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COVID Updates


If you are looking for an in-person meeting, click here to view the continuously updated pdf copy of the meeting list.

If your group has reopened and would like to be placed back on the meeting list, please inform the Central Office, at 905-522-8399 during Office Hours, or via email at either This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 




January 28, 2022 

Good news on the Central Office front - Tuesdays will now be open until 4 pm! We will continue to try to expand our hours back to our normal schedule, so keep an eye on this page for updates! 

Kristin



January 3, 2022 

Well, another lockdown is upon us. As of Wednesday, January 5, our numbers are going to be going down again. Please check with your venue for confirmation. I will update you with as much information as I can get. Please keep your eye on our meeting list as groups begin to close their doors again, and move back to online. If your group needs to change its status, please let me or the Website Committee know. 
Stay safe, stay sane, stay sober! 

Kristin
Central Office



December 22, 2021

Happy Holidays to all!
I know we are in unpredictable times, but please keep an eye on our online meeting list, it is the most up-to-date information that the Website/Office has on meetings reopening or reclosing due to the new variant. It is also going to be the best source for information on groups/meetings with any considerations for the holidays themselves. 
 
For information on additional online meetings throughout the holiday season, click the links below: 

48 Hour Holiday Zoom-a-Thon
AA Skype Hamilton and Beyond Holiday

Best wishes to you and yours this Holiday Season! All the best for 2022!
Stay safe, sober and sane!

Kristin
Central Office




 
September 20, 2021 

As we move into a world where we are required to show proof of vaccination to be able to access public spaces, i have just sought clarification from Hamilton Public Health about whether or not we must do so at our meetings as well. I have been told that we are exempt from this regulation. As we fall under social services, our meeting/event spaces fall under our Hamilton Public Health list of exemptions. (Information can be found here: https://www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus/proof-vaccination ) 
Please do ensure that you confirm with your venue that this is the case for you. 
If you would like any more information, please do not hesitate to reach out via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


June 24, 2021 

In just a few days, we will be moving into Step Two of the Roadmap to Re-Open strategy here in Hamilton. As much as life will slowly start to return to some semblance of sanity, we will continue to remain under a ten person capacity for in-person, interior meetings. Please keep in mind our COVID-19 restrictions if returning to meetings again. 

If you have any questions about this, please feel free to send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or give us a call at our 24 Hour Helpline at 905 522 8392. 

Wishing you all the best in these trying times!

Kristin 
Central Office Chairperson, 2020-2021


 

March 27, 2021

Well, here in Hamilton, starting on Monday, March 29, we are heading back into lockdown. Just a reminder that Alcoholics Anonymous is allowed to continue to remain open - at a maximum capacity of TEN attendees (chairperson included). Please read updates below for more details on where to find relevant information for your groups. If looking for an in-person meeting, our online meeting list is updated as soon as we find out about a meeting opening or closing, or give us a call at our 24 hour helpline at 905 522 8392.

Stay safe, stay sober, stay sane!

Kristin
Hamilton Central Office Chairperson
2020-2021




March 1, 2021

Wow, what a year! (It has almost been an entire year!) What a fantastic job the groups and members here in Hamilton have done coming together and persevering through these odd times. Zoom and Skype have kept us safely meeting, and a minimal amount of in-person meetings have continued, making the required changes along the way, to keep everyone who needs us safe, sane and sober! 

We have since moved out of the lockdown, with the added stay-at-home order, to the Red Zone: Control Phase of the Ontario's Re-Opening Framework (as of February 16, 2021). And with this shift, a couple more meetings are returning to our in-person meeting list. I'm glad to be adding these names to help those still struggling alcoholics who are unable to access our online meeting platforms. 

Just a couple of reminders to those re-opening that in Ontario's Re-Opening Framework we are at a capacity of TEN for all meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, and there are some COVID-19 safety procedures that we need to follow. 
- Masks MUST be worn in interior public spaces. 
- A physical distance of 2m (or approximately 6 1/2 feet) MUST be maintained. 
- Screening must be completed (actively or passively) and Contact Tracing Information must be obtained, in order to remain on the premises. 
- Food must not be shared. 
Please also check with your venue about a Safety Plan. These Safety Plans must be easily accessible upon request. If you require assistance writing one of these, feel free to reach out to me. I would be more than happy to help through the process.

These precautions will stay in effect throughout our transition from Red Zone: Control Phase through to Orange Zone: Restrict Phase. The difference between the two Phases will only be the amount of people allowed at interior public meeting spaces (it will increase to a maximum of fifty, maintaining physical distancing, as we move into Orange, and only upon moving into Orange). Please remember, that in the Red Zone: Control Phase we are capped at a maximum of TEN attendees at a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. We are also restricted to five at an interior social gathering, and twenty five outdoors. Please note, that if we do move backwards into Grey or Lockdown again, or even the stay-at-home order, Alcoholics Anonymous is able to remain open, at a maximum of TEN attendees. 

If you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Kristin
Central Office Chairperson 2020-2021 


You can also view these webpages for more information. 
Government of Ontario's Re-Opening Framework (Red: Control) https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-response-framework-keeping-ontario-safe-and-open#red 
Government of Ontario's Safety Plan (Information and Developing a Plan) https://www.ontario.ca/page/develop-your-covid-19-workplace-safety-plan 
Government of Ontario's COVID-19 Online Screening Tool https://covid-19.ontario.ca/screening/customer/ 
Government of Ontario's COVID-19 Screening (downloadable pdf copy) https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid19-cms-assets/2021-02/Screening%20Customer%20and%20Patron_Feb26v3%20final.pdf 




January 15, 2021

Welcome to a New Year - and not much has changed for us. We're still living in this weird world. 

We are currently under a Stay-at-Home order, decreed by the Province. Now, our most frequently heard question: What does this mean for Alcoholics Anonymous? 
The majority of our meetings are still being held online - a GIANT thank you to the Groups and Members who are the backbone of these meetings continuing. 

We have been asked to stay at home, and only leave if absolutely necessary. Just as the LCBO and Beer Store are essential businesses (apparently), so is Alcoholics Anonymous. We ARE allowed to attend in-person meetings, still following the guidance provided to us during the Lockdown Zone. 
These restrictions include, but are not limited to: 
- 10 person maximum capacity, regardless of room size (except that each seat MUST be physically distant.)
- Following By-Laws set out by the City of Hamilton: 20-155: Mask/Face Coverings to be worn and 20-164: Physical Distance must be maintained 
- Screening and Contact Tracing Information must be acquired at each meeting. 

The Hamilton Central Office falls under addiction/mental health supports, so we are also allowed to keep our doors open. If you have any concerns or questions about visiting us, please do not hesitate to give us a call. Our doors remain open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 1 pm. You can click here to view our Safety Plan, as suggested by the Government of Ontario in order to remain open.

Again, if you have any questions or concerns about the Office or about meetings themselves, please do not hesitate to contact us at the Office. 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
905-522-8399


Stay Safe, Sane, and Sober!

Kristin 
Office Committee Chair 2020-2021

P.S. Grapevine books and materials are now available for purchase at Central Office on Mondays, form 10 am to 1 pm. Come on out and see what you can get! Click here for more details. 





December 18, 2020
 
Good evening. 
 
As of Monday, December 21, Hamilton will be entering the Grey Zone: Lockdown Measures. What does this mean for Alcoholics Anonymous? 

Although it is recommended that we do not get together at all, meeting spaces (and Alcoholics Anonymous) are able to still continue at a 10 person capacity, with spaces physically distant and masks worn in interior spaces. I will be further inquiring with Public Health if there are any other measures that we should be adhering to, but please note that screenings, contact tracing, mask wearing and no shared food have become our norm. Please take this information wherever it needs to be, and keep an eye out for updates as I hear/receive them. 

Stay safe and healthy throughout this holiday season! 

Kristin 
Hamilton Central Office Chairperson
2020-2021




December 9, 2020
 
Hello all. 
 
This update is a bit delayed, and I apologize for that. It'll likely change shortly, but a couple of things that I wanted to touch on. 
 
Hamilton has enter the Red Zone: Control Stage of restrictions in the COVID Re-Opening Structure. This means we are still able to meet, but at much less of a capacity. Meeting and Event Spaces are allowed 10 attendees, spaced physically distanced with 2m, or approximately 6 1/2 feet, between them. Please check with your venue, as they will have the final decision about whether or not your meeting can continue. 
 
With some meetings reopening, and some re-closing, please keep a close eye on our online meeting list. ( https://meetings.aahamilton.org/index.php/meetings/ ) 
It is the most up-to-date information we have. If your meeting has reopened, or closed down again, please forward the information along to either This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., so that we can update our information. 
 
With the additional restrictions put into place December 7, 2020, it is now mandatory to screen all those entering a public space. Please familiarize yourself with the screening tool available here: https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/media/browser/2020-12-04/covid-screening-tool.pdf 
This also means that we will be screening those entering the Hamilton Central Office. We have an online Screening Tool available here: https://www.aahamilton.org/index.php/covid-updates/screening 
We will also have in-person screening tools available on site for those who do not have access to a smartphone. 
 
We very much appreciate your love and tolerance as we learn how to navigate this new and changing world together! 
 
If at any point, you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
Kristin 
Hamilton Central Office Chairperson
2020-2021

 




Wednesday, September 23, 2020 

Much of the information posted previously is still valid, so please feel free to familiarize yourself with the previous posts.

From the team at Central Office: 

Capacity Update:

After phone call upon phone call, I finally reached Public Health Hamilton and received confirmation that regardless of whether or not your meeting space is "staffed," if your meeting is following the by-laws and guidelines in place (ie. social distancing, face coverings in interior public spaces and sanitization), we are an "established" event, and therefore the reduced social gathering numbers do not apply. 
Please confirm with your venue, as they may choose to supercede this and follow the reduced capacity numbers for your meeting. 
If you have questions, you can either check out this document (I have highlighted the pertinent lines), the original article here, or contact me directly. 
To contact the Office Chair, you can call 905-522-8399 Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 1 pm, or you can send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or you can call me directly at 289-434-2999

Have a blessed, sober day!

Kristin - Central Office Chair 2020-2021




Sunday, September 13, 2020 

Much of the information posted previously is still valid, so please feel free to familiarize yourself with the previous posts.

From the team at Central Office: 

As of September 8, 2020, Central Office has reopened to five days a week, 10 am to 1 pm. It has been great seeing everyone's (masked) faces as we get adjusted to this new world we're living in. Please view the document in the last update to see our measures for re-opening and for keeping everyone as safe as possible. 

Kristin - Central Office Chair 2020-2021




Friday, June 26, 2020 


Much of the update posted on April 19th is still valid, so please take a look at what was previously posted. This is just a brief update. 

From the team at Central Office: 

As groups and meetings begin to open up again, please keep an eye on our online meeting list to see which in-person meetings are starting up again. We will do our best to keep this list updated, as the groups and meetings let us know that they are open again. 

If your group or meeting has re-opened, or is considering it, and if you have investigated/created procedures or guidelines associated with that, and if you would like to share your experience with inquiring groups, you can send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we would gladly pass it along to those still in the planning process. 
Please understand that Central Office has received no guidance in this respect, as of yet, from other districts or areas in Ontario. You can inquire with your District Committee Member, if you would like to. (Their contact information can be found on the Contacts Page.) There was experience shared with the Office from California which has been included in the June Inter-District minutes, if you would like to look those over. 

Central Office will be re-opening its doors! Starting July 6th, 2020 the Office will be open to members on a regular basis. We have reduced our schedule, and have installed many new procedures, which can be read about by clicking here. We look forward to seeing you, and serving you, as best as we can at this time! 

If you require any assistance at any time, you can contact the Office by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., by clicking on the bubble in the bottom right hand corner of your screen, by calling the Office during business hours 905 522 8399, or by calling the 24 hour help line at 905 522 8392. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding during these bizarre times. Hoping to see you all soon! 
In the meantime, stay safe, stay sober, stay sane! 

Kristin - Central Office Chair 2020-2021






Sunday, April 19, 2020


The Website Committee met and discussed the need for an easily accessible page dedicated to any COVID-19 related closures here in the Hamilton area. 



Meeting List

Many meetings throughout the city are closed, but that does not mean that you are unable to access Alcoholics Anonymous during this unprecedented time. 

As many of you know, we recently updated our Meeting List to sync up with the Meeting Guide app available through GSO. 
You can visit our list either through the Meeting Guide app, or on the website by clicking the MEETINGS heading up top. (http://meetings.aahamilton.org/index.php/meetings/
Our recommendation is to filter the meetings by location (the button reading Everywhere) and select Online to narrow down the list to include only those meetings available online. 


Online Meetings

Many of our groups, and members, have provided us with their online meeting information so that we can pass it along to you. 
We have been using two platforms in the Hamilton area (out of necessity, not affiliation) 

Skype (http://www.skype.com/) available for desktop use, and by apps available on your tablet or phone. Join by clicking, or copying and pasting, the link provided. 
and 
Zoom (http://zoom.us/) available via app downloaded onto your desktop, tablet or smartphone. Zoom also provides call-in numbers for those who do not have the accessibility to the internet. For more information regarding calling into a Zoom meeting: (http://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362663-Joining-a-meeting-by-phone)
Zoom utilizes 9-12 digit numeric codes to access the video meeting, and sometimes requires a password to access the meeting. 

We know that there have been some concerns raised about Zoom lately, and as the majority of the meetings are using Zoom, we decided to include this guide to security and anonymity from the New York Intergroup (http://www.nyintergroup.org/remote-meetings/note-on-anonymity-for-zoom-meetings/
The New York Intergroup was also kind enough to post this Quick Guide to using Zoom (http://www.nyintergroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/AA-Chair_Zoom-Quick-Guide_032920_DKM.pdf)

If there are any concerns with the online meetings, or questions regarding the listings or how to access the sites, you can send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will try to help as best as we can. 


Central Office

Central Office is closed to the public for the time being. If you do require service, or have questions, you can send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the Office at 905-522-8399 between the hours of 12:00 noon and 3 pm, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We are still open to contributions to the Office - personal or group. Personal contributions are eligible for year end tax receipts. For more information, again, you can send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the Office Monday, Wednesday or Friday, between the hours of 12 noon and 3 pm. 
We at Central Office are doing our best to continue to support you during this time! Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. 


Telephone Answering Service 

The TAS is still in full operation! 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the phone lines are being answered! Questions about the Office, or the few meetings that are still open, can be answered right away. The amazing part about the phone service is that any time of day, if there is no one answering your call, or if it's too late for you to reach out to those you normally would, call us at 905-522-8392. There is a list of volunteers ready to give you a call back and talk to you as we normally do, one alcoholic to another. 

And if you've got some sobriety under your belt, and want to give back, you too can volunteer to take calls on our 12 Step Call List! You can specify what days and times are best for you (you don't have to be available 24 hours a day) and we will work with you! Send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Monday, Wednesday or Friday between the hours of 12 noon and 3 pm.



Keep an eye out, we will update you if there is anything new to report on the closures during this time.
Stay safe, stay sane, stay sober!
- The Website Committee








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