Enforcement of Health Orders
We are all concerned about the spread of COVID-19 and the City is actively urging all residents and businesses to follow provincial health orders and to ensure they are maintaining the 2 metre physical distancing and safe gathering guidelines. View the Province of BC Orders, Notices and Guidance webpage.
In Abbotsford, Fraser Health, as the provincial health authority, is the entity with the authority to enforce Public Health Orders, including the Order focused on Physical Distancing.
The Abbotsford Health Protection Office, through Fraser Health, can be contacted at 604-587-3936 or by email foodsafe@fraserhealth.ca to report businesses that are not adhering to the recent Health Orders.
Workers who have concerns regarding social distance at their workplace should address them directly with their employer and/or call Worksafe BC at 1-888-621-7233.The City is collaborating with the Abbotsford Health Protection Officers to ensure that businesses are educated with regard to the Public Health Orders that are in place. In addition our Bylaw Officers will assist with proactive patrols of the City on Tuesdays and Thursdays to remind people who are gathering in public places about social distancing requirements and gathering size of over 50 persons. We will also be responding to specific calls for service with regard to concerns around large gatherings in our City Parks.
For reporting concerns after hours, please call the Abbotsford Police non emergency line at 604-859-5225.
If you need further information on the provincial directive, visit Fraser Health’s website. In addition, if people have health concerns, they should call 8-1-1. If they have non-medical questions, they can call 1-888-COVID19 or text 604-630-0300 from 7:30am-8pm.
For general information about social distancing and self-isolation call: 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319).
City Services Information
View the current list of indoor facilities and outdoor amenities that have re-opened, and the safety measures in place.
City Hall is offering in-person appointments for select services. Cashiers remain open and do not require an appointment.
Make an Appointment:
Please call the appropriate department to set up an in-person appointment, before arriving at City Hall. Appointments are for one person only.
- Building Permits & Business Licences (1st Floor): 604-864-5525
- City Clerk’s Office (5th Floor): 604-864-5506
- Engineering (4th Floor): 604-864-5514
- Parks, Recreation & Culture (3rd Floor): 604-859-3134
- Planning & Development Services (2nd Floor): 604-864-5510. View the Planning and Development COVID-19 Update for full details.
Access to City Hall will be limited and physical distancing measures will be in place. Visitors will need to check in at the north entrance under the canopy prior to their appointment time. Appointments are for one person only.
Thank you for your patience as we work to keep everybody healthy and safe.
View the Parks, Recreation & Culture Restarting Recreation webpage for full details on which facilities and amenities are open for the public, and how to register and participate.
All waste should be bagged, securely tied, and disposed of with regular garbage. To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to protect our waste collection workers, these items are temporarily NOT accepted with curbside compostables:
- Paper towels
- Paper napkins
- Facial tissues
Reminder: Don’t flush unflushables! Disinfectant wipes, baby wipes and paper towels should be bagged, securely tied and disposed of with regular garbage.
Visit www.abbotsford.ca/wastewizard for current information on what goes where.
Council Meetings
On December 4, 2020 the Provincial Health Officer issued an amended Gathering and Events Order, expressly prohibiting public attendance at local government meetings and public hearings. Meetings will be web streamed live and then archived online at abbotsford.ca/watchcouncilonline.
Updated December 7, 2020
Resources & Community Updates
Following the guidance of the Provincial Health Office and WorkSafeBC, and drawing on the best practices of the transit industry worldwide, BC Tranist is continuing with many of the measures put in place to respond to COVID-19, and are implementing some additional practices and procedures to align with BC’s Restart Plan.
A new Emergency Response Centre (ERC) will be opening in Abbotsford to support vulnerable individuals with support from BC Housing and Fraser Health. The Centre will be operated by Lookout Housing & Health Society at the Bakerview Mennonite Brethren Church (Clearbrook Road) and individuals will be referred and supported through Fraser Health. This centre is closed to the public and already provides numerous supports such as mobile showers initiative and weekly meal service.
As an emergency shelter this site will allow for increased isolation spaces that follow physical distancing. Fraser Health will also be providing support to the centre through their Integrated Response Team. This is an interdisciplinary team that supports people along the referral process and with addressing their health care needs at the site.
The team is able to connect people at the emergency response centre with primary care, cultural supports, harm reduction and overdose prevention services, psychiatry and addiction medicine through virtual health, and if Home Health support is required, they help arrange it as needed.
This ERC is part of the Abbotsford Homelessness Prevention and Response System; a network that was developed and implemented in collaboration with senior levels of government, local service providers and community organizations.
You can stay in touch with the City of Abbotsford through our website, social media and our mobile apps.
News Releases and Top Stories
News releases and top stories are posted to our home page at abbotsford.ca. News releases and bulletins are also posted at abbotsford.ca/news.Mobile Apps
Our apps are also free for download from the App Store or Google Play. View our list of apps at abbotsford.ca/apps.Updates and notifications are sent out through the @Abbotsford – City Service app right to your mobile device. Download the @Abbotsford app and choose ‘allow notifications’ to receive our updates.Social Media
Follow us on social media to be updated on the latest information.
Financial Relief & Business Resources
Government of Canada
Direct financial support
- Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
- Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) - A taxable benefit providing $2,000 a month for up to four months for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Expanded EI assistance, and other measures to assist employers and workers
- Canada Revenue Agency - Temporary wage subsidy, deferral of business taxes and other measures.
- Business Credit Availability Program
- Business Wage Subsidy
- More Time to Pay Taxes
Access to capital
- Business Development Bank of Canada Special Support Initiative - A variety of finance measures designed to increase cash flow.
- Export Development Canada Business Credit Availability Program
Other programs
- Work-Sharing Program - Provides income support to employees eligible for Employment Insurance benefits who work a temporarily reduced work week while employer recovers
- Western Economic Diversification
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Insured Mortgage Purchase Program
- Procurement opportunities for Canadian manufacturers - The Government of Canada is calling businesses able to assist in combating COVID-19 to action.
Province of BC
The Province of BC has introduced a variety of measures, including extension of tax filing and payment deadlines, unpaid job-protected leave for sick employees, and a BC Emergency Benefit for Workers of $1000 for British Columbians (EI-eligible and non-EI eligible) whose ability to work has been impacted by COVID-19.
View the list of business resources, support and open businesses in Abbotsford.
The Province has launched the COVID-19 Supply Hub, a made-in-B.C. online platform to co-ordinate, source and expedite medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for provincial health authorities to support front-line health workers.
Please direct inquiries that come your way related to offers of medical supplies and PPE to this new platform: gov.bc.ca/supplyhub This platform provides a single point of entry to prioritize the thousands of offers and donations for essential supplies from business and other organizations since the onset of the COVID-19 response. It will focus on sourcing supplies for the health care system and frontline workers, though government is also accepting offers for other essentials, like cleaning supplies.
The COVID-19 Supply Hub will be managed under the new Provincial Supply Coordination Unit at Emergency Management BC, in partnership with PHSA, as part of the Province's approach to COVID-19 response and recovery. PHSA is getting inundated with daily with hundreds of generous offers from suppliers and donors, and as such, we welcome this assistance in verifying vendors and products.