Curt Wallach knew there was a possibility that the B.C. Northern Exhibition planned for this summer at Exhibition Park might not happen because of CIVID-19 pandemic.
But when he left a BCNE meeting with the other directors of the annual fair Friday night he had no indication they might be forced to cancel the Aug. 13-16 event.
While that decision has not ultimately been made, comments from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on Saturday, in which she ruled out all large-scale public gatherings in B.C. this summer, suggest the BCNE executive will have no other choice.
"I'm very surprised at that, actually, because I was definitely thinking everything was improving," said Wallach, the BCNE's first vice-president. "Obviously we're all aware of the circumstances and in my mind things are tapering off and getting better. The BCNE is in mid-August and there's a lot of time for improvement.
"In our meetings we're still full-bore ahead. We're definitely aware of what's going on, which is why we're having the meetings and we were optimistic we'd be allowed to go ahead. It's a long way away and I'm absolutely amazed that they decided that for that far away.”
Henry’s ruling on summertime gatherings also could scuttle plans for the third annual Cariboo Rocks the North, a three-day outdoor concert festival at Exhibition Park Aug. 7-9. This year’s 11-band lineup included April Wine, Prism, Nazareth, Sweet and Tom Cochrane.
However, Cariboo Rocks the North organizer Kyle Sampson said he has received no official word the event will have to canceled due to COVID-19 concerns and he and his other partners are proceeding as if it will proceed in August as scheduled.
“We don’t know for sure until it becomes a ministerial order,” said Sampson. “It may well happen, we don’t have the answers yet. It’s definitely not cancelled yet.”
If it is not allowed in the summer months, Sampson said there is a possibility the concert could happen later in the year.
“All of us involved with Cariboo Rocks have been planning to move ahead as planned for the second weekend in August,” said Sampson. “We continue to monitor the situation and work with health officials and follow the orders and with the update today it’s going to add to the conversation on what we do.
“Nothing’s ruled out but, of course, nothing’s a guarantee and we’re going to have to connect as a team and make some plans to see what our next steps are.”
The BCNE leases the land for the rodeo grounds behind CN Centre which were to be used as a campground during Cariboo Rocks The North and all 100 sites were sold out at $150 each for three days.
If the BCNE and Cariboo Rocks events are cancelled they would join a lengthening list of events that won’t happen this year in the city, including the world women’s curling championship, Western Canada ringette championships, Canadian masters badminton championships, Jehovah Witnesses convention and Backcountry Horsemen of BC trailriders jamboree.
The BCNE is a member of the B.C. Association of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions, which has already announced the Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair in May and Williams Lake Stampede in late-June won’t be happening this year.
“
