Indo Canadian News News That Matters
The City of Toronto has announced on Wednesday (Sept 23) that it will cancel or make some changes to the large-scale outdoor events led and permitted by the city government until December 31, 2020, in continuing efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the province.
The announcement of the city is not applied on outdoor sports facility and other locations that are still allowed to resume their activities in the third phase of the province’s reopening plan.
However, some events have already been cancelled, and some other events will announce alternative plans in the near future. After the announcement, organizers have cancelled major outdoor events as listed below:
- Canadian and Chinese Traditional Art Show
- Cavalcade of Lights
- Fairbank Village Pumpkin Giveaway
- Halloween on Church
- Himalayan Mela
- Just for Laughs Toronto Street Festival
- Korean Week
- MEC Toronto Race SIX
- New Year’s Eve on Nathan Phillips Square
- Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF
- Toronto Christmas Market
- Toronto Waterfront Marathon
- 10th Annual Smoke’s Poutinerie World Poutine Eating Championship
Events that are still awaiting the decision if will be cancelled or rescheduled by their organizers are:
- Beaches Lions Christmas Tree Sale
- Beaches Santa Claus Parade
- Bloor Yorkville Holiday Magic
- Christmas in the Square with The Salvation Army
- Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus parade
- Fairbank Village – Light Up the Holidays
- Fred Victor’s Share the Warmth
- Greek OHI Day Parade
- Hanley Halloween 2020
- Heddington Halloween
- Holiday Fair in the Square
- Kidz Fest
- North Etobicoke Santa Claus Parade
- Riverside Halloween Fest
- 30th Annual Kensington Market Winter Solstice
Many other events that will now be organized online include CIBC Run for the Cure, Festival of Lights, Light the Night and Nuit Blanche.
The 115th Santa Claus Parade is among the events that will be held online instead of the traditional in-person fanfare and its organizers will release alternate plans as well.
The alteration of the 115th Santa Claus Parade announced a few days after Toronto Mayor John Tory made the announcement on cancellation of the city’s popular Christmas market.
The officials said during a press release that the decision is based on public health recommendations, including festivals and other large-scale parties held in outdoor venues that are managed by the city or other public places such as parks, roads and municipal squares. The large-scale festivals and events require a long time for preparation for rely on venues, supports, permissions, arrangements to maintain the physical distancing in view of the current high public health risks.
