Canadian Western Agribition in Regina won’t be happening this year, due to concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus pandemic.
CWA announced its 50th show, originally scheduled from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5, is being postponed until 2021.
“This was a difficult decision to make, but the health and safety of our exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, partners and guests is priority,” CWA president Chris Lees said.
“We owe it to everyone connected to Agribition to make the best decisions we can, even when they’re the hardest ones to make.”
The show is now taking place from Nov. 22-27, 2021.
“Agribition has never missed a show in 49 years so this is tough,” CWA CEO Chris Lane said. “But we have already started making sure that CWA’s year-round work continues and we showcase Canadian agriculture to the community and to the world.”
In the meantime, CWA said it is working to create new digital experiences for exhibitors, international buyers and students in terms of mentorship, international market development, education and scholarships.
“There’s so much about Agribition that supports the industry outside of the event itself. We have an opportunity to build on that and make sure it’s as strong as it can be,” Lane said.
Get daily National news
Lees said people can soon expect announcements on new programs and entertainment for its 50th show in 2021.
“CWA’s board of directors and staff are committed to making the 50th show the absolute best it can be. That work hasn’t stopped yet and it won’t stop now,” Lees said.
Tim Reid, Evraz Place CEO and president, said he feels for CWA’s organizers, knowing how much time and effort they put into event.
“The reality of it is when you’re an event-driven organization you’re passionate at what you do and I can imagine it was a challenging day for the team at Agribition and we feel for them,” said Tim Reid, Evraz Place CEO and president.
“But we also respect the fact the decision was made in the best interest of public safety and the best interest for the province.”
Reid said CWA brings in anywhere between $300,000 to $800,000 in revenue for Evraz Place.
“This wasn’t a surprise to us from a financial standpoint, but it is a disappointment because Agribition is a significant revenue source for us,” Reid said.
“It’s also a huge tourism and economic impact driver for our city.”
CWA’s Annual General Meeting is taking place via webcast and conference call on June 25. Further details can be found at www.agribition.com.
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out. In situations where you can’t keep a safe distance from others, public health officials recommend the use of a non-medical face mask or covering to prevent spreading the respiratory droplets that can carry the virus.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
Comments