Mississauga cancels all events until July 3, will close Kariya Park during Cherry Blossom time

MISSISSAUGA, ON. April 8, 2020 – Today, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie announced that the City will continue to cancel or postpone all events scheduled to be held up until July 3rd. This includes the cancellation of Canada Day celebrations along with at least 367 other events originally slated to be held around the city.

Mayor Bonnie Crombie says, “This is the right thing to do in these circumstances.” she also suggested that perhaps Mississauga will celebrate Canada on Labour Day.

“While our festivals and events showcase the best of Mississauga and are usually the highlight of my summer, tackling the spread of COVID-19 and keeping our City healthy is our primary focus right now,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “I look forward to showcasing Mississauga’s vibrant and diverse cultural heritage with the world once it’s safe again for large crowds to gather. In the meantime, we will continue to find ways to celebrate everything that makes Mississauga shine.”

Approximately 368 events and gatherings taking place in City facilities and parks are impacted including six Canada Day events, sports tournaments, Mississauga Marathon, Carassauga, Mississauga Waterfront Festival and more.

Meanwhile, the City of Vaughan has announced that they are planning a virtual Canada Day celebration with details to follow.

Mayor Crombie also said that out of concern about physical distancing, and crowding due to the large number of people who will want to flock to Kariya Park to see the cherry blossoms in late April, the City of Mississauga has made the decision to close the park to blossom enthusiasts. The City of Toronto has been expressing similar concerns for Cherry Blossom season in High Park.

High Park says, “Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak gatherings of large groups are prohibited. This includes crowds at High Park to watch the cherry blossoms. Sorry folks, you may not be able to check out the cherry trees in full bloom this year.”

The City of Misssissauga also reassured that community and cultural groups receiving approved grant funding will continue to receive them, as this will assist with business continuity and to move forward post COVID-19. However, organizations will be required to confirm the impact that COVID-19 is having on their organization and actions that will be taken. The City will also work with event organizers to mitigate the impact of event and program cancellations and determine future event dates, if possible.

Meanwhile, Peel Public Health says there are now 684 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the region. 378 cases have been reported for Mississauga, and 270 in Brampton, while Caledon has 37 cases. There have been 9 deaths in Peel.

With Premier Doug Ford’s announcement that the province will now be able to test 13,000 people a day, thanks to the arrival of the reagent required for the testing process, Peel Public Health also expects to be ramping up testing.

Until now, test priority went to citizens who are high risk, starting with those aged 60 or older, those with pre-existing medical conditions who would be more susceptible to the virus and also the priority has gone to front-line workers.

In terms of future events, the City of Mississauga says it will continue to reassess the situation and determine if cancellations will go beyond the July 3 date, based on consultations with Peel Public Health and the Province’s ban of social gatherings.

story by Terry Lankstead

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