Uh-oh Canada! July 1 festivities at Alberta legislature cancelled

The Legislative Assembly of Alberta has cancelled Canada Day celebrations on the provincial capital grounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Celebrations are typically held both inside and outside the legislature each year on July 1. This year’s festivities will be cancelled following the announcement by Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the provincial chief medical officer of health, that summer festivals will not be permitted.

“We know that celebrating Canada Day at the legislature has been a meaningful tradition to thousands of families from across Alberta for many years,” said Nathan Cooper, speaker of the Legislative Assembly, in a Friday news release. “The Legislative Assembly took this difficult decision as the health and safety of all members, staff, visitors and partners remains our top priority. We look forward to celebrating together again next year.”

Hinshaw announced last week that gatherings of more than 15 people would not be permitted in the province this summer.

On Thursday, Premier Jason Kenney announced a three-stage relaunch plan to phase in loosened restrictions in the province.

Festivals and mass gatherings, such as a Canada Day celebration, will not be permitted until the third and final phase of that plan.

The first stage of the plan could begin as early as May 14, however that date remains dependent on a number of protocols being put in place. The rest of the stages do not have set dates for when they begin and will depend on how COVID -19 cases and hospitalizations in the province react to each earlier stage of the plan.

The celebrations at the legislature are usually the largest Canada Day festivities in Alberta, often attracting close to 30,000 people.