Special event organizer information

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Special event organizer information quick links

If you are organizing a larger event with more than 15 vendors, please contact Southeast Public Health before filling out the special event organizer application.

These guidelines will guide you through the approval process and the application form. Failure to follow and complete the process may cause delays that could impact the special event. If you have any questions, contact a Southeast Public Health inspector for assistance.

Submission of application forms

Vendor list

  • Provide your public health inspector with a list of all the vendors including food and beverage, personal services (esthetics, tattoo, face painting, etc), or petting zoos.
  • Provide all vendors with vendor information package and application form(s).
  • Vendors involved in the preparation and selling or offering of food or beverages may be required to have a valid food safety training certificate (will be determined by public health inspector).

Site layout

  • Provide a site layout indicating all vendor locations, washrooms and outdoor privies, water supply, garbage and wastewater disposal sites, and hand wash sinks.

Event and venue details

  • The organizer or a representative must be available on-site during the event.
  • Identify the equipment or services that will be provided to the vendors (if applicable) including potable water supply, wastewater collection, electricity, hand-washing sink, dishwashing sinks, on-site kitchen and garbage collection.
  • Identify any self-imposed restrictions based on site or venue constraints. Ensure all vendors know and understand restrictions at the event (e.g., no deep frying inside the venue or pre-packaged foods only, no generators, etc.).
  • Arrange for solid waste collection removal and disposal.
  • Ensure wastewater holding tanks and the disposal of liquid waste are available to the vendors (if applicable).
  • While it is not a requirement to provide wastewater disposal to the food and beverage vendors, the event organizer may want to consider providing this service.
  • Wastewater must be disposed of in a sanitary manner. Contact the local municipality for guidance on disposing of wastewater.
  • Do not dump wastewater onto the ground surface.
  • Toilet facilities or outdoor privies must be provided in sufficient numbers and locations.
  • Hand-washing facilities must be provided at or near the toilet facilities in sufficient numbers to meet the demand of the attendees at the special event.
  • Toilets and hand-washing facilities must be properly stocked with soap and paper towel in suitable dispensers, serviced and maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.

It is the responsibility of the organizer and vendor to comply with all requirements of the Ontario Regulation 493/17: Food Premises as well as the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.7.

If you require a print version of this information, please use the print option on this page, or contact Southeast Public Health.