This story has been amended since first posting.
Organizers of the North Shore Canada Day parade are passing on this year’s event.
Parade committee chairman Peter Gibson said the difficult decision to cancel was made Thursday after consultation with North Shore MPs, MLAs and city officials.
“It's unfortunate, but a situation we have been considering for several weeks,” said Gibson, in an email statement co-signed by committee members Marcel Duhamel and Ron Hyslop. All three are members of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 118, which helped to save the parade from cancellation several years ago.
The popular event attracts thousands to the parade route in North Vancouver’s Central Lonsdale neighbourhood, from Grand Boulevard to Mahon Park, with a pancake breakfast before its start and a barbecue after.
“With the provincial state-of-emergency extended to the end of April and social distancing in force for several more weeks, it would not be possible to organize the parade with short notice,” he said. “It is also extremely unlikely – should conditions ease in May or June – that our provincial health office would want to see 35,000-plus people side-by-side on the streets, along with thousands more taking part in the parade.”
The organizing committee extended its thanks to the community and business participants, parade volunteers, city hall and in particular the parks and engineering departments, as well as North Vancouver RCMP for their contributions and assistance over the years.
“To see the smiles on the faces of the thousands of children and families who lined the streets each year makes it all worthwhile,” he said.
Organizers hope to remount the parade in 2021.
