With provincially imposed COVID-19 restrictions in place, Blind River council has endorsed the cancellation of the town’s most popular summer events.
Council decided at its Monday meeting to cancel events surrounding Community Days, Canada Day and Senior Games. The cancellations were endorsed unanimously by council in a distancing meeting on Zoom.
Mayor Sally Hagman and councillors are disappointed with the decision to cancel the popular events which attract thousands to Blind River each year, but said council’s move was based on directives of avoiding large public gatherings by the Ontario government.
The town had already budgeted for the events. In a report from treasurer Sue Dent, she indicated that the events raise money and also have costs associated with them. Also included in some of the events are donations.
The treasurer recommended that all budgeted money be transferred over to the town’s 2021 budget for use for the same events next year.
The decision comes in step with an earlier council decision to not commit to any contracts associated with town events this summer.
A report from CAO-Clerk Kathryn Scott said council’s budget committee will have to review the budget impacts from COVID-19 costs and cancellations later this year.
In a related matter, council will re-open Hillside Cemetery to family members to visit loved ones on Mother’s Day (May 10) and Father’s Day (June 21). The cemetery visits will allow groups of five and will include all social distancing measures imposed by the provincial government of maintaining a two-meter (six-foot) distance between visitors.
The decision allows permanent town residents only to visit the cemetery.