Last Update: May 18th, 2022
Restrictions Lifted
COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Required
New Restriction Levels
Phase Three Rules & Recommendations
July 2020 Update
June 2020 Update
Enjoy Our Trails and Green Spaces
Visit Elsie Perrin Williams Estate
Visit Grosvenor Lodge
COVID-19 Updates & Cancellations
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Wash Hands, Keep Distance, and Stay Home If You’re Sick
May 18th, 2022
There are currently no capacity or mask restrictions in place for our venues, however, we recommend you abide by these basic rules:
- Give people 6 feet of space in public spaces.
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Stay home if you are sick or if you have been in contact with someone who has COVID in the past 14 days.
Thank you very much for doing your part to keep everyone safe.
COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Required
September 28th, 2021
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination requirements at the Elsie Perrin Williams and Grosvenor Lodge Historic Sites:
- The Province of Ontario has introduced regulations that require proof of vaccination before entering some indoor settings.
- In keeping with those regulations, as of September 22 2021, the Heritage London Foundation will require people to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their vaccination status to access events and participate in tours at the sites we operate.
- Fully vaccinated guests will need their current vaccination receipt alongside a valid piece of photo identification, such as a driver’s licence, to access our sites.
- Guests who provide a written document completed and supplied by a physician or registered nurse stating that they are exempt for a medical reason from being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be permitted entry provided they are in receipt of a negative COVID-19 test result dated no more than 48 hours prior to requesting entry.
We thank you in advance for your cooperation in ensuring the health and safety of all our guests, staff, and volunteers.
New Restriction Levels
December 11th, 2020
London will be moving to the Red Level Restrictions this weekend, and we all need a reminder on what that means for weddings and events.
The following rules apply at all restriction levels:
- Maintain social distancing
- Wear masks indoors
- Wash hands frequently or use sanitizer
- List of who should remain home (sick with COVID-19, quarantining and waiting on results for COVID-19 test, in contact with someone else testing positive for COVID-19, traveled outside Canada or in contact with some who has restrictions, symptom of COVID-19, etc.)
- Background music can be no louder than the level of conversation
- Dancing, karaoke or singing is not allowed for guests
- Food buffets and cocktail receptions are not allowed
- Guest must remain seated at tables in order to remove masks for eating or drinking
The following capacities and hour restrictions are specific to each level. London is moving from Orange into Red this December:
Questions or concerns about your upcoming event at with us? Please feel free to reach out to our Heritage London Foundation Team – we’re here to help.
Phase Three Rules and Planning Recommendations
July 24th, 2020
As we enter phase three of reopening businesses in Ontario, our team at Heritage London Foundation is taking further measures to prioritize the health and safety of all of our guests and staff.
We appreciate your cooperations during your celebrations. We know it’s difficult not to hug and dance the night away, but your social distancing respects and protects us all.
Phase Three Etiquette
When you visit both of our properties for an event or wedding, we ask that you please adhere to these mandatory precautions:
- Under the new restrictions, Elsie Perrin Williams Estate can now accommodate an indoor wedding of up to 40 guests and an outdoor wedding of up to 100 guests. Grosvenor Lodge can accommodate 30 guests indoors and 100 outdoors. (Indoor guest capacity varies, depending on the number of your social groups.)
- If you wish to tour either building or have a guided tour for an event or wedding inquiry, you will need to book an appointment in advance. Walk-ins are not permitted and the doors will remain locked to the public.
- If you’d like to use our trails or just visit the property, you do not need to book an appointment. Please keep six feet from others, sanitize your hands often, and avoid visiting if you have any symptoms or have had contact with COVID-19.
- Masks have been made mandatory at all indoor events by the Medical Officer of Health for London-Middlesex and a City of London Bylaw. (For a small fee, we can provide masks to your guests.)
- For the safety of our staff and your guests, we ask that you ensure everyone invited to your event agrees to abide by the mandatory health precautions. Our event contract outlines your obligations as host which we will review with you.
Planning Recommendations
We’re working alongside your caterer to find new creative ways to adhere to the health guidelines. You’re not alone in these unprecedented times – we’ll work hard to create a memorable celebration for you and your guests.
Here are some common restrictions and recommendations that we have been asked about for weddings and events at Elsie Perrin Williams Estate and Grosvenor Lodge so far:
- Buffets are not permitted. We recommend a la carte or table side service for your meal and individually portioned appetizers. Please speak to your caterer about what’s possible.
- Punch bowls and cocktail parties are not permitted. Speak to your caterer about drink service, pre-portioned drinks, table-specific bottles or pitchers, a socially-distanced bar, and other creative beverage options.
- Want to serve coffee and tea at your event or after dinner? Avoid a self-serve coffee station and speak to your caterer about having a dedicated coffee server to minimize contact.
- If you are planning an outdoor wedding, you are permitted to rent a tent but two walls must remain open at all times. If you have the tent walls closed, it then becomes a structure and limits your attendance to 50 guests.
- Dance floors are not permitted during phase three due to social distancing measures. We’re encouraging our couples and event planners to take advantage of live string instrumental music to create an intimate atmosphere during dinner and throughout the evening.
- Lawn games and other activities are permitted as long as they adhere to the health and safety precautions. For example, croquet would be possible as everyone has their own mallet and ball and players can social distance. Games like bean bag toss or ladder ball would be more difficult.
Layout Ideas
Our multi-room venues allow for unique table setting options for small to medium-sized groups. We’ve put together three options using the Great Hall at Elsie Perrin Williams Estate to give you an example of the possibilities for a ceremony, reception, and lecture:
Still have questions about your wedding or event?
Reach out to our team at any time, we’re happy to help.
Face Coverings in All Indoor Enclosed Public Spaces to be Mandatory Across London And Middlesex County
July 18th, 2020
The Medical Officer of Health for London-Middlesex has issued a new order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act requiring the use of masks in all public indoor spaces as of July 18th, 2020.
This includes weddings, and so we ask that you please wear a mask if you are attending an indoor ceremony or reception at one of our estates. (Our staff will also have masks available on-site, should someone forget theirs.)
There are currently five exemptions from the mandatory mask rule:
- Children under the age of 12
- People who have a medical condition or disability which inhibits their ability to wear a face covering
- Those unable to apply or remove a face covering without help
- People with accommodations under the Ontario Human Rights Code or the Accessibility for Ontarians with a Disabilities Act
- Staff or agents of an enclosed public space who are in an area of the premises that is designated for them and not accessible to the public, or in an area separated by a physical barrier (such as plexiglass)
If you have any questions or concerns about your wedding arrangements, current attendance numbers, or other phase three restrictions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
Ontario Eases Wedding Restrictions
June 13th, 2020
As of June 13th 2020, Ontario has eased the restrictions regarding gatherings at weddings and funerals.
- The government is extending the number of people allowed to attend an indoor wedding or funeral ceremony to a maximum of 30% capacity of the ceremony venue.
- At Elsie Perrin Williams Estate, that would allow for 24 people at a seated indoor ceremony, 36 people at a standing indoor ceremony and 50 people for an outdoor ceremony.
- At Grosvenor Lodge, that would allow for 14 people at a seated indoor ceremony, 36 people at a standing indoor ceremony, and 50 people for an outdoor ceremony.
- The maximum number for a reception would be 10 people at both properties.
We will also be working with the amazing team at Lovely Weddings and Events to offer our couples a pop-up wedding option for a simple, stunning wedding experience.
If you are attending a wedding or event at our properties, we please ask that you follow these rules for everyone’s safety.
Please self-identify if you:
- Have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing
- Have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
- Have been instructed by local public health authorities to self-isolate due to travel or contact history
If you answered “yes” to any of these conditions, please:
- Either reschedule your meeting, tour, or send your regrets to miss the event
- Return home (avoiding public transportation)
- Follow local public health advice
- While visiting with us today, ensure to follow social distancing protocols (keep 6 ft. apart), clean your hands frequently, and wear a mask to help protect others and yourself from spreading COVID-19
Learn more about the June 2020 updates to Ontario wedding regulations.
HLF Properties Welcome the Public into our beautiful green spaces and trails
Come discover these two large public spaces for your family this time of social distancing and cooped up kids. We all need places to get out of doors, and likely you may not have discovered these two properties yet.
If you are looking for less crowded parks and dog walks, Elsie Perrin Williams Estate is at the very west end of Windermere Road, and Grosvenor Lodge is on Western/Wharncliffe Roads close to Platt’s Lane. Both have acres of lawns that welcome you, your friends and families to walk and play out of doors.
Photo Credit: Alexis Victoria
These two estates are owned by the City of London, and operated on behalf of the City by Heritage London Foundation. ‘Elsie’ is the larger of the two estates, and has extensive front, side and back acreage, surrounded by trees; it also has a trail that leads into the Medway Valley Conservation area.
You will find a number of people bring their dogs for romps on the lawns and trails. Grosvenor Lodge has a large front acreage, and smaller back property.
Photo Credit: Scott McAndless
There are large free parking lots at both properties and special handicapped parking. Like all parks – dress appropriately for places where deer sometimes wander and pay attention to signs that govern the conservation area wildlife.
Visit Elsie Perrin Williams Estate
Visit Grosvenor Lodge
COVID-19 is changing how Heritage London Foundation (HLF) will be working with the public and our clients
Here is how HLF is addressing the COVID-19 issues while we are under the Ontario government’s emergency measures:
- HLF has undertaken extra cleaning and sanitation measures at both our properties to ensure we have a healthy environment if any of our clients need to use the properties. We have posted the Ontario government’s Cleaning and Disinfecting for Public Setting guidelines so that staff and any visitors can be assured we are following the current protocols. You can find a copy of the guideline on our website.
- Please check with your caterer, florist, clergy, and other suppliers about their policies prior to your discussions with HLF staff.
- At this time, HLF staff is available to answer email inquiries and phone calls.
- If you leave us messages with cell phone numbers, please be sure to check your recent calls for unfamiliar numbers, which might be HLF staff returning your call from other phone lines not identified as HLF, Elsie, or Grosvenor.
- HLF will be closely following the Ontario government’s evolving rules that may apply to events so our clients and suppliers can protect the health of loved ones, guests, and staff.
- If clients need to re-size or rebook events in 2020 in the future, HLF will work to find flexible solutions within the calendar year or will work with our existing catering companies to find other dates. As soon as the emergency rules evolve into next steps, we will be changing our policies accordingly.
Learn more about the Government of Ontario’s most recent COVID-19 measures here.
Public Historical and Heritage Tours
- Due to the current emergency rules, HLF will be postponing its public tours of Elsie Perrin Williams Estate and Grosvenor Lodge for the foreseeable future.
- While social distancing might work out of doors, we believe that it would be difficult to maintain inside our estate homes. These need to be maintained at a high level of safety and cleanliness from this highly communicable disease and we cannot guarantee your safety or that of our volunteers and staff. Your patience is appreciated, and we look forward to inviting the community back into the homes when the threat from the virus is decreased.
FAQ
Are your events cancelled?
Our spring and summer 2020 events hosted at Elsie Perrin Williams Estate and Grosvenor Lodge will be rescheduled once the state of emergency has been lifted.
Are you open for tours?
No, both heritage and public tours are temporarily cancelled. You are still encouraged to make use of our green spaces and parks during this time and maintain social distance.
How long will you be closed?
Our events and tours will be cancelled as long as the state of emergency is in place for Ontario. We will re-evaluate as the city, provincial and federal guidelines are updated.
Do I need to rebook my event and what is your cancellation policy?
If you have an event or wedding booked with us for spring or summer 2020, we are encouraging that you rebook your event for later in the year. For anybody concerned about their event, we are also offering re-booking dates into 2021. We are unable to offer refunds for any cancelled events.
How do I rebook my event?
Please call our team at 519-432-6620 and we would be happy to help you rebook your event.
I have a wedding or an event booked with your venue after April. What should I do?
We are asking all clients to first check with their vendors (caterers, florists, DJs, etc.) about their ability to work, and any cancellation and insurance policies. If you have questions about your future, please reach out to our team.
Postponing my wedding is not an option, I need to have it this year. Is there anything I can do?
Please contact our team and we can help you arrange a solution following the current restrictions in Ontario.
What is Heritage London Foundation doing to ensure the safety and health of its employees?
We have implemented deep cleaning, increased sanitization, and work from home protocols for both properties for the safety of our staff and tenants.
Are the grounds open?
Yes, we encourage you to enjoy our parks and green spaces during this time while still practicing social distancing protocol. (We’re a very popular spot for dog walks!)