N.S. aims to tighten parade safety after girl’s death

HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia government is moving to improve parade safety measures after the tragic death of a four-yearold girl at a Christmas parade.

MaCali Cormier, 4, died after she fell under a float during Yarmouth’s annual Christmas Parade of Lights last Saturday.

Transportation Minister Lloyd Hines said Thursday his department’s traffic services division is considering whether improvements can be made to the parade permit process.

He said he believes some sort of change can be brought in by the spring sitting of the legislature.

“I think we have to be a little bit more diligent about enforcement,” Hines said.

Currently, permits issued by the province and municipalities ask for only basic information such as the parade route, times, and the number of participants.

They also clearly put the responsibility for safety measures on parade organizers, but Hines said it’s not enough to simply pass off the responsibility for safety.

Hines also said he’s not ruling out possible safety regulations as part of the new Traffic Safety Act, which was passed in the fall.

He said specific regulations around parades could be expedited.

“We have the capacity ... to make that amendment in the regulations, so we are going to take a deep dive on it,” Hines said.

He said he expects the province would get co-operation from municipalities on any changes.

“If we decide that we have some bona fide improvements, I’m sure that would be welcomed by the jurisdictions that look after this themselves.”

Cormier’s death prompted a number of parade committees across Nova Scotia to review their safety measures.

On Thursday the Cape Breton Regional Municipality recreation department and police reissued parade rules following a review.

They include requirements for a parade marshal, emergency first aid or paramedic services, fire extinguishers for any entries with a generator, and at least two volunteer spotters to walk alongside floats. They also prohibit the throwing of items from any vehicle such as candy.

Spectators are not allowed to stand or sit in the street during a parade and are prohibited from crossing the street while a parade is underway. They are also not allowed to park their vehicles along the parade route.

A news release said six more parades are scheduled across the municipality this holiday season including in Louisbourg, Reserve Mines, Glace Bay, Dominion, Membertou and North Sydney.

Meanwhile, the pastor whose church is hosting the girl’s funeral said Thursday the service was delayed due to power outages in the area.

The lead minister at the Yarmouth Wesleyan Church, Adriaan James Plaizier, said the private funeral was shifted to 11 a.m. Friday, with 600 seats available at the church.

He said many in the community of 7,000 people, including witnesses to the tragedy, are grieving the death of the girl.