Canaday Day celebrations in Melfort last year were moved inside the Northern Lights Palace due to rain. (Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW staff)
Canada Day

Change of venue for Melfort Canada Day fireworks display

Jun 11, 2020 | 12:00 PM

The planned Canada Day fireworks display will still go on, but the organizing committee is announcing a change in venue.

The event will take place at Stone Gate on Saskatchewan Drive, south of McDonald’s at dusk on July 1st, rather than behind the Melfort Mall.

Committee member Gail Marie Anderson said keeping everyone safe while enjoying the fireworks will be a big focus.

“Because of COVID-19 restrictions we need to keep vehicles 15 feet apart and so we will have parking attendants on-site and they will be also encouraging people to stay in their cars,” Anderson said.

Outdoor gathering sizes are currently at 30 as put in place by the public health authorities so it is very important for those in attendance to not leave their vehicles.

Among a few other reasons for moving locations, Anderson added that the committee is expecting a record number of vehicles in attendance.

With everyone being so separate for the past three months, getting people together for Canada Day was important to the organizers.

“It is always important to celebrate Canada Day together because it shows our patriotism, and we really are so lucky to live in this country,” Anderson said. “This is one way that we thought we could get together in a group setting to celebrate.”

Residents of the Melfort area are accustomed to seeing fireworks at the Melfort fair but since that has also been cancelled, the Canada Day display is sure to impress.

Parking attendants will not only be monitoring social distancing rules but also handing out some celebration kits containing souvenirs, Canada flags, and glow sticks.

“We are so fortunate to have sponsors on board to make this possible,” Anderson said. “This show will be bigger than what the committee could have done alone.”

Those sponsors include the City of Melfort, Prairie North Coop, Canadian Tire as well as the Sask. Lottery Grant Program and the Canadian Heritage Fund.

angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser

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