Updates on LIFT Operations – February 2022

Friday, February 4, 2022

Dear LIFT Community,

Thank you for your continued patience as we work towards creating a safer environment in order to access LIFT rentals, facilities and resources. We are looking forward to restarting our equipment rentals and re-opening our facilities to accessing members beginning on Tuesday, February 8, 2022. We have instigated a few safety protocols to do our part to keep everyone safe. Please find details below for each department.

Masks must be worn at all times while visiting the LIFT premises in accordance with the City of Toronto’s Mask or Face Covering By-Law 541-2020. Masks include cloth, PPE or N95 / KN95 / KF94 masks that cover both your mouth and nose at all times. Wearing face shields only and masks with breathing valves are insufficient and you will not be able to enter LIFT’s premises.

Acceptable proof of COVID-19 vaccination includes one of the following:
– Enhanced COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate with Quick Response (QR) Code
– An equivalent from your home location (if outside Ontario)

MEMBERSHIP
Renewals for recently expired Production Members wanting to rent again can be done online starting Tuesday February 8th. You will be receiving an email about your expiry and the next steps to renewing.

New Production and Production Student memberships applications—for anyone who was not a recently expired renting member—are also available for purchase starting TuesdayFebruary 8th.

Please keep in mind that new Production and Production Student memberships require a reference check, which takes about ten (10) business days. This reference check was part of LIFT’s membership process for many years before COVID-19.

General membership benefits, which were available during all of the closures, continue as usual. New General memberships are currently available to purchase online.

All membership applications and renewals can be done via the membership portal at https://lift.ca/lift-membership and payment options include PayPal, Credit Card or Debit Credit Card.

If you need accommodation to pay in-person (Cash or Debit only), please email membership@lift.on.ca to schedule an appointment (which may take longer to process). E-transfer payments are also possible, however we do not accept cheques.

For any additional membership related inquiries, please email membership@lift.on.ca

LIFT STORE
– Store items are available for purchase via the online store. Current members can email their order to tech@lift.on.ca to receive their discounted rate. No phone orders, please.
– Store items will be shipped via Canada Post on Tuesdays and Fridays, or curbside pick up only after confirming pre-arranged time slots. Curbside pick up begins the week of Monday February 7, between 11:00am and 4:00pm.
– At least 24-hours notice is required for a store item pick up. Orders made before 4:00pm ET can be picked up the following day after 12noon ET.
– A designated pick up person must be identified for your order before they show up.
– Masks must be worn at all times while visiting the LIFT premises in accordance with the City of Toronto’s By-Law listed above.

MOBILE EQUIPMENT RENTALS
– Equipment rentals will be available as of Tuesday February 8th.
– Please review our updated rental policy as there have been substantial changes.
– Only current Production members or renewing Production members can rent equipment. New Production and Production Student Memberships applications are available (please note the 10-day reference check mentioned above).
– Designated person to pick up must be identified before they show up—can be a member or someone else. Valid photo identification is required (current Canadian driver’s license, Ontario Photo Card, or valid Passport. Canadian Health Cards are not accepted, see rental contract for details).
– Masks must be worn at all times while visiting the LIFT premises in accordance with the City of Toronto’s By-Law listed above.
– Small kits (5 items or less) require 24-48 hours notice before pick up.
– Medium to large kits (6 items or more) require five (5) business days notice before pick up.
– Absolutely no same-day bookings, no exceptions.
– Scheduled time slots for pick up and drop off.
– Equipment is quarantined for 48 hours between rentals and given UVC treatment if deemed necessary.
– QR Code Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required to be shown to staff in order to perform equipment tests indoors prior to rental.
– Proficiency Tests are available. Members must reach out a week in advance to book a test.

POST-PRODUCTION FACILITIES RENTALS
– Facilities will be available for rental starting Tuesday, February 8.
– Facilities will be available for Production and Production Student members only.
– Limit of two (2) people per facility room. A non-member is allowed as the second person (eg. Editor, Colourist, etc.). The LIFT member is liable for all equipment.
– QR Code Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required to be shown by each person using the facilities and will be checked at time of rental.
– Masks must be worn at all times while visiting the LIFT premises in accordance with the City of Toronto’s By-Law listed above.
– Air purifiers with HEPA filters will be in facility spaces that have a booking.
– No eating inside the facilities. Drinks allowed, but are to be kept off the tables. Kitchen is unavailable to members.
– Up to two (2) rooms in the entire facility are available for booking by different Production and Production Student members per day.
– Every room is quarantined for at least 24 hours between bookings.
– UVC treatment and surface disinfection is performed, if deemed necessary by staff.

WORKSHOPS
– Currently, only five (5) in-person workshops are scheduled for the Winter 2022 season, starting in April. Please see https://lift.ca/workshop-registration/ for workshop description and location.
– The QR Code Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for both instructors and participants.
– Masks must be worn at all times while visiting the LIFT premises in accordance with the City of Toronto’s By-Law listed above.
– Outside teaching will be incorporated (weather permitting).
– Large air purifiers with HEPA filters will be in working rooms related to workshops.
– No eating inside the facility. Drinks allowed. Kitchen will be unavailable to workshop participants.
– UVC treatment and surface disinfection are performed after each workshop.

QUICK RESPONSE (QR) CODE FOR PROOF OF VACCINATION
By the Province of Ontario mandate, proof of vaccination is only accepted using a scannable QR Code, either on your phone or printed out on paper. You can obtain your QR Code at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/get-proof

If you do not have an Ontario health card or received your vaccines at a low barrier clinic, you can still get a QR Code by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900, from 8:00am to 8:00pm, 7 days a week. Have the information about where and when you got your shows on-hand. More info can be found at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/proof-covid-19-vaccination

LIFT’s operating hours are Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 6:00pm ET.

For any other additional matters, feel free to email staff:
https://lift.ca/contact-lift-2

Sincerely,

Chris Kennedy
Executive Director