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Community Use of Schools
Welcome

Welcome

Community Use of Schools is a Ministry of Education initiative which supports access to school spaces outside of school hours for local not for profits as well as businesses or organizations.

GET STARTED HERE - Community Access Login (Online Booking)
https://hwcdsb.ebasefm.com/communityuse/

Announcements

Announcements

NEW RATE SCHEDULE FOR THE 2023-24 SCHOLASTIC YEAR POSTED AS PDF UNDER RENTAL FEE SECTION***


NOTIFICATIONS

Every Organization renting from the HWCDSB must have one representative/delegate attend one In-Service session every year.

1) MANDATORY IN-SERVICE SESSIONS FOR SCHOLASTIC YEAR 2023/24

SESSION # 1 - Tuesday August 22nd - 7-9pm - St Thomas More lecture Hall - use main entrance
SESSION # 2 - Thursday August 24th - 7-9pm - St Thomas More lecture Hall - use main entrance - CANCELLED - MOVED TO THURS AUG 31ST AT SAME TIME/ SAME LOCATION
SESSION # 3 - Wednesday August 30th- 7-9pm - St Thomas More lecture Hall - use main entrance

* Please RSVP to palangok@hwcdsb.ca and indicate, in advance, which session you will be attending

Permit Applications for the next scholastic year can be input July 1, 2023

2) CREDIT CARD PAYMENT
Click here for details

We have partnered with Moneris Solutions to process all credit card transactions. The Board is compliant with PCI DSS and the Card Association Compliance Program. All you have to do is register your credit card on eBASE and on the last day of every month your groups outstanding accounting balance will be charged to the credit card. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Kim Palango 905) 525-2930 ext 1776
To add a credit card to your account for authorization of online method of payment go to the gear icon "options" on your account. Under the Billing tab, press "Add a new card" and input your credit card information. You will need name of cardholder, credit card type, card number and expiry date. We now accept payment by cheque, Mastercard and VISA.


3) INCLEMENT WEATHER
Click here for details


Please see our policy below:

Weekday evening rental bookings are automatically cancelled when schools are closed during the day due to inclement weather.

Weekend bookings, school closures, and subsequent rental cancellations are at the discretion of the Director of Education and are done so before 7am.
Every effort will be made to co-ordinate snow removal and school opening for weekend events, however in severe instances, opening may be delayed or cancelled.
Please check Announcements for updates.

Emergencies - call (905) 522-6680

Rent a Facility

How to book a school facility
Step 1: CREATE AN ACCOUNT

To book a Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board facility, you start by creating an account in eBase our online permitting system. Go to our Community Use of Schools webpage - and click on the link to Community Access Login under the Welcome section

Users must:

- be 18 years of age or older.

- have a valid e-mail account that can receive account information and approved permits.

- agree to the Rules and Regulations (lower on this page)

- submit a Hold Harmless Agreement for each approved permit (see PDF below)

- provide a certificate of insurance in the amount of $2 million for Liability Insurance naming the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board as an ‘additional insured’. If a group or organization is not able to provide a valid certificate of insurance, the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board will purchase insurance on their behalf. The cost of insurance coverage will be reflected on the permit.

For more information, see the OSBIE Facility User Group Insurance FAQ below (PDF).

If you wish to purchase insurance through the Board please contact the Rental Office for current insurance rates.

Step 2: CHOOSE A FACILITY

Choose a facility that will suit your needs. The new on-line software provides access to hundreds of school facilities across the Hamilton-Wentworth region, such as gymnasiums, lecture rooms, secondary school classrooms and cafeterias. To check availability before making your request, check out the online calendar where you can select a school and facility (cafe, single gym, double gym, etc.) to see what is currently available.

To book our artificial turf fields please go to:
www.bookyourfield.com


Step 3: APPLY

Apply to rent a school facility using the fast and easy online application system. If you are a new user you will need to create a new account (https://hwcdsb.ebasefm.com/communityuse/ge ... ) or, if you are an existing user, you can simply login (https://hwcdsb.ebasefm.com/communityuse/) using your previously created account.

If you are having trouble with your username and/or password or have forgotten it, please contact the CUS Outreach Supervisor ( see contact information lower on this page ) DO NOT CREATE DUPLICATE ACCOUNTS - this will serve to bog down the system

Step 4: APPROVAL

Once an application has been approved, a permit will be electronically issued. You will need to check the approved dates listed on the permit as some may have been removed. Please print a copy of your permit. A current copy of the permit should be with the group at all times when in our facilities

Step 5: PAYMENT

Once your permit is approved, please print a copy of your permit and invoice for yourself, and forward Payment (cheque only), Insurance Certificates and Hold Harmless forms to:

TO VIEW OUR FACILITIES WITH OUR 360 degree CAMERA Click on the following link



Mailed submissions
COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOLS OFFICE- HWCDSB
Attention: CUS/ Facility Use
90 Mulberry St
Hamilton, On
L8N 3R9

Credit cards are the preferred method of payment but....
If paying by cheque, please understand that payment MUST be made in full PRIOR to using the facility and make cheque payable to:
The Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board - Facility Rentals.


Restrictions in Rental Times
Permit Hours

Schools have exclusive use of their space on school days from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. Community Use space is available for rentals from September through June, Monday to Friday from 6:00 – 10:00 pm, and on Saturdays 8a.m. to 10p.m. and Sundays 8a.m. to 6p.m.

Non-Rental Times

Periods of exception such as designated holidays, Christmas break, March break and the summer vacation period may be permitted at the discretion of the school Principal. During the holiday periods, all custodial staff works the day shift. Permits approved during the evening will reflect custodial overtime costs where applicable.

Summer rentals are limited to camps during the day at schools where we have custodial staff. Custodial staff need to get our schools cleaned for the upcoming school year as well as take vacation during the summer months. Evening rentals will not be supported throughout the summer.


Rental Fees

Please see User Categories and Rates PDF below for rental fees.

Financial Support (Subsidy)

In an effort to create affordable access to community facilities, the Government of Ontario has developed the Community Use of Schools Grant which allows the HWCDSB to provide subsidized rental rates for not-for-profit groups to use school facilities outside of regular school hours. Subsidies are offered on an annual basis and contingent upon ministry funding.

Rules and Regulations

The application approval shall protect, indemnify and save harmless the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, its employees or agents, from all claims for damages that may arise out of the use of facility by the applicant.
Read More

No advertising will be permitted on School Board property. Any advertising for the activities, which identify the school as the location, shall carry the disclaimer "Program not supported or endorsed by Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board" unless permission is otherwise obtained.

No parking is permitted on lawns or asphalt play areas. Parking must be restricted to the facility parking lots.

Organizations whose policies or activities are inconsistent with the Church, Canada or the mission/vision of the Board shall not be granted use of any property of the Board.

No storage space is granted to outside organizations except with the permission of the Principal of the school concerned.

Custodial staff is on duty for the care and protection of school property and not as supervisors of an activity in progress.

The Facility Rental Services will monitor and record group activity complaints received and take appropriate action.

Any cost incurred for clean-up/vandalism/loss to bring the school to the cleanliness level acceptable to the principal [Education Act, S.265 (j)] shall be charged to the permit holder.


Uses Not Permitted
Private group uses such as wedding receptions, anniversary celebrations, Pageant Shows, birthday parties, Live Animal Shows, Estate auctions and similar private gatherings.
Read More

With the exception of the school or parish, the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.

Any activity which could result in damage to school facilities is prohibited.

Any use which interferes with the normal day-to-day operations of the schools shall not be allowed.

Any use of grass fields - [Turf rentals allowed and arranged by contacting Nustadia]


Permit Responsibilities
Adequate adult supervision is required by all rental groups and for the entire duration of permitted use of space at Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board facilities. An adult is a responsible person who is 18 years of age or older.
Read More

When groups are renting multiple spaces in a facility, there must be a supervisor in charge of each area (i.e. when multiple classrooms are used, there must a supervisor for each classroom).

It is the responsibility of the permitted user to ensure that their participants remain within the designated rental area(s), that damage to the building and grounds is not permitted, and that all group participants leave the school on or before the ending time of the rental permit. Youth group members must not enter the facility before the adult supervisor arrives.

For the safety of the participants, the caretaker will open the doors 15 minutes prior to the permitted time and lock the doors 15 minutes after. Any entry after that time to allow parents coming and going, must be facilitated by a responsible organizational designate or the site supervisor. Caretakers have other duties to attend to and are not responsible for this purpose.

To ensure that proper footwear (e.g. running shoes on gym floors) must be worn by the active participants of the permit group.

Smoking is not permitted in Board facilities or on Board property. The permit holder shall be responsible for enforcing this regulation.

Permit holders, who use facilities or grounds, must leave them in suitable condition for the operation of school programs. Please tidy up after yourselves and place water bottles and garbage in appropriate receptacles. This will ensure that our doors are kept open to the community for use. Thank you for respecting our facilities.


Safety and Security
In order to comply with the Board’s Emergency Preparedness Procedures the person(s) supervising the event must be aware of the following:
Read More


- location of floor plan of school with Emergency Exits noted thereon ( please contact Kim Palango for drawings of the building you are renting );
- emergency contact # of the PasWord Protection Services (905) 522-6680 who will in turn contact the Board’s Manager on call in the event of an emergency

Exits must be kept free from any obstruction. Exterior doors are to be locked at all times and are not to be wedged open. If necessary, a monitor is to be stationed at the door to admit latecomers.

Permit holders are empowered, and it is a condition of the granting of the permit, to act as the Board's agent regarding trespassers on Board property during the authorized rental period and where the permit holder has reasonable and probable grounds to believe a person is on the premises without permission or is carrying on a prohibited activity on the premises. Where the offending person refuses to leave the premises as directed, the permit holder shall immediately notify a member of the custodial staff who will call for the assistance of a police officer. If the custodial staff member is not available, the permit holder shall notify the police directly.


Liability and Insurance
Rental groups and organizations are required to acknowledge having read the following liability and insurance conditions and thereby agree to adhere to them:
Read More

1. The application approval shall protect, indemnify and save harmless the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, its employees or agents, from all claims for damages that may arise out of the use of facility by the applicant.
2. During the use and occupation of the permitted use of Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board space(s), the permit holder shall indemnify and save harmless the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, its officials, trustees, employees and agents from and against any and all liability whatsoever resulting from injury or damage to person, persons or property by reason of or as a result of the use and occupation of the premises directly or indirectly. The Board will not be responsible for personal injury or for the loss or damage to personal belongings of participants or spectators inside the building or on the property.
3. All users groups must provide proof of insurance through our online system.
4. Organizations shall request and deliver to the Board a certificate of insurance from their insurance broker for General Liability insurance in the amount of $2M, naming “Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board” as an additional insured on the certificate of insurance.
5. If a group or organization is not able to provide a valid certificate of insurance, the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board will purchase insurance on their behalf. The cost of insurance coverage will be reflected on the permit.
- For more information, click here to view the OSBIE Facility User Group Insurance FAQ.
- If you wish to purchase insurance through the Board please contact the Facility Rental Services for current insurance rates.




Emergency Preparedness

To help our after hours users prepare for emergencies while renting our facilities please refer to the Board's Fire Safety Plan and a guideline / template to create your own Emergency Action Plan

Accident Reporting

Please refer to the QRC to guide your accident and injury reporting. This will be reviewed at our annual in-service every year. Please also use the accident reporting form and review our student injury reporting policy

Board Concussion protocols posted as reference/guideline to developing own as well

Contact Us

Contact Us

If your question relates to a particular permit, please use the 'Discussion' area of the permit to contact us.

To obtain help in determining space and school availability, or if have a general inquiry about our spaces, please call Kim at 905) 525-2930 ext 1776

Kim Palango, Community Use of Schools Outreach Supervisor
(905) 525-2930 ext 1776
palangok@hwcdsb.ca


Please forward Payment, Insurance Certificates and Hold Harmless forms to:

FINANCE DEPARTMENT - HWCDSB
Attention: Facility Use / CUS
90 Mulberry St
Hamilton, On
L8N 3R9


Payment is to be made by CHEQUE and / or Mastercard or VISA
The HWCDSB is pleased to announce that effective immediately we are accepting credit cards as a source of payment for your permits. We have partnered with Moneris Solutions to process all credit card transactions. The Board is compliant with PCI DSS and the Card Association Compliance Program. All you have to do is register your credit card on eBASE and on the last day of every month your groups outstanding accounting balance will be charged to the credit card.
Cheques made payable to:
The Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board - Facility Rentals.
Play on Turf! Play on Turf!

Play on Turf!

Rent an HWCDSB Turf Field today.

- Never get cancelled because of rain!
- Extend your season – Open from late March to early December!
- Play until 11pm – Full lighting systems at all turf fields!
- Washroom and staff person on site for all rentals!

For more information, please visit
http://www.bookyourfield.com/

To view information about the field such as bathrooms, lights, dimensions etc... please go to:
http://www.bookyourfield.com/#team2