COVID-19 Communication
Update January 5, 2024
With COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) on the rise since the holiday season, it continues to be recommended by public health to mask when indoors in poorly ventilated spaces. Individuals need to make their own risk assessment on whether or not to mask. Fairlawn has not made revisions to our masking policy at this time. In accordance with our Guiding Principles we respect those who choose to mask and who indicate a preference for social distancing.
We have hand sanitization stations at every entrance and KN95 masks along with rapid response COVID-19 antigen tests available in our main lobby.
If you have sign and symptoms of illness, please stay home. Staying home when you’re sick is important because your body needs to rest. It’s also important that you are not around other people while you are able to spread the infection.
Update September 12, 2023
At its September 12 meeting, Governing Council reviewed the masking policy for FAUC. It was decided to drop all masking requirements.
Individuals entering the building need to make their own risk assessment on whether or not to mask. As we enter the fall season, public health experts expect cases will rise with new variants so we continue to provide KN95 masks and rapid response COVID-19 antigen tests in the lobby and at the back of the sanctuary. In accordance with our Guiding Principles we respect those who choose to mask and who indicate a preference for social distancing. FAUC will review masking requirements as public health make recommendations. If you have any signs and symptoms of illness please stay home and join us online.
Update March 30, 2023
Beginning on Palm Sunday, April 2, Fairlawn’s COVID-19 protocols are undergoing some changes. Mask wearing in the sanctuary is shifting from ‘mandatory’ to ‘strongly encouraged’. Our choir will continue to wear masks during the
service, and social distancing areas will continue to be available in some parts of the sanctuary’s east side.
Everyone is reminded that people’s comfort level around the use of masks is varied. We would ask, as a courtesy, that you continue to choose seating in an area with members whose practice regarding masks and distancing matches your own.
If you or a family member isn’t feeling well, or is not comfortable with a more relaxed approach to wearing masks, be sure to take advantage of our online services which continue to air each week.
Masks remain mandatory in the church office, other common areas and while moving throughout the building. Groups meeting in church rooms will be able to remove masks, by common consent of the participants.
Re-entry Task Group Disbands
Update September 16, 2022
Almost two and a half years ago, in early April 2020, an eclectic and dedicated group of Fairlawners embarked on a new journey as they took on the responsibility of responding to the church’s needs during the outbreak of COVID-19. At the time, we thought (or at least I did), that we might need to be together as a task group for perhaps three or four months, six months tops.
Well, here we are. It has been quite the journey – lots of ups and downs, trying to interpret the messages received from government as public health officials struggled to determine what was safe, what was not and what needed to be done.
Our goal always was and is, to keep our congregation and staff safe. That was not always an easy goal to meet as our building is not well-ventilated. The roll out of vaccines in early 2021 plus clearer parameters from public health such as masking and social distancing etc. did help. Our task group discussed a whole raft of ways to make our building, or at least the sanctuary, as safe as we could. We developed protocols in response to public health recommendations, both of which continued to evolve as the virus became better understood.
For many months we experienced full lockdown. Then finally on Thanksgiving Sunday, October 10, 2021, we enjoyed a capacity-limited re-opening for in-person worship. We all rejoiced in the return of Special Music Sunday on December 5, 2021 only to make the decision to shut the building once again in late December when the omicron variant ramped up. The decisions to close the building were never straight forward and never easy. The ups and downs continued.
We now have well thought out protocols and have completed our work.
There may be other covid-related situations over the coming months as this insidious virus has not gone away; however, this task group has determined that the protocols established will enable us to respond to whatever comes our way. So we are disbanding. If needed, our Governing Council can continue to make use of the expertise developed over the past two and a half years.
I have been blessed beyond measure by the dedication of the volunteers and staff on this task group and would like to acknowledge both past and current members here. I thank Joanne Christie, Katherine Dalziel, Douglas duCharme, Steve Dunk, Amanda Hancox, Marlene Jones, Mary Ellen Richardson, John Ryerson, Kathy Salisbury, and Vicki Stuart.
In particular, I want to acknowledge the invaluable work of Vicki and Joanne who together developed and implemented ways that our sanctuary could operate safely and be welcoming for all our congregants.
I also want to thank those of you who gave us ideas; the volunteers, including the welcomers and greeters, who worked so hard to ensure a safe re-entry to in-person worship; and all of you for your support throughout this tumultuous time.
Rosemary Pryde, Lead, Re-entry Task Group
For resources, information regarding City services, and health advice related to COVID-19 in Toronto, please visit: www.toronto.ca/covid19/
For more information on the Government of Ontario’s response to COVID-19, please visit: www.ontario.ca/covid19/
For more information on the Government of Canada’s response to COVID-19, please visit: www.canada.ca/covid19/
Property Council/Re-entry Task Group – Update March 10, 2022
In-person service likely on April 3. On March 8, Property Council thoroughly reviewed the leak problem in the east transept and determined that, barring a severe snowstorm, the sanctuary could re-open for services April 3.
An email will be sent on the preceding Saturday in the unlikely event that cancellation is required, and would also be posted on our website. Stay tuned for messages from the Re-entry Committee as to procedures and protocols to be followed on re-entry.
The Property Council continues to seek a solution to the issue, with more tests and investigations necessary before a contractor is hired.
We hope you will continue to enjoy Fairlawn’s worship services and other programs available online. As always, we want to hear from you. Please send your concerns and questions to .
Helpful Links
For resources, information regarding City services, and health advice related to COVID-19 in Toronto, as well as daily updates from the City’s Emergency Operations Centre, please visit: www.toronto.ca/covid19/
For more information on the Government of Ontario’s response to COVID-19, what to do if you think you have symptoms, and financial support, please visit: www.ontario.ca/covid19/
For more information on the Government of Canada’s response to COVID-19, including travel advisories, national updates, and federal financial support, please visit: www.canada.ca/covid19/
Please be advised that 211 Toronto is here to assist our City during this difficult time. or more information about financial assistance, mental health support, employment support, childcare, housing, food, clothing and shelter visit: www.211central.ca
Previous Update: February 24, 2022
Re-opening of the sanctuary for in-person worship has been delayed.
On March 1, 2022, the provincial government plans to lift all capacity restrictions and remove the necessity of vaccine passports for indoor facilities. As a result, many churches are planning to restore in-person services. Unfortunately, Fairlawn will not be among them for a while yet. Our Property Council has advised that there is a major water leak affecting the sanctuary. The heavy snowfall in late January resulted in damage to the roof directly over the east transept. The contractor will need to wait until there is no more heavy snow to properly assess the situation and repair the leak.
We are, however, hopeful that we will be able to re-open the sanctuary for in-person worship by Easter, barring a major snowstorm.
The Assembly Hall, while not affected by the leak, is in the middle of construction, delayed due to COVID-19 issues. The Birtch Room, with social distancing in place, would hold very few people. Neither would be suitable as an alternative at this time.
We are sorry to bring you this news. In the meantime, the Re-entry Task Group will review and consider the latest guidelines from the provincial government and Toronto Public Health in anticipation of our re-opening.
We hope you will continue to enjoy Fairlawn’s worship services and other programs available online. As always, we want to hear from you. Please send your concerns and questions to .
Previous Update: February 2, 2022
While the Ontario government has removed some restrictions in its staged re-opening plan, Public Health urges caution as the province deals with Omicron and its sub-variants. Fairlawn is continuing to monitor the situation and the Re-entry Task Group will meet later this month to review our current status and determine if we can re-open. Until that time, we encourage you to take part in the many online offerings that our Purpose Councils have put together. In addition to our weekly online worship and music bulletin, coffee chats and Midweek Prayer, there are exciting workshops on offer as well as the monthly Tuesday Lunch Crowd, Christian Meditation and Broadview Discussion Group. You can check out and register for events and series via links in Greetings! as well as the Fairlawn Events Calendar.
We have all experienced challenging times over the past almost 23 months of this pandemic. The Re-entry Task Group is very aware of how difficult this is and will re-open our building as soon as it is safe to do so. We want to hear from you if you have concerns, ideas or thoughts and invite you to reach out to us through our email at .
Previous Update: January 6, 2022
With the current concern about the growing number of COVID-19 Omicron cases, the Re-entry Task Group has determined that Fairlawn should remain closed for in-person services until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed.
Previous Update: December 15, 2021
Fairlawn is erring on the side of caution and cancelling all remaining in-person services this month:
December 19 10:30am service
December 21 7:00pm service
December 24 10:00pm service
We deeply regret bringing you this decision. However, the Omicron variant is moving quickly into the community and, according to initial reports, is easily transmissible. Not even fully vaccinated individuals are safe from being infected. Public Health authorities recommend severe caution in getting together, except in quite small groups.
Ventilation in the sanctuary is limited. Even with opening windows and restricting both the number of people and the length of the service and following all public health guidelines, we do not believe we are safe just now.
Because we’ve honed our ability to provide worship online, the December 19 service this Sunday and the two online services on Christmas Eve – Family and Communion – are already in place to proceed. We will also be pivoting to Zoom for the Blue Christmas service, making it possible for even more people to participate on a weekday evening before Christmas. We’ll be letting you know if it might be possible to expand our online options.
In the meantime, we leave with you with some very wise words from Moderator Richard Bott in his most recent message sent on December 14, about the Omicron variant:
“In all of this, I’d ask you to remember, no matter what restrictions on getting together we might have to live again, there is nothing that can cancel Christmas, even if we can’t be in the same place.
Christmas is celebrated each time a disciple of Jesus lives what he taught, each and every time we live the love of that tiny baby shared with the world.
Whether or not we can hold hands, sing out carols standing together, or light candles one from another, the simple truth of Christmas can never be taken away.”
Blessings
Mary Ellen Richardson, Chair Governing Council
Rosemary Pryde, Lead, Re-entry Task Group
Douglas duCharme, Minister at Fairlawn