COVID-19: Opening of Westmount Community Gardens as of May 18, 2020

The City of Westmount will be opening the Community Gardens at the Westmount Athletic Grounds on May 18th for the 2020 season following the Government of Quebec’s COVID-19 safety guidelines.

The Community Gardens play a key part in the overall health of our community. The Gardens are an important source of fresh produce for many residents and provide a space where members can enjoy nature and physical exercise. Unfortunately, due to physical distancing recommendations by the Government, the City cannot allow gathering and socializing in the gardens. The main vocation of the gardens during the pandemic is to provide food for our residents.

Gardeners will be able to tend to their gardens on a determined schedule between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Watering assistance will be provided by the City on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays when needed. There will be a garden monitor on-site to ensure that the rules and regulations posted are followed for the safety of all gardeners.

Access to the gardens will be limited to only a few gardeners at a given time, and each plot can only have one designated gardener. Gardeners will be expected to bring their own hand tools; however, larger tools and hoses will be assigned to each gardener to reduce touching shared surfaces. As well, the gathering areas inside the gardens will be closed to avoid proximity.

Gloves and masks will be mandatory along with all other safety measures like hand washing before and after entering the gardens, washing any shared tools after use and keeping a minimum of 2m away from other gardeners.

A complete list of rules and regulations will be posted at the gardens, and all gardeners will be expected to fill in a contract agreeing to abide by them at all times.

La Direction de la santé publique recommends that gardeners over the age of 70 should not participate this season due to the risks of COVID-19; however, they are not restricted from doing so.

Should the City find that there is a reoccurring breach in the rules and regulations, the gardens will be shut down for the safety of all gardeners.