B.C.'s event organizers adapt to post-COVID uncertainties
For two years, public safety has taken precedence over public festivities. No matter the cultural or community importance, health measures came first.
Now that public festivals and outdoor events have a green light to return to full capacity, some event organizers are gearing up. For others, the Feb. 16 lifting of restrictions on outdoor gatherings came too late.
Surrey’s annual Vaisakhi Parade, which was scheduled for April 14, was cancelled, in part due to the timing, said Moninder Singh, president of Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar.
Families typically spend months preparing the delicious food that is provided free to the thousands of parade goers — it’s all part of sewa, which means selfless service — and they invest time and money to rent tents and make the fare.
“The public parade takes about one year of preparation in advance, and in the last four to five months we are booking things like traffic and fire safety plans, and making announcements, and that leads to families planning and creating booths,” said Singh. “In February, when we made the decision (to cancel), there was still too much uncertainty.”
In addition, non-refundable deposits for private security would have to be paid in advance.
“There were still fears that potentially it might be delayed again, and as a charity and non profit, losing out on money that had come to us through donations didn’t seem responsible.”
Singh said the community has been supportive.
“The celebrations will continue in different ways,” said Singh.