NYKHA VACCINATION POLICY AND COVID PROTOCOLS
As we prepare to start the 2021/2022 programs for the North York Knights Hockey Association (“NYKHA”), the health and safety of our participants, volunteers, and staff continues to be our top priority.
With this in mind, we are putting in place a COVID-19 vaccination requirement policy for all North York Knights players who are 12 years and older (born in 2009 or earlier), their parents/caregivers/siblings, and anyone else entering the arena including volunteers and officiating/timekeeping staff. This policy will come into effect as of October 16th, 2021.
Our goal is to safely serve our hockey community in a program setting that meets, or exceeds, public-health requirements for infection, prevention, and control. We have had to adjust our safety protocols and guidelines along the way, based on shifting conditions and evolving guidance from governments and public-health authorities. Our new COVID-19 vaccine requirement policy coincides with the Ontario government’s announcement of its vaccine certificate policy and the updated regulations from Hockey Canada and the GTHL Game Plan 2.0 policy.
Our volunteers, parents and players have been crucial in how far we’ve come in the fight against COVID-19. Everyone’s adherence to the new safety conditions will allow us to open and operate our hockey league and programs safely. The concerning rise in the number of COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant, however, threatens the progress we have all made in responding to the pandemic. As we consider the vulnerable communities we serve and the presence of children in our arenas — many of whom are too young to be vaccinated — we must all do everything we can to protect their health and safety.
Vaccination Policy
Effective Saturday, October 16th, 2021, in order to be permitted access into the arena facilities during any NYKHA programs, ALL North York Knights Hockey Association staff, volunteers, players, parents, caregivers, siblings and any other persons accessing arena facilities during any NYKHA hockey programs, who are eligible to be vaccinated from COVID-19 MUST either:
- have shown proof of full vaccination to the NYKHA, as is defined by the NYKHA; or
- have been granted an accommodation by the GTHL pursuant to the process prescribed in the GTHL Vaccination Policy Accommodation Request Application (see below) and be in compliance with the terms of such accommodation.
At the time of this policy, children under the age of 12 (2010 birth year or after) are not presently eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ontario. This COVID-19 Vaccination Policy will apply to them if, and when, they should become eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ontario. The NYKHA shall consider alternative controls to address the risk of access by these persons.
Volunteers, parents, staff and any persons accessing arena facilities during NYKHA programs will be asked to use the Ontario government’s vaccine verification process as the means for demonstrating proof of vaccination. The North York Knights Hockey Association will keep everyone informed of any changes to public health directives from the Province, Toronto Public Health, Hockey Canada or the GTHL, and we will adjust our safety protocols accordingly.
GTHL Vaccination Policy Accommodation Procedures
The North York Knights Hockey Association will comply with human rights obligations and accommodate individuals who are legally entitled to an exemption. Any person requiring a medical or religious accommodation to the vaccination policy will be subject to certain terms. Terms could include isolation from certain common areas, limiting access to dressing facilities or pick up/drop off alternatives.
An individual who is seeking an Accommodation is required to follow the GTHL vaccination policy accommodation procedures and complete the GTHL Vaccination Policy Accommodation Request Application forms. By way of process, an Applicant will complete one of two forms:
Once the appropriate form has been properly completed, it is to be uploaded HERE. This link is also contained in the application form itself.
This is the only method by which an Accommodation application will be accepted. Once an application has been submitted, the GTHL review process will be conducted. An incomplete submission will result in the request being denied.
The Applicant can expect to receive an email response in no more than 14 days. There will be one of two responses: Approved or Denied.
The response time from the GTHL will depend upon the number of requests received. If the applicant is approved, they will receive an email notification that is to be provided to the NYKHA. A notification of approval will replace the need for the Applicant to provide proof of a second vaccination dose. This notification may stipulate conditions that must be followed by the Applicant.
All our current health and safety protocols remain in place. For more details about our Covid-19 safety procedures and policies, visit please visit the North York Knights website.
NYKHA registrants will be sent a separate email with links to the Provincial government’s information and directions for uploading the “Proof of Vaccination” note and App.
Please be advised that anyone currently registered that decides not to comply with the Hockey Canada, GTHL, NYKHA vaccination policies or Provincial public health guidelines, must advise the NYKHA registrar (registrar@knights.org) in writing by September 30, 2021 in order to qualify for a full refund. Any notification after this date will be subject to the standard NYKHA refund policy. The NYKHA will accommodate those individuals that have received an approved vaccination exemption through the GTHL Vaccination Accommodation Request process noted in this letter.
We appreciate your continued support as we adapt our practices to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Thank you for doing your part to protect one another and our most vulnerable participants, our players.
Approved by North York Knights Hockey Association Board of Directors