Grand Bend Area Stay at Home Gala: May 2

Your OPAi Board has typically not promoted particular causes or events, however, we are living in unprecedented times that call for extraordinary measures. 

In this time of crisis, we decided to promote the opportunity to “Connect, unite and nourish our collective community”.  The Grand Bend Community Foundation and the Rotary Club of Grand Bend are holding an on-line Gala to raise funds to support the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 crisis.

Saturday, May 2nd, 2020 from 7-9 pm, on-line

Social distancing at its finest, this first-of-its-kind event will include all the familiar elements of the annual Grand Bend Gala: dinner (if you choose), game-changing speakers, entertainers, musicians, and much more, all online.

The first hour, from 7 to 8 p.m. will feature local entertainers and speakers, while the second hour will be star-studded Canada-wide live stream. So, don your finest (and your bunny slippers), and join local emcees Paul Ciufo and our very own Oakwood Park’s Jennifer Mossop for a night of togetherness, apart.

Please click here to view the flyer.

To learn more and purchase tickets: https://trellis.org/stay-at-home-gala-grand-bend

Thank you for considering … please stay safe and well at home.

OPAi Executive

OPAi COVID-19 Update

Hello to our Oakwood neighbours.  This message comes to you from the OPAi Board of Directors.

These are certainly trying and unprecedented times and first and foremost, the OPAi Board of Directors hopes that you and your family are safe and healthy at home.  I am sure many of you have family working on the front lines, as I do, to help keep us all safe.  We offer them our thanks. 

As Spring takes hold, we want to provide you with the following information. 

  • Please adhere to the local, provincial and federal recommendations and regulations that are meant to keep us all safe at this time.  There are no regulations that are specific to Oakwood Park at this time.  This means:
    • Stay at home in your primary residence with only those that share this address.  The specific messaging for cottage associations can be found at https://foca.on.ca/covid-19-update-from-foca/ with a focus on protecting the local supplies and the limited healthcare in cottage communities. This is for your own protection and that of the cottage community.
    • Practice physical distancing of at least 2 metres.
    • Practice good hygiene with respect to coughing and sneezing and regular washing of hands. 
    • There are to be no gatherings of more than 5 people, unless they share the same permanent address.  No friends or extended family should be visiting.  The added complexity of cottages shared by one or more branches of a family should be avoided by everyone staying home in their permanent residence.

Relevant links for these regulations:

 

  • The Province of Ontario and several municipalities have closed beaches and seasonal residences such as campgrounds and trailer parks.  We ask that you use good judgement regarding what is best for the safety of your family and your Oakwood neighbours.   The Joint Ministers’ Letter to this effect is attached.
  • There is now legislation prohibiting the start of any new residential construction until further notice.  This includes the prohibition of the start of any building renovation work. For more information, see:  https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r20119 
  • For anyone using the keypad at the front gate, please keep the safety of yourself and others in mind by cleaning it before and after use, and/or using an object such as the eraser end of a pencil to touch the pad.
  • The gate at the Oakwood Resort/Oakwood Ave. intersection and the walking gate into Grand Bend at the south end of Lake Shore have been padlocked to reduce the number of people who are accessing the Park at this time.  As well, the one at the Resort is in place to reduce the damage that is being caused of late by people trying to breach the gate now that the Oakwood Resort is closed until further notice.
  • If you are thinking about renting your property in Oakwood in the upcoming months, you should be aware of the recently imposed restrictions for short-term rentals in Ontario.  See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-ontario-joins-quebec-in-restricting-short-term-rentals-during/ for more information.
  • The waste collection services of South Huron have asked that people do not use bungee cords to secure their garbage bins as this will reduce the need for the operator to touch the bins.  Also, South Huron curbside collection of spring yard/brush has been postponed and drop-off of yard waste is suspended as the landfill site is closed to the public. Please store any yard waste/leaf bags until further notice.  Regular garbage and recycling curbside pickup will continue as usual.  For more information, see: https://www.southhuron.ca/en/government/covid-19.aspx#Spring-YardBrush-Curbside-Collection and scroll down to the Spring Yard/Brush Curbside Collection and also the South Huron Landfill section.
  • Should you witness infractions in Oakwood Park that contravene COVID-19 legislation and Orders and you wish to report, our enforcing body is the OPP for South Huron, based in Exeter.  Contact information available at:  https://www.southwesthealthline.ca/displayservice.aspx?id=14026
  • It is likely that our July 5th OPAi Association meeting will need to be conducted virtually and we are preparing to use the ZOOM platform should you wish to download the app and become familiar with the product in advance.  This is how the OPAi Board has been meeting. We hope to offer the opportunity for a “practice run” in advance of the meeting.  Stay tuned for details.  (www.zoom.us)

Other links that may be of interest:

We are all in this together and this year needs to look very different in Oakwood, at least for the foreseeable future. Please consider these short term sacrifices for the greater gain in the longer term.  We will keep you informed when things change.  

Stay tuned for our regular annual Spring newsletter in the next several weeks.

Please, stay safe at home.

Regards,

Nancy