The 40th annual Orillia Perch Festival, one of Canada’s largest fishing derbies, is the latest victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organizer Doug Bunker confirmed today the festival, which had been slated to start April 18, has been cancelled.
“We just can’t put people in harm’s way,” said Bunker, noting it “only made sense” to cancel the event in the light of the rules limiting physical distance and prohibiting groups of people to five or fewer.
“We did look at different versions of the event, of maybe creating a virtual event, but there wasn’t time to do that and there are just too many unknowns,” said Bunker.
While it’s “a shame” to cancel the popular event, it’s the right thing to do, said Bunker.
“With the uncertainty, with the way things are changing so quickly, we just wanted to do what’s right,” said Bunker. “Our message is to stay at home, to self-isolate and do the things the public health authorities are encouraging to stop the spread of the virus.”
The annual festival typically attracts between 3-4,000 people each year. This year, the festival had expanded its format to four weeks because of the “brutal” springs that have hampered the event the last several years.
Bunker vows a bigger and better event in 2021.
“Next year will be our 40th anniversary and we’ll look to celebrate,” said Bunker. “It’s unfortunate, but a lot of businesses will have to suffer through this and hope to come out the other side even stronger.”
