A long-time Sunday night tradition in Orillia has been put on hold for the summer.
In a memo to the mayor and city councillors Friday, it was announced by the city's corporate services department that the Sunday Evening Band Concert Series at the Rotary Aqua Theatre will not be happening this year.
'The corporate services department has made the difficult decision to pause the Sunday Evening Band Concert Series for the upcoming summer season" due to the "various construction projects" underway, notes the memo.
The waterfront area is, for all intents and purposes, a giant construction zone these days. There are three separate projects underway: the Centennial Drive, Laclie Street and Tecumseth Street projects.
"Despite efforts made by staff to coordinate the concert series with the construction projects, the limited access to parking directly by the Rotary Aqua Theatre will impact the accessibility of the area for concert attendees at this time," stated the memo.
"Additionally, holding such events in a construction zone or within the vicinity of a construction zone is fraught with several liability concerns and risk to the public," said the memo.
According to city staff, the liability concerns have also been expressed by the contractor and "can include intervention by the Ministry of Labour."
The Sunday Evening Band Concert Series has been a popular tradition for decades among many who love to bring their lawn chairs, sit on the grassy hill and listen to the music in what is an idyllic spot on the shore of Lake Couchiching.
The series returned last summer after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
The hope is the Sunday evening tradition will return next summer.
