Another staple of Vancouver Island summers will no longer be experienced in 2020, as Sidney has cancelled its annual summer market due to COVID-19.
This year signalled the 21st year the popular market would have been running, with dates scheduled between June 4 and August 27, but with social distancing restrictions still in place and community concerns on a spread of the virus remain high, the municipality made the decision to pull the plug.
Sidney says that the market typically brought 3,000-5,000 visitors to Sidney each Thursday. Although the market is one of the standout events on the Sidney summer calendar, the municipality said that it won’t be the only large gathering cancelled.
“It is with considerable regret that the Town of Sidney’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) advised Sidney event organizers today to cancel or postpone events, both indoor and outdoor, that involve public gatherings scheduled for the summer of 2020,” a press release from the town reads.
The cancellations will include the annual Sidney Days & Canada Day celebrations.
Despite both BC and federal officials suggesting some aspects of the economy could possibly be reopened in the coming weeks, Sidney’s EOC said they still decided to cancel these summer events because they feel confident that large gatherings will still be limited for several months.
“When public health orders and physical distancing limitations are relaxed to the extent that cancelled or postponed events can be safely rescheduled, the Town will work diligently with community organizers to facilitate these events,” a statement reads.
The Town of Sidney is putting a focus on these large-scale events as it describes them as not only being economical important to Sidney residents, but also said they “are integral to our community culture and identity.”
While the traditional ways that Vancouver Islanders enjoy the summer calendar might be in jeopardy, the municipality said that a “creative” approach will be put towards efforts to run alternative or online versions of these popular gatherings.
“Sidney rightfully prides itself on its numerous events that bring great vitality and happiness to our community. While we all share in the disappointment of event cancellations, I believe we can also take pride in the way we have come together, by staying apart, to protect our community,” said Town of Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith.
The township also said that while they are disappointed in having to cancel the Sidney summer market, they were already looking forward to the 2021 season.
The Sidney cancellations joins a long list of events already being removed from the 2020 calendar around Vancouver Island.
Graham Cox
