Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Council meetings are proceeding as scheduled as electronic meetings live streamed on YouTube. To view the meeting schedule, meeting agendas, and minutes visit West Perth's Civic Web. Public meetings are also being held electronically. 

Committees and Boards Approved for Electronic Meeting: 

Committee of Adjustment 

Mitchell Business Improvement Area Board 

West Perth Public Library Board 

Note: all other committee and board meetings have been postponed until further notice. 

The Municipal Office remains closed until further notice, however staff continue to work during this period providing services to residents online, by email and by phone. 

During this period, residents and businesses are encouraged to take advantage of our online services when possible or to contact staff by phone or email. For contact information visit the Staff Directory page.  

Stratford Perth Human Society has announced the following essential services being provided at this time:

• Animal Control & Pound Services – responding to emergency calls only; this includes vicious/dangerous animals, rabid and injured animals (including wildlife) and at risk animals (dog running at large in a high traffic area).
• Emergency Boarding will be provided to pet owners who have entered into shelters; been hospitalized or incarcerated and have no other care for their pet.
• Emergency Medical care including emergency surgeries for Humane Society owned animals and sick and injured animals that have come to us through our Animal Control contracts.
• Emergency Surrenders – by appointment only and left up to the discretion of our Animal Care Manager, based on our capacity/available resources.
• Intake of Strays – by appointment only if brought in by the public.
• Lost & Found/Stray Viewings – initially by phone and then email using videos and/or photos and on site pick up by appointment only.
• Cremations – by appointment only

For the Perth County Emergency Pet Food Bank, call 519-273-6600 ext. 258, email amber.gaynor@kwsphumane.ca or visit www.kwsphumane.ca/petfoodbanks

Visit kwsphumane.ca/covid19 for updates

Building Services are issuing permits and conducting inspections as permitted under Provincial COVID-19 directives. Applications for building permits can be found at www.westperth.com/building. 

To book a building inspection, call 519-348-8429 ext. 232 or email buildingadmin@westperth.com. 

West Perth is responding to all urgent by-law inquiries and complaints via phone and email. Call 519-348-8429 ext. 232 to speak to a Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer.

Report by-law enforcement issues using West Perth's Report It - Infraction Form. 

Clerks staff continue the ongoing support of Council, Council meetings, openness and transparency of Council operations. 

Staff are continuing the issuance of vital statistics permits for funeral homes and the sale of lots and interment rights for immediate need cemetery services.  

The issuing of marriage licences is suspended until the Municipal Office re-opens. Additional information and applications may be downloaded from the Marriages page. Complete applications (including the requested ID) may be processed same-day once the service is re-activated.

Clerks staff will be limiting lottery licensing services. No new lottery licences will be issued during this time. Existing lottery licences may require accommodations through this period. To discuss how this will impact your existing licence, please contact our Deputy Lottery Licencing Officer.

Document certification services and the services of a Commissioner of Oaths have been suspended until further notice. 

• Fire inspections will continue as normal.
• Public Education and Prevention activities have been temporarily suspended.
• The scheduled Recruitment Open House has been postponed until further notice. 

At this time all correspondence must be done by phone or email.

Email Fire Chief Bill Hunter or call 519-595-2800 ext. 226 

Email Fire Prevention Officer James Marshall or call 519-595-2800 ext. 227

Please contact the staff below for any questions:

• General Inquiries - email Ashley Neveu or call 519-348-8429 ext. 221
• Accounts receivable - email Lori O'Connell or call 519-348-8429 ext. 227
• Property taxes - email Lori O'Connell or call 519-348-8429 ext. 227
• Water/sewer -  email Dustin Early or call 519-348-8429 ext. 244

Update from Bluewater Recycling Association: Waste and recycling will continue to be collected on your usual collection day.

Bluewater Recycling Association is asking for your help to keep their employee's safe at this time. Please follow their guidelines for safe waste disposal during global COVID-19 pandemic:

• Place used tissues and napkins in the garbage. Wash your hands afterwards.
• Bag all waste. Do not place waste loosely in garbage containers
• If you’re sick: place ANY item that has come into contact with your mouth, nose or eyes into the garbage – even items that you normally place into your recycling bin (eg. water/beverage bottles, pop cans, etc.).

The Mitchell Domestic Landfill is open to the public. Please note the following landfill operating procedures now in effect:

1. Cash and cheques will no longer be accepted at the Mitchell Domestic Landfill. Landfill users without an account must pay for services using debit only. Visitors to the landfill who do not have debit will be asked to leave the landfill without unloading.

2. Landfill account holders must indicate if they are paying by account or paying by debit. If paying by account, the account holder will be invoiced by the Municipal Office to the mailing address associated with their account. Payments can be made through online banking or by cheque through mail/dropbox outside the Municipal Office entrance.

3. Landfill users may be required to provide proof of residence. Please have ID prepared to show the Landfill Attendant at a safe physical distance.

4. Landfill users will be directed to the dumping area by the Landfill Attendant and are reminded to maintain physical distancing at all times.

If you have any questions please contact the Municipal Office at 519-348-8429 or email landfill@westperth.com. For more information on the Mitchell Domestic Landfill visit www.westperth.com/landfill.

The Library will be closed to the public and all programming will be cancelled.

Online Services 

West Perth Public Library cardholders can access free downloadable eBooks and Audiobooks from home via the DownLoad Library. Log in through the West Perth Public Library with your Library Card Number and PIN. Try the App, use an eReader, or go right to the website to read on your computer. Visit the Audio and eBooks page for directions on how to get started.

The Library now offers online registration to get a library card! You will get your new library card number in 24-48 hours and then you can start reading, listening, discovering and learning. 

For more information visit the West Perth Public Library page. 

Library Takeout

West Perth Public Library has a 3-stage plan that is in place to get the Library Takeout (curbside service) started.

Week of May 25

• Bookdrop remains open, please return all materials
• Please drop individual items into the book drop
• Library material is being quarantined for 72 hours before check in, there is a delay in items being removed from accounts

Week of June 1

• The catalogue, Bibliocommons, re-opens to place holds
• Customers without access to the catalogue can call or or email to place requests

Week of June 8 

• Library Takeout starts Tuesdays 2-5 p.m., Thursdays 4-7 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• The building will not be open to the public
• After receiving notification that holds are available, proceed to the library during one of the pickup times
• Call from the parking lot to inform us of arrival
• Please maintain physical distancing
• Staff person will bring the items outside of main door
• Wait until the staff person has left before picking up items
• If unable to call from the parking lot, call from home and let staff know time of arrival

Planning staff and services continue to be available.

Planning Services include: 

• General inquiries from residents, real estate agents and developers will continue to be answered by phone and email planner@westperth.com or call 519-348-8429 ext. 230. 
• Acceptance of planning applications, including revisions to existing development applications and plans will be accepted by email, file share and courier (Payment can be made by cheque); and,
• Requests for letters of conformity/zoning certificates.

Please visit the Municipality’s Planning Page for more information including application forms and planning documents.

West Perth is cautiously reopening some parks and facilities. Please see "Status: Reopening of Municipal Facilities and Services" for details on specific amenities. 

Open: 

• Green spaces for walking, hiking, biking, bird watching and some recreational activity with people from within your household. 
• All Wheels Park 
• West Perth Dog Park

Closed: 

• Playground equipment and play structures 
• Sports fields 
• Ball Diamonds 
• Pavilions 
• Park Washrooms 

• West Perth Municipal Office
• Mitchell Arena & Community Centre
• West Perth Public Library
• Brodhagen Community Centre
• Dublin Community Centre
• Mitchell Friendship Centre 
• Welcome Centre Washrooms 

Refunds will be processed for any rentals that have been cancelled as a result of the closures.  

Rental Requests

We are accepting requests for future rentals but they will not be approved until our facilities have re-opened. You may request a booking through:

• Submitting an online request - coming soon
• Emailing the Recreation Coordinator 

Staff will be in touch with you to discuss your request. 

Water and wastewater services are considered an essential service and are operating as usual. Precautions have been put in place to ensure staff are protected and able to perform their operational duties. Emergency response will be provided 24 hours a day. Operations have been divided amongst staff to ensure physical distancing.

Water and wastewater staff will not be entering homes or businesses and will be refraining from interaction with the public whenever possible.

If you have a water or wastewater question/concern, please email water@westperth.com or call 519-348-8429 ext. 236.

For after-hours emergencies related to water or wastewater, please call 519-301-1607.

Offering a Meals on Wheels program, you have a choice of hot or frozen meals delivered to your home, as well as grocery delivery and essential medical transportation. Call 519-348-9765, email macoreferrals@ritzalutheranvilla.com or visit https://ritzlutheranvilla.com/meals-on-wheels/ for further information.

Mitchell & Area Community Outreach Services Available

The Stratford Perth Humane Society has created a Pet Food Bank for pet owners who need support during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information visit the Stratford Perth Humane Society website. 

For the Perth County Emergency Pet Food Bank, call 519-273-6600 ext. 258, email amber.gaynor@kwsphumane.ca or visit www.kwsphumane.ca/petfoodbanks

• Ontario Federation of Agriculture - Statement on COVID-19 Pandemic
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Information for Industry
• Canadian Federation of Agriculture - Resources
• Farm Credit Canada - Increase to Lending Capacity
• Mental Health and Wellness - OFA Resources
• Free resources to help your farm business during COVID-19 Webinar

• Counselling and one-one support provided by Family-Services, Perth-Huron (All Clinicians are fully licensed and accredited to provide professional counselling services in Ontario under the Psychotherapy Act of Ontario)
• Existing clients of the Centre for Business & Perth CFDC will be provided the information directly via email/newsletter. 
• Any Owners/Entrepreneurs whom are not yet clients, can reach out to
  • info@stratfordperthbusiness.ca or call 519-305-5055 x1006
  • Call Family Services Perth-Huron directly 519-273-1020 x108
• The direct extension will be provided by Family Services Perth-Huron to the entrepreneur – no personal details need to be provided to the Business Advisory staff in order to access the program.

The Province has created an Ontario Support for Businesses page to provide information and advice to help businesses navigate the economy during COVID-19.