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COVID-19 Policy Updates
NHBT policies and safety protocols have been updated as of June 19th, 2023
The following safety protocols are in effect:
COVID Safety Protocols
Any member, teacher or visitor to the facility on NHBT business who is feeling unwell or has tested positive for COVID should not attend any in-person classes or enter the NHBT premises.
If you have tested positive for COVID or exhibit any COVID symptoms, please adhere to the following guidance:
- Follow local public health guidelines regarding staying home, self-isolating, ending self-isolation and returning to everyday activities. The Toronto Public Health Guidelines can be found here: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-what-you-should-do/
- To return to in-person classes, you must have two negative Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) taken 24 hours apart. Some people may test positive longer than others; you are still infectious as long as you have a positive RAT result.
- Please ensure you test properly and follow the test instructions. For increased efficacy of testing, swabbing inside your cheek and/or back of your throat prior to swabbing the inside of your nose is recommended.
If you have been in close contact with a positive case of COVID, please adhere to the following guidance:
- Follow local public health guidelines regarding close contact (use link provided above)
- You should test prior to your next class and attend only if the results are negative and you are not exhibiting any COVID symptoms
- If there is a positive case of COVID in your household, you must not attend any in-person classes while the case is still active. You must then have two negative RATs taken 24 hours apart before returning to class in person.
Notification:
- If you have tested positive for COVID, share this information with your teacher via email.
- If a member, teacher or visitor in your class does contract COVID, all class members for that class will be notified by email. Everyone in the impacted class should follow the guidance noted above regarding close contact.
Members are reminded that virtual class is an option for all registered members. The Zoom link can be found on the members’ page, right above the link for your music.
NHBT has the following practices in place to protect the health and safety of our in-person members:
- Air filtration units are in operation during class breaks to ensure adequate air exchange.
- Air filtration units are left on in the rehearsal room between classes and/or turned on at least 15 minutes prior to the start of class.
- Chairs are placed at defined distances.
- NHBT provides an ample supply of hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial hand soap and paper towels in the washrooms.
In-person members follow the protocols below:
- As per the In-Person Class Vaccination policy, all participants in in-person classes or on the premises for NHBT business must be fully vaccinated.
- Participants must provide their own cloths and ensure no “spit” is left behind on the floors or chairs.
- During breaks wearing masks is recommended but not required.
- Please practice good hand hygiene at all times.
Food and Beverages should not be consumed in the band room.
NHBT will follow Health Canada guidelines, and make changes to this policy as deemed necessary to keep our members safe.
Because vaccination reduces viral load and hence your ability to spread virus, anyone planning to attend in-person classes (members, guests, band directors) must be fully vaccinated.
If an individual cannot be vaccinated due to valid medical reasons or is exempt on grounds protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code, an accommodation can be requested. To ensure the on-going health and safety of all participants, the accommodation that will be offered will be to participate in the class virtually. Virtual classes are available for all who are unable or unwilling to attend in-person classes.
Partially vaccinated individuals may still register for in-person classes with the assumption that they will be fully vaccinated within 4 weeks of the start of the program. They will be required to participate virtually until they are fully vaccinated.
Definitions:
In-Person Classes – a class where all participants (students, guests, band directors) are physically in the same band rehearsal space. This may be a music performance class or any other in-person class.
Fully Vaccinated – participant has received their third dose of a 3-dose vaccine series (2 shots plus booster). The participant has also observed the 2-week waiting period after vaccination during which time the body’s immune system mounts a full response to the vaccine. All vaccines must be Health Canada approved. Any participant that has had two doses of vaccine and has additionally been infected and recovered from COVID will also be considered fully vaccinated.
Partially Vaccinated – participant has not received the full course of vaccination shots including the booster and/or has not observed the 2 week waiting period after their last shot.
Unvaccinated – individual has not received any doses of a Health Canada approved vaccine.
This updated version of the Vaccination Policy is effective June 13, 2023.
All band rehearsals are held at 662 Victoria Park Ave (near north/west corner of Victoria Park Ave and Danforth Ave.) The Victoria Park TTC station is nearby (330m). We have use of the downstairs space at the SNI Centre. Entrance to the rehearsal space is via the single door off the SNI parking lot. For those carrying large instruments or wanting to avoid the single flight of stairs from this door to the lower area, the main doors (double doors closer to Victoria Park Ave) will be managed by NHBT members just prior to class start. The doorbell at the single door rings in basement area if you find the door locked at class time.
Free parking is available in the nearby shopping mall and some nearby streets. Check signs carefully for time and date restrictions.
Drop off of large instruments (and then parking elsewhere) is possible.
We have very limited access to parking at 662 Victoria Pk. and issue a few permits per class to those with mobility issues or handling a particularly large instrument. NHBT parking is on the East side of the parking lot only (side closest to Victoria Park).
Access to the SNI parking lot for either drop-off or permit parking is via Sutherland Ave, the one-way street running East north of SNI. To get to Sutherland Ave from Victoria Park Ave use Bryant Ave (to the North of Sutherland). From Danforth, use Eldon Ave. which is two blocks West of Victoria Park Ave.
An elevator is available for our use during rehearsals. Access to the elevator is from the main doors for SNI at the north-east corner of the building (i.e. closer to Victoria Pk.) These main doors are generally locked, so please coordinate with another band member to open the door or use the doorbell to announce your arrival. If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact Donna.
The SNI Centre observes security on entrance doors. The primary entrance designated for NHBT is via the door adjacent to the parking lot. NHBT members can manage entrance to class via the main entrance doors immediately prior to class times for those transporting large instruments or needing access to the elevator to reach the downstairs rehearsal space. The main doors are locked but can be opened via pushbar from inside at any time. If you arrive late and need access via the main doors, you must contact another NHBT member (presumably already at class) to assist you. The primary entrance will remain unlocked but monitored during class times.
While at the SNI location, ensure that your personal valuables are kept inside the rehearsal room. Coats and outdoor shoes are to be left in the coatroom outside the rehearsal space. Bring and use indoor shoes for wearing inside the rehearsal space. Instrument cases will be stored immediately outside the rehearsal room or in the NHBT office adjacent to the rehearsal room. NOTE: no wet or dirty outdoor shoes or boots inside the rehearsal room
Those with instruments that produce “condensation” must bring and use a “spit rag” on the floor to prevent slippery surfaces inside the rehearsal space.
A great advantage of our new rehearsal space is that percussion instruments, chairs and music stands remain largely in place on a continuous basis. But this means less opportunity to clean an unobstructed floor. NHBT, and therefore all members, are responsible for keeping our rehearsal space clean and tidy. We begin by not tracking dirt into the room and then ensuring that the immediate area around us is dry and clean at the end of each class.
Original Library Parts – Original copies of NHBT music are stamped in red with our band name on the cover page. If you discover that you have any of these, no matter how old, please do return them. We have placed a music-part Amnesty Box in the NHBT band office downstairs at SNI. Simply go there and place the music in the box.
Leave Something Behind at Band? – It might have made its way into the band lost & found box in the NHBT office at SNI. Have a look here for recent photos: Lost & Found
For big events, we wear our best: black dress shoes, red socks or stockings, dress pants/below-knee skirt, long-sleeved black NHBT dress shirt (or any black long-sleeved dress shirt/blouse). If you have a five-year pin, it’s a great time to show it off.
