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Void of summer events going to be felt in Chemainus

CBIA cancels Classics Car Show and Canada Day celebrations
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The Chemainus Business Improvement Association has made the difficult decision to cancel two of its popular summer events.

The Classics Car Show would have been held in early June, with Canada Day celebrations on July also on the chopping block due to the continued crowd restrictions from COVID-19.

Canada Day’s activities typically draw more than 4,000 people into the downtown area, including residents and visitors from neighbouring communities for a fun and festive, family-friendly day.

Organizations throughout town normally contribute time and finances on the stat holiday to make the celebrations a success.

“It truly is a shame this Canada Day’s celebrations won’t be the same as we have known in the past,” noted the CBIA’s executive director, Krystal Adams. “We simply must follow the provincial guidelines with regards to the restrictions on congregating for events to slow the spread of COVID-19. Because of this, it is simply impossible to be able to enforce proper distancing based on the phase two restrictions.”

The CBIA is participating in a regional Cowichan Valley Canada Day campaign that will centre on an online platform, as well as encouraging some artistic flair in town. Details are still being worked out.

Events scheduled for later in the year such as the Pumpkin Spice Run, Halloween, and Moonlight Madness have not yet been cancelled. Discussions surrounding those events will take place in September, with decisions based on whatever provincial distancing guidelines are being recommended at that time.

“We hope not to cancel any other community-loved events, but we understand we can play a major role in keeping this community, our community, safe in the spread of COVID-19,” added Adams. “We will do whatever we can to do that, both now and in the future.”

The CBIA will continue to make every effort to keep people safe and ensure they are thinking about the future of Chemainus first and foremost.



Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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