As the fight against COVID-19 wears on, the City of Woodstock has begun cancelling summer celebrations, including Canada Day festivities.
Acting on the advice of local and provincial public health officials, municipal politicians made the tough decision to scrap this year's Canada Day celebrations in Southside Park and Art in the Park, which had been slated for July 25 in Victoria Park.
The city cited physical distancing recommendations and the ongoing uncertainty of the current global pandemic as the reasons behind the cancellations.
Whether Cowapolooza, an event that draws hundreds to Southside Park for live music and family-friendly activities over two days in August, will go ahead remains to be seen. The city has said a decision on that festival's fate will be made in the next couple of weeks.
A full ban on the selling and discharging of fireworks through the Victoria Day long weekend has also been put in place.
"This amendment has been issued to ensure that all emergency services working during these challenging times are available for other emergencies," the city said in a statement.
Anyone caught violating the ban could be fined.
