The District of Sechelt announced Tuesday that this year’s Canada Day Parade and festivities are cancelled.
“Canada Day in Sechelt is the largest July 1 celebration on the Sunshine Coast and the largest one-day event in the municipality, attracting 4,000 to 5,000 visitors,” the district said in a press release.
“Given the need to physically distance, it is not feasible to host such an event this summer.”
The release said the decision came after provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry’s April 18 announcement that large events and parades will not take place this summer as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Darnelda Siegers said the district “will continue to support local arts, culture, and heritage, and we look forward to the day when large events can return, but for now we need to focus on protecting the health and safety of our residents.”
Sechelt’s Canada Day Committee, meanwhile, has shifted its focus to “finding ways to encourage a sense of community connection and celebration while minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission,” the release said.
Canada Day festivities are organized in partnership with the Sechelt Downtown Business Association, the Sechelt Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market, the Sechelt Fire Department, and the Sechelt Rotary Club, along with many other community organizations, small businesses, and volunteers. The event includes a parade, live music, beer gardens, a market of local vendors and free entertainment and children’s activities.
