JULY 16, 2021
Good afternoon squash club members.
As a result of the province entering Step 3, the Richmond Hill Squash Club is now reopened, effective, today Friday, July 16th.
The club, including all courts have now been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, ready for your return.
This is Great News – while your return to the ‘club experience’ is going to more closely resemble pre-COVID-19 times, there are still some important provisions that you need to know prior to your return. Take a moment to review our required practices and guidelines below.
Club Operations
- Open hours – back to full normal
- Fobs have been reactivated for easy entry
- Online Booking System fully operational
General Club Requirements
- Operating at 50% capacity during step 3. Please note: this should not result in any noticable difference during your normal club visits (especially during the summer months)
- Masks or face covering must be worn at all time within the club; exceptions – while on court, in the gym, or using showers
- 2-metre physical distancing must be practised at all times within the club; exceptions – on court or using showers
- The club will have the required Covid Safety Plan posted, please take note
- When entering, self screening/sign-in is required (use the sign in sheet or QR Code sign-in on your phone – exactly the same procedure as prior to the last shut down (details posted inside front door)
Playing Singles and Doubles Squash
- Normal singles and doubles play is permitted
- All members playing must be signed in via advance online booking
- No mask required while on court
- No pods/teams necessary
- Court markings or physical distancing on court no longer required
- Coaching permitted without any mask requirements for either players or coaches
- Sanitizing spray bottle and/or wipes is available outside of each court for members to use on the door/handle on entering & exiting
- Additionally, the club will be cleaned 3 times per week.
Fitness Centre
- Open, can be used without a mask
- Sanitizing spray bottles and wipes available as you enter the gym. Use to clean/sanitize equipment after use
- Additionally, cleaned end of each day
- Multiple members can use the gym as long as 2 metres physical distancing is maintained
Locker Room & Shower Area
- Mask still required when moving around the locker room, except in shower
- Full locker room and shower access is available
- Towel service in the locker room will resume
As protocols evolve we will stay up to date with all new announcements around protocol amendments and advise you as they arise.
If you have any questions, see email contacts below:
rhsquashclub@gmail.com | j.quance@rogers.com
We hope you enjoy your return to the Richmond Hill Squash Club and remind you to remember — many of us have been absent from any meaningful/strenuous exercise for an extended period, so we should all start slow and move about the court carefully.
On behalf of your Board of Directors, we wish you a HUGE ‘welcome back’.
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Communications, RHSC
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JUNE 5, 2021
A Way Forward is Becoming Clearer for the Richmond Hill Squash Club Reopening
We trust you are finding some time to enjoy the beginning of Ontario’s warmer summer weather.
Making the Best of Our Great Outdoors
Gentle warm breezes are here. Perhaps a weekend family picnic, a brisk walk in the park, participating in some allowable much needed outdoor sports. Finally, the weather is our friend!
Indeed, some of our attention is surely turning away from the sport we like most –
– S Q U A S H –
While this is a little bit true, please know the Board of Directors continue to be focused on bringing us all back to our much missed on-court experiences as soon as possible.
Is there a Plan
The province has issued a 3-Step COVID-19 Reopening Plan. At the heart of the strategy are Key Health Indicators (KHI) that will drive our progress to move through the steps as briskly as possible and to get us back to ‘life as normal’ as soon as possible.
Step-1 is scheduled to begin around June 14th. Based on KHI status in the province right now (i.e. looking at the metrics), this date could very well be advanced and ‘possibly’, the start dates for subsequent Step-2 and Step-3 could also be moved up (no guarantees at this point, but things are looking very favorable today, June 2nd).
When can Squash Resume
Indoor sports including squash will likely resume as part of Step-3. So, later in the summer. As the month of June and early into July play out, we will have a much more definitive understanding of what our Return to Play (RTP) will look like. We expect to hear from the Province, Local Public Health and Squash Ontario in order to confirm Step-2 and Step-3 allowable indoor activities, possible restrictions & guidelines, vaccination parameters and most importantly, a more definitive Step-3 start date.
Until then, we are very optimistic squash will return in the summer, the sooner the better, obviously.
For all the details on Ontario’s 3-Step Reopening Plan, go to:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/reopening-ontario
Does the RH Squash Club’s Have a Return to Play Plan
We share everyone’s disappointment in the disruption to our squash activities over the past several months.
We are committed to getting you back on court as soon as possible. We will distribute the RTP Plan for our club as soon as we have definitive guidance from health officials and Squash Ontario. While getting you back to playing the game we all love is a top priority, we are equally determined to doing it in the safest way feasible.
Summer in Canada is Short, Enjoy Every Moment
In the meantime, we wish you a happy, healthy summer. We continue to encourage you to get vaccinated if you can when it’s your turn (first & second doses) and stay active in safe ways.
Kind regards to our good friends.
Staying active, staying positive is the call of the day,
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Communications, RHSC
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APRIL 23, 2021
RH 2020 Volunteer & Milestone Awards – ‘We’re a Recipient’
Good afternoon Richmond Hill.
This past week, we attended Richmond Hill’s 56th Annual Volunteer & Milestone Awards. As you would expect, the event was conducted ‘virtually’, but the celebratory energy and excitement was nonetheless, electric! This event is very important in Richmond Hill. Our club was honored with a Milestone Award in recognition of 50 years of service in Richmond Hill.
(Image Above) – RHSC President, Mustafa Salemwalla, Accepts 50th Anniversary Milestone Award
At the squash club, we all need to take a bow knowing we have been serving the community for more than 50 years with valuable fitness and fun, fun, fun. We thank our late Founder, Douglas Allen for starting something special back in 1970. Today, we thank our members for their continuing support in helping to sustain a unique community-based organization with glowing amounts of community-spirited fellowship.
‘When it’s time to celebrate together, count on it, we will!’
The full video of the virtual ceremony will be shared soon and when safe to do so, will again be featured at our regrettably postponed…..
50th Anniversary Gala Event
You will see how our squash club was recognized online by City officials and how other local organizations & very special individuals were honoured for their important contributions to the Richmond Hill community.
To all our members and the community, we continue to encourage you to stay positive during our present-day challenges. Be active in safe ways; we hope to see you very soon.
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RH Squash Club
Mustafa Salemwalla, President
Jim Quance, Communications Director
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APRIL 17, 2021
Challenges Like We Have Never Seen Before
Good afternoon Squash Club Members and City of Richmond Hill Residents
We wanted to check in with you, just hoping everyone is okay, and to let you know the RHSC Board of Directors is thinking about our members and the community during these troubling times.
Latest news with further restrictions is troubling but likely very necessary to get us through this ‘once in a lifetime’ condition. Other clichés have been said before so nothing further to add here. We hope you will find the coming weeks manageable in following the protocols that are now in front of us. It will be challenging, no question, but we can do it!
We encourage everyone to stay positive as possible as difficult as it sometimes will be. Follow the guidelines, stay active in safe ways and look to the future for better days to come.
If you have any questions about our club, if you need assistance in some way, or you would like to provide feedback to the Board of Directors, please do not hesitate to let us know.
We wish you and your family well, please take care.
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Board of Directors, Communications
______________________________________________________________________
APRIL 2, 2021
Temporary Closure In Effect “Saturday, April 3rd/12:01am”
The Ontario government has issued a province-wide shutdown order starting Saturday and running for at least the next 4 weeks. Unfortunately for the Richmond Hill Squash Club, effective Saturday, April 3rd, this means we must close our facility until further notice.
We will keep members and the community informed of any changes from the Province and local Public Health that may affect future reopening plans and possible further restrictions for ‘return to play’.
We encourage you to stay active in safe ways, and to monitor the club’s Facebook page & Squash Ontario’s website for exercise, health & wellness suggestions during these unusual, stressful times.
https://www.facebook.com/RichmondHillSquashClub
https://www.squashontario.com/
To Our Members and the Community:
thank you for your continued support and cooperation. We wish you, your families and the community good health and safety through these unusually difficult times.
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Board of Directors, Communications
Thank You to Our Digital Partner
Patricia Riveron | Digital Marketing Specialist
Web Design, Facebook & Google Manager
Phone: (647) 551 7141
______________________________________________________________________
RHSC is thrilled to share great news with our home town community.
Healthy Success, Wellbeing, Prosperity
Amazing Past, Even Better Future
Storied History
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Names Behind the Scenes
- Mustafa Salemwala (President)
- Don Pocock
- Jim Quance
- Duncan Peake
- Robert Dube
- Kathleen Crosbie
- Brenda Garel
- Luch DiSerio
- Thang Le
- Marco Wong
- Victor Lobo
- David Gee
Spring & Summer are on the Way
rhsquashclub@gmail.com | 905.884.6062
______________________________________________________________________
MARCH 3, 2021
RHSC Communications
rhsquashclub@gmail.com | 905.884.6062
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Richmond Hill Squash Club Returns to ‘RED Control’ Classification – February 23, 2021
FEBRUARY 20, 2021
Good evening RH Squash Club Members.
With the approval of the Province and Local Public Health, we have been advised that York Region is returning to the Red-Control Zone, effective February 22nd.
Consequently, the Richmond Hill Squash Club is able to reopen, effective Tuesday, February 23rd. You will recall, the Red-Control Zone level of health safety protocols is what was imposed back in November 2020, before York entered ‘Stay at Home’ status.
We must stress to all members, the present COVID-19 Pandemic remains a very serious and ongoing health issue and everyone must continue to exercise extreme caution and follow all the protocols when going about their adjusted daily routine.
Playing Squash at the Richmond Hill Squash Club under Red-Zone Conditions
1. Game Play
- No regular on court game play is permitted, unless players are in the same household
- Drills are permitted among members in same pod
- During drills, players must maintain distance of at least 2 meters
- Courts will be marked with allowed zones; you must adhere to your zone
- Solo practice is permitted, singles and doubles
2. Coaching
- Coaches must maintain a distance of at least 2 meters and wear a mask
3. Staying Safe
- It is required that everyone wear certified eye-wear and a mask when on court
- While in the club, members must maintain two-meter physical distancing at all times
4. Guests & Spectators
- No guests nor spectators are permitted
- Exemption for children who can be accompanied by one parent/guardian
5. Playing in Pods Only
- Maximum 10 players per pod – members can only be in one pod/team at a time and can change a maximum of once per month
- ‘sign up’ for pod play is on the bulletin board at the club (must be strictly adhered to)
Ongoing Safety Protocols
In addition to the above Red classification requirements, members MUST follow these additional protocols-
- Arrive 5 minutes before your booked court time, no earlier
- Sign in on every visit, instructions are the same as before, follow sign in procedure posted at front door entrance
- Advance booking only, no drop ins (courts are available on a ‘staggered basis only’ to minimize exposure to others, see online booking)
- Wear a mask/face covering at all times while in the club
- Wipe down the court door handle with sanitizer on arrival and again on departure
- When on court, avoid touching the walls at all times and stay 2 meters apart while doing drills with another player
- Maintain 2 meter physical distance while in the club at all times
- Change rooms, showers and saunas are closed. Washrooms are open
- Use hand sanitizer generously to clean your hands while at the club
- When your booked court time is expired, LEAVE the club promptly (this is very important for air quality safety)
If we want to keep members and families and the community safe, and we want to keep the club open, we must strictly follow these protocols on every visit.
Stay safe and mindful of the guidelines.
Thank you for your cooperation.
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RHSC Communications
RICHMOND HILL SQUASH CLUB
~enhancing your squash club experience~
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FEBRUARY 6, 2021
Fun in a Different Way for Our Members
Unfortunately, due to ongoing Local Public Health Restrictions, the RHSC must stay closed for a little longer.
But, we just can’t wait to see all our members again. No, no, no, we really, really CAN’T WAIT. So, we’re getting a little nimble, getting creative and planning to have some fun doing it.
Save the Date: Saturday, February 20th 5pm – 615pm
Event: ‘Zoom Virtual Scavenger Hunt’
Together, but Apart:
What’s Next:
Let us know if you would like to join our Squash Club Family for this great online event and we’ll send you:
- Zoom Invitation
- Simple Instructions on how to participate in this fun-filled scavenger hunt event
Email us at rhsquashclub@gmail.com or j.quance@rogers.com by February 12th and tell us ‘you’re in.’
Until then, stay warm and active in safe ways.
Let us know if you’ll be joining in on the fun, email us today!
RHSC Communications Department
RICHMOND HILL SQUASH CLUB
~enhancing your squash club experience~
JANUARY 16, 2021
2021’s Short Term Forecast:
It’s very clear January 2021 continues to reflect troubled and challenging times.
We join with you and your families in hoping everyone gets through these challenging times with good health, both physical and mental, and that what is being experienced now, will soon be behind us.
We are committed to following local authorities by following public health regulations to help slow & stop the spread of this stubborn, tenacious virus. Additionally, Squash Ontario is key in guiding how squash clubs go about operating their sports facility. They have been an instrumental go-to resource and will continue to be instrumental in determining key policy and short term operating procedures so that everyone stays safe.
While acceptance of new memberships at the present time is on hold, we welcome your comments and questions as the next few months play out.
rhsquashclub@gmail.com | 905.884.6062
‘Stay at Home Order’, Province Wide:
RHSC will continue to be fully closed until further notice.
This is very unfortunate. We share member’s and the community’s disappointment and frustration. Ongoing, the Board is committed to keeping abreast of public health announcements and Squash Ontario recommendations.
As we get updates, so will you, and quickly. Until we’re open again, either partly or fully, we wish you good health and encourage you to stay active in safe and allowable ways.
RHSC 2021 Golf Tournament
Some good news!
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2021!
Mark your calendar; add it to your ‘2021 hope-chest’. Hopefully, ‘good to go’ by September.
Members, community friends; keep well and stay active in safe and allowable ways.
RHSC – Happy New Year & Request for Assistance
One of our own needs our help.
The great majority of RHSC members are looking forward to 2021 when we’ll be entering into the light after a very dismal year.
Joan Brann and her husband Bob and their family have a very different view of the coming year. Bob has been diagnosed with ALS, which is better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and it must be one of the worst conditions to have. The mind knows what to do and think but the body can’t follow the mind’s signals. Bob, an accomplished guitarist, singer and harmonica jammer can no longer produce a note and will soon need a lot of help getting through a day. As well as Personal Support Workers he will need various equipment like a chair lift or a wheelchair and this is where we can help.
Joan and Bob’s daughter, Aja, have set up a GOFUNDME link where we can donate any amount we want. It is a matter of many contributing small amounts and together it builds into a significant amount.
We, at the RHSC, are Joan’s community of friends and I know we have each other’s backs when things get rough. And so I’m asking that our squash club community go forward into better times to please hit the link below and make your donation. It can be anonymous or not and there is not a tax receipt but there is that joy that you’ll receive from helping one of our own.
York Region enters ‘Grey – Lockdown’, RHSC Fully Closed
RHSC Supporting the Community Recovery
RHSC Supporting the Community Recovery
RHSC Supporting the Community Recovery
RHSC Supporting the Community Recovery
Checking In: York Region & North GTA Remains in Red Classification
Richmond Hill Squash Club Updates COVID-19 Safety Protocols
RICHMOND HILL SQUASH CLUB
rhsquashclub@gmail.com | 905.884.6062
~enhancing your squash club experience in North GTA~
Return to Play Protocol Changes – York Region Stage 2
OCTOBER 18th, 2020 @ 10:52
All Members,
By now you will have heard York Region has moved back to Stage 2 modified category and this will have an impact on our current “Return to Play” protocols.
Richmond Hill Squash Club with guidance from Squash Ontario will adopt the following protocols for the next 28 days or until we are out of the Stage 2 category.
As of October 19th, 2020, pursuant to Ontario legislation, the playing protocols are subject to the following restrictions:
Permitted Activities:
- a) A distance of 2 metres between players in the club must be maintained at all times, except for players living within the same household; solo practice, controlled coaching and modified distanced drills in pods are permitted but no singles or doubles game play allowed unless all players are within the same household.
- b) A maximum of 10 players is permitted at any one time within the club.
- c) We will continue to maintain the use of Pods to limit the number of interactions among players within a facility.
- d) All current protocols including signing in, online booking, cleaning remain in place.
Club Operations:
- a) Fitness area will be closed and cannot be used during the Stage 2 Category.
- b) No guests or spectators are permitted in the facility.
- c) Showers in the club will be closed.
I look forward to your support in adhering to the protocols as we continue to weather the current challenges.
Mustafa S
President
Richmond Hill Squash Club
FOLLOWING THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS
OCTOBER 16th, 2020 @ 17:23
If you have any questions, connect with us at:
rhsquashclub@gmail.com | 905.884.6062
~enhancing your squash club experience in North GTA~
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Welcome New Members to Squash In Richmond Hill
SEPTEMBER 28th, 2020 @ 21:36
The new squash season is here. While Return to Play (RTP) conditions are currently guiding how we are all able to play, we’re doing everything possible to ensure your safety and get us back on court.
We have a special COVID introductory rate for any new application, rates are below:
| 2020/21 Annual Membership, Discounted Special Pricing | Payment Frequency | Fee | HST | Total | Grand total |
| Single | Monthly payment | $ 82.62 | $ 10.74 | $ 93.36 | $ 933.60 |
| Single | Annual | $ 761.18 | $ 98.95 | $ 860.13 | $ 860.13 |
| Family | Monthly payment | $ 129.96 | $ 19.42 | $ 149.38 | $ 1493.80 |
| Family | Annual | $ 1224.00 | $ 159.12 | $ 1383.12 | $ 1383.12 |
If you are interested in exploring membership opportunities including our current ‘discount offer’ at a great north Toronto sports facility, please DOWNLOAD the following application form and send it, to at your convenience, to rhsquashclub@gmail.com, someone will be in touch with you shortly to review and welcome you.
~enhancing your squash club experience~
