Dion concert among events that have been postponed
Grammy-award winning singer Celine Dion has postponed all upcoming concerts from March 24 to April 27, including an April 25 show in Saskatoon at Sasktel Centre. Her official Facebook page announced the postponement of the remainder of the North American leg of the Courage World Tour late Thursday.
Performances will be rescheduled for later dates; more information is expected to be sent to ticket holders soon.
It’s the latest event scheduled to be held at Sasktel Centre to be postponed since Wednesday, when the World Health Organization declared the spread of the COVID -19 novel coronavirus to be a pandemic. The National Lacrosse League suspended play, as did the Canadian Hockey League, effectively putting the Saskatchewan Rush and Saskatoon Blades seasons on hold.
The Juno Awards show, which was to be held on Sunday, was cancelled on Thursday.
Other events expected to attract large crowds over the next few months include a World Wrestling Entertainment show April 26, ZZ Top on May 9, The Black Keys on May 16 and an Ultimate Fighting Championship card on June 20.
On Thursday, Scott Ford, chair of the 2020 Junos host committee and Sasktel Centre executive director, said building officials will “look at them on an event-by-event basis” and that “until we are advised otherwise, those events are moving forward.”
The Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra has announced that it is postponing its March 21 performance with Accent. In a statement posted to the SSO website, executive director Mark Turner wrote that after a discussion with Accent, travel options for some group members are uncertain, so rather than risking a show that “wouldn’t be to the standard either party would want, we decided it’s best to postpone.” The performance is expected to be rescheduled.
SPORTING EVENTS
The Fred Sasakamoose “Chief Thunderstick” National Hockey Championship, which was scheduled to take place in Saskatoon from April 24 to 26, is postponed until further notice. The Indigenous Hockey Summit that was scheduled to take place at the Saskatoon Inn on April 23 has been cancelled.
The Kinsmen Indoor Games, which were scheduled for March 13 and 14, have also been cancelled.
OTHER GATHERINGS
On Thursday, Prairieland Park issued a media release stating that many local events are going forward as planned. If a scheduled event at the venue is cancelled or postponed, event organizers or Prairieland Park will notify news media and post information to social media, it said.
The Gathering for miyomahcihowin and mii yoo naa kaa twayh ta mihk, which was to take place at the University of Saskatchewan from March 24 to 26, is postponed. The gathering was to look at “strengthbased approaches” to address health priorities identified by Indigenous community members. “Although the risk of COVID -19 to Saskatchewan residents currently remains low, the health and safety of the public — including attendees, Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers, and our presenters — is paramount,” a statement posted to the event page said.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Places of worship are also postponing and cancelling events. Please contact your local place of worship for updates.
Postmedia News
— With Starphoenix files from Thia James and Dave Deibert