner and workshop facilitator seriously. I follow the current recommendations of Toronto Public Health.
The Current Guidance and Best Practices for the use of public spaces, as published by the City of Toronto as of Fall 2025 is in part:
Event-Specific Measures
Signage: Event organizers should post signs reminding attendees not to enter if they are sick and encouraging healthy behaviours like hand hygiene and cough etiquette.
Venue Policies: While not government-mandated, individual venues or event providers may choose to implement their own specific requirements, such as voluntary mask policies or capacity limits.
Planning: Organizers are encouraged to consider factors such as crowding, event duration, and activities when planning to minimize risk.
Event organizers hosting activities in third-party venues (non-City owned/leased spaces) must follow the specific requirements of those venues. For the most current information, refer directly to the City of Toronto's official website and Ontario's public health guidance.
For those planning events, the City of Toronto recommends the following considerations:
Responsibilities for Event Organizers
Communication: Clearly communicate health and safety expectations (e.g., "stay home if sick" messaging) to staff, volunteers, and attendees.
Supplies: Provide infection control supplies such as hand sanitizer stations, tissues, and signage with hygiene etiquette.
Venue Policies: If using a third-party venue, event organizers must follow that venue's specific health and safety requirements.
Risk Assessment: Organizers should conduct a risk assessment for their specific event, considering factors like crowding, activity duration, and the profile of attendees, and plan accordingly.
Emergency Planning: Event organizers on City of Toronto property are required to have an Emergency Action Plan that addresses potential public health emergencies.
For the latest official guidance, always check the City of Toronto's COVID-19 webpage and the Government of Ontario's public health measures and advice page.
Ontario's Public Health Guidance recommends:
* Wearing a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask in indoor public settings, especially if you are at higher risk of severe infection, or in settings that require masking
* Optimizing indoor air quality by improving ventilation (for example, opening windows to allow fresh outdoor air into rooms) and air filtration can help maintain a healthy indoor environment
amongst other protective measures.