The table where the idea of Alcoholics Anonymous was born sits in kitchen of Stepping Stones, the home of Bill and Lois Wilson in Bedford Hills, N.Y. Tuesday, July 24, 2007. Bill Wilson was co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous and Lois was co-founder of Al-Anon Family Groups. Alcoholics Anonymous is temporarily closing many of its meetings across Canada in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. AA, which typically meets in churches, legion halls, and other public meeting rooms, is directly affected by government mandates to close facilities where groups may gather in an effort to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Karen Vibert-Kennedy
March 17, 2020 - 8:38 AM
Alcoholics Anonymous is temporarily closing many of its meetings across Canada in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.
AA, which typically meets in churches, legion halls, and other public meeting rooms, is directly affected by government efforts to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic by closing facilities where groups gather.
Lists of AA meeting in Montreal, Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver show several groups have temporarily closed.
They warn that more meeting cancellations are expected.
The Ottawa branch has shuttered its central office until further notice but its website offers resources for teleconferencing or other online options.
AA's regional Ontario conference, including the group's Alateen and Al Anon arms, was officially cancelled Sunday, less than a week before it was set to begin in downtown Toronto.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on March 17, 2020.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2020