Ontario Waterpark Operators Are Ready to Open In 2021

BRAMPTON, Ont. — Waterpark operators across Ontario are ready to open this summer.

 Hope is building that the end of the pandemic is near, hope that is most certainly present in the tourism industry where many businesses and attractions have been working hard to develop re-opening plans in anticipation of an exciting — but safe and responsible —2021 season. 

“We have been working hard with the province to create safe re-opening plans and appreciate the efforts from the Ministry of Tourism to be our partner towards making sure we have a 2021 season,” says Steve Mayer, General Manager of Wet’n’Wild Toronto and a member of the Waterparks of Ontario Coalition. “But we are at a critical point right now. Having been closed for more than a year, we will need three months to prepare for the summer weather — to get the equipment ready, recruit staff and ensure they are properly trained on the safe re-opening guidelines.” 

 Ontario was the only jurisdiction in Canada — and one of the few in North America — that kept water and theme parks closed last summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But experiences and data from 2020 overwhelmingly supports waterparks being able to open and operate safely. 

 According to statistics from the World Waterpark Association – Canadian Committee, in those areas where waterparks did open, there was no evidence of COVID-19 cases or transmission, assuring a safe re-opening in Ontario in 2021 is possible:

  •  There were no reports of COVID from any waterpark in Quebec.
  • The waterpark in West Edmonton Mall opened safely and operated without a COVID incident.
  • Great Wolf Resorts operates 18 indoor waterparks across North America; the Niagara Falls location is one of only four that was not allowed to open over the past year. But across the other 14, they welcomed nearly 390,000 guests in 2020 and the early part of 2021 without a single investigation from a public health unit regarding any potential COVID-19 outbreak.
  • Eight of the 12 waterparks in North America operated by Premier Parks opened in 2020 (Wet’n’Wild Toronto was not one of them), and they hosted more than one million guests over the season. There were no COVID-19 outbreaks or investigations of suspected COVID-19 cases at any of the parks in that time. 

Water and theme parks have a culture of safety that is intrinsically ingrained in every aspect of their operation and safety training for staff is extensive.

 Further, the Canadian Lifesaving Societies reports there is no evidence of COVID-19 being spread through water, and various health studies and the United States’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention have found chlorine kills the COVID virus in a second.

 Outdoor waterparks also have the advantage of the ultraviolet rays from the sun killing the virus, and indoor parks have massive air space with state-of-the-art circulation — some including ultraviolet equipment — that is a highly efficient fresh air system. 

 “Waterparks have chlorinated pools, ultraviolet light from the sun and specialized equipment and fresh air to fight the spread of the virus, not to mention enforcing physical distancing and other safety measures to keep guests and staff safe,” says Steve. “We have seen by experience that even in a pandemic, waterparks are a perfectly safe option for a fun family staycation.” 

 Allowing water and theme parks to open will also be a boost for the entire tourism sector, and Ontario’s economic recovery in general.

 “Water and theme parks are key players in Ontario’s tourism industry, providing thousands of jobs for young people and attracting visitors who also stay in local hotels and eat in local restaurants,” says Steve. “As part of a ‘staycation’ strategy to help the tourism industry rebound and get families out and about, waterparks are an integral part of the Ontario Reopening Plan.”

About the Waterparks of Ontario Coalition:

Representing six waterparks and one theme park across the province, the Waterparks of Ontario Coalition was formed to advocate for the safe re-opening of their attractions for the 2021 summer season. Its members include Bingemans Big SplashCalypso WaterparkEast ParkFallsview Indoor WaterparkGreat Wolf LodgeSanta’s Village and Wet’n’Wild Toronto

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT STEPHEN MURDOCH, ENTERPRISE CANADA – smurdoch@enterprisecanada.com

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