COVID-19

Coronavirus Information and Updates

Information is changing rapidly. Please check back often for new information and updates.

County officials are working closely with Renfrew County District Health Unit, and local municipalities to respond to the situation. As more information becomes available, the County of Renfrew is taking all necessary steps to ensure the health & safety of our residents, staff and visitors.

In an abundance of caution and to help ensure the continued delivery of critical services to its residents, all County of Renfrew buildings will only be open for contact via telephone and email. Essential visits, when appropriate, can be set up on a case-by-case basis. Please visit this COVID-19 Update and Information web page for contact numbers on a service by service basis. If you suspect you have symptoms of COVID-19, please use the self-assessment tool, or call your health care provider.

The Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre

What is the Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre?

The Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre is a new pandemic healthcare service to reduce the demand on Emergency Departments and provide Renfrew County residents, who do not have a family physician or cannot access their family physician, with the appropriate level of care when they have any health concern (including concerns related to COVID-19).

Who can access it?

Any Renfrew County resident who has a health concern (including concerns related to COVID-19) and does not have a family physician or cannot access their family physician.

How can I access the Centre?

• Call 1-844-727-6404
• Have your OHIP card ready
• A medical receptionist will take your details and arrange for a physician or nurse practitioner to contact you via telephone.

How does the Centre provide care?

The RCVTAC is a virtual solution that allows nurse practitioners, physicians and/or community paramedics to assess and manage health concerns in multiple ways depending on a person’s needs.

This includes:

• Phone appointments
• Video appointments
• In-home assessments and diagnostic testing by community paramedics
• Remote monitoring and alerting and if necessary, escalation to a designated team of physicians and allied health professionals for the management of patients with COVID-19
• Referral to other services including mental health support

Where can I learn more?

Visit Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre website.

Please review the following County operational changes and closures:

Bonnechere Manor and Miramichi Lodge Long-Term Care (LTC)Homes

Consistent with all long-term care homes in Ontario, Bonnechere Manor and Miramichi Lodge received direction from the Ministry of Health restricting visitors. At this time, visitors and volunteers are not permitted in LTC Homes. If a resident becomes very ill or palliative, the Homes are permitted to make arrangements for visiting.

This is an extreme measure; however, these are unprecedented times. Our residents remain well and this measure is precautionary in order to ensure that our residents and staff remain healthy.

We recognize the importance of social connection for residents and their family members. We have technology available to do so.

For Bonnechere Manor residents, please contact Erin Wilson at ewilson@countyofrenfrew.on.ca or 613-433-8308 and she will help you set up a time to call, or FaceTime or Skype with your loved one.

For Miramichi Lodge residents, please contact Kelsey Wagstaff at kwagstaff@countyofrenfrew.on.ca or 613-735-0175 extension 122 and she will help you set up a time to call, or Face time, or Skype with your loved one.

Please be reassured that during this difficult period we are continuing to offer small unit-based recreation programs and one to one visits to ensure all of our residents receive programming and reassurance.

Child Care and Early Years

The Child Care office located at 545 Pembroke Street W., Pembroke is closed. Staff are present in the office and will respond to calls and inquiries.

Phone: 613-732-4100 or email: childcare@countyofrenfrew.on.ca

Fee subsidy update

If you're receiving a child care fee subsidy:

• Your fee subsidy will continue.
• For families paying a parental contribution, your child care program will advise you about whether you will be required to continue paying your parental contribution for March 16 to April 5. Contact your child care provider for more information.

Social Housing (Renfrew County Housing)

The Renfrew County Housing offices located in Pembroke, Renfrew and Arnprior are closed with limited service. Staff are present in the office and will respond to calls and inquiries.

Phone:
Renfrew: 613-432-3679 email: renfrewRCHC@countyofrenfrew.on.ca
Pembroke: 613-735-0782 email: pembrokeRCHC@countyofrenfrew.on.ca
Arnprior: 613-623-7951 email: arnpriorRCHC@countyofrenfrew.on.ca

• Maintenance staff have enhanced cleaning of all buildings along with daily inspections of buildings
• Effective immediately, all public washrooms and lounges in all apartment buildings are closed
• Only essential, emergency maintenance work orders are being completed
• Rent payments are due on their due date. Tenants who pay rent by cash or debit are encouraged to pay their rent online or through telebanking. Please contact the office to make rent payment arrangements.
• Annual inspections, education sessions, home visits by staff and Ontario Renovates program inspections are postponed until further notice
• April 1st move-ins will continue as planned.
• A tenant communication has been informing tenants about the pandemic and what they can do to stay safe and what support is available to them

Ontario Works

The Ontario Works offices located in Pembroke, Renfrew, Arnprior and Killaloe are closed with limited service. Staff are present in the office and will respond to calls and inquiries. Applications for Ontario Works, Emergency Assistance and Homelessness Prevention Programs will continue. Please contact the local office to discuss an over-the-phone application or any other issue. Please do not drop off any documents at this time as the office is unable to respond to them. Please call the office regarding forms and documents.

Phone:
Renfrew and Killaloe: 613-433-9846 / 1-888-281-7526 email: jdombroskie@countyofrenfrew.on.ca;
Arnprior: 613-623-5426 / 1-844-623-5426 email: jdombroskie@countyofrenfrew.on.ca;
Pembroke: 613-732-2601 / 1-866-897-4849 email: mbohemier@countyofrenfrew.on.ca

County Administration Building

The County of Renfrew’s administration building located at 9 International Drive, Pembroke, ON will be closed to the public from March 18, 2020 until further notice. Please contact us at 613-735-7288 if necessary.

Emergency Services

Public Works & Engineering

Business as usually with the exception of the facilities are closed to the public. Residents can contact by phone or via e-mail as per the website. “Report a Concern”

• After hours Emergency - 1-866-353-6374
• Calabogie Satelite Patrol - 613-732-4353
• Cobden Patrol - - 613-732-4353
• Goshen Patrol - 613-732-4353
• Public Works & Engineering - General - 613-732-4353
• Public Works Tenders - 613-732-4353
• Sign Shop - 613-732-4353
• Southwest Patrol - 613-732-4353
• White WAter Road Patrol - 613-732-4353

Economic Development Services

Services will continue to serve clients via telephone and email contacts. Our website and social media links have a broad range of helpful information and news for business and investor clients. There you will find our listing of business and investment opportunities, business sector profiles, calendar of business events and much more.

Alastair Baird, Manager Office: 613-735-0091 ext 466 Cell: 613-732-0354 email: abaird@countyofrenfrew.on.ca
David Wybou, Business Development Office: 613-735-0091 ext 432 Cell: 613-633-1731 email: dwybou@countyofrenfrew.on.ca
Jackie Stott, Information & Research Office: 613-735-0091 ext 452 Cell: 613-312-9434 email: jstott@countyofrenfrew.on.ca

Enterprise Renfrew County (ERC)

The County’s Small Business Enterprise Centre and will continue to serve entrepreneurs and small business clients by phone and email. Until the COVID 19 issue is resolved, in-person meetings and workshops cannot be scheduled. Our Starter Company Plus program will continue with our March intake of new clients as this initial process is carried out on-line. Our website is kept updated with business news and assistance information and has our social media links.

Colleen Sadler, Business Consultant Office: 613-432-6848 Cell: 613-639-5853 email: csadler@countyofrenfrew.on.ca
Kim Fraser, Program Officer Office: 613-735-8224 Cell: 613-312-9355 email: kfraser@countyofrenfrew.on.ca

Ottawa Valley Tourist Association (OVTA)

The OVTA represents the tourism industry of Renfrew County and the Ottawa Valley. We continue to support and assist all our tourism operators, municipalities and visitors with information, guidance on marketing in this challenging COVID 19 environment, information flow to and from upper levels of government and communications with provincial and national tourism associations. Our website provides a wealth of information about our tourism sector, outfitters and destinations and has our social media links.

Helen Giroux, Administration Office: 613-732-4364 ext 453 email: hgiroux@countyofrenfrew.on.ca
Melissa Marquardt, Marketing Office: 613-732-4364 ext 459 email: mmarquardt@countyofrenfrew.on.ca

Planning Services

Planning Services located at 9 International Drive, Pembroke is closed. Reduced staff are present in the office and will respond to calls and inquiries. Planning applications will continue, please contact the local office to discuss an over-the-phone application or any other issue.

Donna Rutz - General Contact –  613-735-3204 drutz@countyofrenfrew.on.ca
Alana Zadow - Severances (Consent Applications) - 613-735-3204 Ext 433 azadow@countyofrenfrew.on.ca

GIS & Mapping

GIS & mapping services located at 9 International Drive, Pembroke is closed. Staff are present in the office and will respond to calls and inquiries.

Jason Davis 613-735-3204 Ext 463 jdavis@countyofrenfrew.on.ca
Angie Schultz 613-735-3204 Ext 458 aschultz@countyofrenfrew.on.ca

Weed Inspection

Staff are present in the office and will respond to calls and inquiries.

Jason Davis 613-735-3204 Ext 463 jdavis@countyofrenfrew.on.ca

Real Property

Staff are present in the office and will respond to calls and inquiries.

Kevin Valiquette, Manager of Real Property 613-735-3204 kvaliquette@countyofrenfrew.on.ca
Janet Porter, Asset Management Coordinator, 613-735-3204 jporter@countyofrenfrew.on.ca

 Forestry

Staff are present in the office and will respond to calls and inquiries.

Lacey Rose 613-735-3204 Ext 438 lrose@countyofrenfrew.on.ca

Trails

Staff are present in the office and will respond to calls and inquiries.

Jason Davis 613-735-3204 Ext 463 jdavis@countyofrenfrew.on.ca
Anthony Hobbs 613-735-3204 Ext 458 ahobbs@countyofrenfrew.on.ca

Provincial Offences Court

All Provincial Offences Act matters scheduled from Monday, March 16, 2020 through to and including Friday, April 3, 2020 will be adjourned and rescheduled to a later date. If you have a matter scheduled during this time, you do not need to attend court. A notice of your new court date will be sent to you by mail to the address on file with the court.

The POA office located at 149 Lake Street, Pembroke, ON will be closed to the public from March 18th to April 3rd. For more information, please contact the office at 613-735-3482

Notice to Public - Regarding Provincial Offences Act Matters - March 23, 2020 

For additional information on COVID-19 please visit the Renfrew County District Health Unit's Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) webpage.

Additional Resources

• Ministry of Health - Self-Assessment Information
• Government of Canada - Coronavirus disease (COVIS-19) Outbreak Update
• Hand Washing
• How to Self-Monitor
• How to Self-Isolate
• Know the Difference: Self-Monitoring, Self-Isolate and Isolation

**Last updated: March 30, 2020 at 9:15 a.m.