Sidney’s beloved annual street market, which often attract crowds of 5,000 every Thursday during the summer, has officially been cancelled this year.
The cancellation was announced on Friday by the Town of Sidney Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) after provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry’s statements regarding the cancellation of all summer events that promote large gatherings this year.
According to a statement form the municipality, the night markets aren’t the only summer events that will be missed in Sidney this year.
All events that involve public gatherings held both indoors and outdoors in Sidney in summer 2020 have been either cancelled or postponed.
Instead, the township has reached out to event organizers to explore ways to host significantly modified versions of the same events through online activities and functions that allow for physical distancing.
In particular, the municipality is working with Peninsula Celebrations to look at hosting altered versions of the annual Sidney Days/Canada Day events.
“I would like to thank Sidney event organizers and arts and culture organizations for their quick response to the threat of COVID-19,” said Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith.
“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.”
