Updated to reflect recent announcements at 7am Thursday
The town of Sackville has cancelled this year’s Fall Fair.
The decision came as a result of recent closures, and a growing number of COVID-19 cases in town, says recreation director Matt Pryde. “It was definitely a tough decision. We sat down as a management team earlier this morning to discuss it, and it was a pretty somber conversation,” says Pryde. “But at the end of the day, with COVID cases rising here locally, we felt like right now is not the most appropriate time to deliberately create a gathering, whether it be inside or outside. So at the end of the day, it was the best thing for us to do, to keep our residents safe.”
CASES IN SCHOOLS AND DAYCARE CAUSE CLOSURES
Two schools in the region that were closed on Monday due to COVID cases within their school communities have closed again today. After reopening on Wednesday, Port Elgin Regional School announced students would move to online learning today and Friday. TRHS had reopened for both Tuesday and Wednesday, but will be closed today. Principal Susan Lafford sent a letter home to families Wednesday evening announcing another case of COVID-19 related to the school. The announcement to close the school came about an hour later from Anglophone East School District.
Mount Allison University announced a case in one of its employees on Monday, and has made no further case announcements. The Drew Nursing Home reported one new case in a resident on Wednesday. The home now has 23 cases confirmed, and one person in hospital.
On Wednesday, a Sackville daycare was closed with a case of COVID-19 within its community. Wiggles and Giggles Early Learning Centre has told parents that they will hear from Public Health regarding any exposures, and the centre is closed until further instruction from Public Health.
15 NEW ZONE 1 CASES AND ONE MORE DEATH
Numbers released Wednesday afternoon show 15 new cases in Zone 1, out of 76 new cases province-wide. There are now 134 active cases of COVID-19 in Zone 1, and a record 557 province-wide.
The numbers also show one more death from COVID-19, although the province issued no press release with details. CHMA can say that the death did not occur in Zone 1.
While case counts seem to be climbing locally, the list of public exposure notifications published by the province does not currently feature any Sackville area locations. It’s worth noting though, that the most recent notification listed is for September 13.
“STRESS AND DISAPPOINTMENT” IN THE REC DEPARTMENT
Pryde says that while many town staffers help out with the Fall Fair, himself, Deanna Cadman and Angela Hastie are the core organizing team. The group has already made arrangements to accommodate changing rules from the province when the decision to cancel came about. “It feels like we’ve done this four times in the last week and a half,” says Pryde. “And so it’s been a lot of work and stress and disappointment on our side as well. But again, it’s the best thing we can do.”
Pryde said he’s talking with the fireworks supplier to potentially postpone the display until later in the fall, presuming that the current wave of cases dies down. “In terms of the parade or the family day, or any of those bigger ticket items, there’s not much we can do other than maybe add some of the vendors to Moonlight Madness events later in the fall,” says Pryde. The music planned for the tent will have to wait for next year, he says.
The cancellation will cost the town some contractual fees, but nothing significant compared to the Fall Fair budget, says Pryde. The town had set aside $75,000 for the 2021 Fall Fair, an extra $10,000 above its normal budget due to having not offered the event in 2020 due to the pandemic.
“STAY TUNED” FOR PLANS RE: FUTURE EVENTS
When it comes to other events on the horizon, Pryde says, “stay tuned.”
Mount Allison University will go ahead with Truth and Reconcilliation Week activities, including the town-sponsored screening of We Were Children, a film relating the impact of Indian residential schools on First Nations children and communities. Pryde says the Vogue Cinema has regulations to follow. Anyone attending will need to be fully vaccinated and wear a mask according to rules that came into effect Wednesday.
Pryde said staff haven’t made a decision about the potential for the Arts Wall induction ceremony on October 3, but should know by early next week.
