For Our Patrons and the 2023 Toronto Fringe festival
The health and safety of staff, volunteers, artists, and patrons are a priority. Toronto Fringe requires staff, volunteers, and artists to wear masks indoors in public spaces, and encourages patrons to do so as well. Some venues and productions will require masks to be worn by everyone, and masks and hand sanitizing stations will be available at all festival venues.
Please do not attend if you have a fever or are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID-19 within 5 days of attending, or if you have had close contact with anyone suspected or confirmed of having COVID-19. Fringe assumes no liability for any actual or perceived transmission of COVID-19 in attending or participating in the Festival.
Your cooperation and consideration of one another matters – masks and symptom screening prevent any artists from having to cancel performances, and means patrons who may be immunocompromised are not excluded from attending our festival either. Everyone deserves to Fringe safely.
FOR OUR STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND ARTISTS
The policy for COVID-19 Vaccination for the Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival will be suspended as of October 24, 2022. Toronto Fringe will no longer require Employees, Contract Staff, Volunteers, Contractors or Third-Party Companies (which includes all participants in our annual festivals) to provide proof of vaccination as a condition of employment or ability to participate in work or programs on any Toronto Fringe premises. The policy on COVID-19 vaccination came into effect on October 19, 2021, at a time when vaccination provided an effective occupational health and safety measure by limiting the spread of COVID-19. Today, vaccines continue to provide strong protection against serious illness, and provide a level of protection against infection and transmission of COVID-19 that decreases over time.
Layered public health measures in the workplace, such as self-administering at-home rapid antigen tests, staying home when exhibiting any symptoms of illness, wearing a mask when in prolonged close contact with others and practising hand hygiene continue to provide effective barriers against the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, and these requirements remain in effect.
As of October 24, 2022:
• Accommodation measures that were put in place as a result of the vaccination policy will end
• Toronto Fringe acknowledges that it will still adhere to the policy of the theatres, venues and facilities it rents and occupies in any case where the policy has higher or more stringent protocols in place.
These policies may impact any or all of the following: employees, contract staff, volunteers, contractors, third-party companies, or patrons.
The pandemic is not over yet and there is still the possibility of future resurgence of cases or a new variant of concern. Toronto Fringe will continue to closely monitor municipal, provincial and federal scientific evidence to assess the need for additional public health measures in our organization, including the possible reintroduction of vaccination mandates.