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People continue to ask, what is Kelowna's plan for Canada Day? The answer, thanks to COVID-19, is that there is no plan. April 27, after considering the options, Festivals Kelowna and the City made the decision was made to simply cancel the annual celebration outright.
Councillor Mohini Singh remains saddened by the decision but said there was no other choice.
Canada Day is a special day for Singh, who took her Oath of Citizenship in 1989.
"It was a very, very difficult decision," said Singh outside her McKinley Landing home. "We thought about it, we debated, we studied the options," she recalled.
"There was no answer, there was no clear-cut answer," she explained.
In the end, she's satisfied that the only choice was to make a clear announcement that it would be cancelled altogether, but with the day looming, she's saddened.
"It's the first Canada Day that I have faced where we will have no celebration."
But just because there can't be a big event for everyone, Singh believes people can still find ways to mark the occasion.
Canadian Heritage has organized ways for all Canadians to celebrate without the usual gatherings.
"I highly encourage people to, within their own communities, at a safe social distance, still do something to celebrate Canada Day," she said.
At risk of spoiling the surprise for her closest friends, Singh's plan is to go to the people she would ordinarily celebrate the day with and give them a red and a white rose each.
"Do it in smaller numbers. Do it with your neighbours, do it with your families, but celebrate."
In making the cancellation in April, Festivals Kelowna Executive Director Renatta Mills echoed Councillor Singh's sad tone.
“Our team is quite disappointed but completely understands the importance of supporting efforts to minimize exposure to the coronavirus, and that includes cancelling large public events,” she said.
Kelowna’s Canada Day festivities are traditionally held on July 1 each year in multiple locations along the city’s lakefront.
Typically, the full-day event attracts more than 60,000 visitors and features multiple stages for live outdoor entertainment, interactive games, artisans, community group displays and food stations.
The festivities wrap up with a fireworks celebration at night as long as the summer’s fire danger rating allows it.
“Ever optimistic though, we will begin our planning for next year and look forward to welcoming everyone to ‘Celebrate Canada Day-Kelowna’ on July 1, 2021,” added Mills.
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