School sports have returned to local secondary schools within the Lambton-Kent District School Board and the St. Clair Catholic District School Board.
For full schedules for every local school and every sport, click here.
“Athletics is an important part of the high school experience and we enthusiastically welcome its return,” John Howitt, Director of Education for the Lambton Kent District School Board, and Scott Johnson, Director of Education for the St. Clair Catholic District School Board, said in a joint letter.
“However, the resumption of sporting events will come with some important new changes, as we work to protect the health and safety of our athletes and spectators. Most notably, under the provisions of the Ontario government’s vaccine passport, all spectators 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated to attend indoor sporting events. This mandate applies to all facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities and personal fitness training, including schools.”
Howitt and Johnson added: “There is however no mandate for student athletes to be vaccinated. To be clear, the vaccine mandate for spectators comes at the direction of the Ontario government; not the athletic association, nor the St. Clair Catholic and Lambton Kent district school boards. We are however required to enforce the new rules, which we are committed to doing.”
Some time is needed to develop a procedure and put in place appropriate staff to review and verify vaccination status at indoor athletic events, Howitt and Johnson said.
“As a result, for the immediate future and until further notice, spectators will not be permitted to attend indoor events,” Howitt and Johnson said.
“This is a temporary measure, which will be lifted as soon as we have an established vaccination status review process and staff available to administer it. We look forward to your cooperation and support, as we all work together to make our athletic programs safe for our student athletes and spectators.”
