The Municipality of Meaford is preparing for its Canada Day festivities to be primarily virtual again this year.
A report was brought to Meaford council recently detailing how municipal events in 2021 may proceed.
The report put together by Meaford CAO Rob Armstrong says an adhoc Events Team (ET) with representation from the BIA, Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the Meaford Public Library, and municipal staff was organized earlier this year to support events happening within the municipality.
A list of events and organizers have been compiled by the group and ongoing outreach is occurring to find out the status of local events for 2021.
Each year the municipality hosts Canada Day and the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. Both events had to be altered last year, but the report notes the goal for 2021 is to have these events occur in a way that adheres to the provincial and health unit guidelines.
Currently, Canada Day is being planned as a virtual event.
“A virtual event is the best option to provide our residents with an opportunity to celebrate together while still being socially distanced and meet with any of the Province’s re-opening framework colour zones,” the report explains.
A special webpage for the event will be created with various family activities, which could include a flag raising, music videos, interviews, and fireworks.
For the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, the report says, staff are proposing the event be held later in August to allow more time to observe the status of public health regulations.
Currently, a modified dinner to host the event virtually is being planned, but the final format is still to be determined.