The Town of Battleford is cancelling its parade this year but it will return in 2022. (file photo/battlefordsNOW staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Coming back in 2022

Town cancels parade, fireworks for this year only

Jul 16, 2021 | 12:38 PM

The Town of Battleford announced they had to cancel their annual parade and fireworks display this year.

Traditionally the parade is held in August in downtown Battleford. The event was previously quashed in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Parks and Recreation Manager Jordan Schechtel says while the province’s COVID-19 restrictions have lifted, the town did not have enough time to plan for an event this year. So the recreation committee decided to forgo it this time.

“They decided they are not going to have it for one more year. Then, just come back again in 2022,” he said.

Schechtel said it wasn’t an easy decision.

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“They discussed the idea to have the parade and really it wasn’t so much of a COVID restriction, it was more so just the timing,” he said.

The fireworks show, usually held after the parade on the field across from Fort Battleford, has also been put on the back burner until next year as well.

The show was previously cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic precautions.

Schechtel said the recreation committee is cognizant of the fact it has been a challenging past year financially for many. That’s why it chose to put off the event until 2022.

“We decided earlier on not to go ahead with the fireworks because it is heavily dependent on donations from businesses,” he said. “The committee didn’t feel comfortable approaching businesses for donations, given that COVID was still happening. Some of them are starting to re-open, and still dealing with that.”

Schechtel said next year all the annual festivities are expected to return as usual.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow