‘We’re not going to be cancelling Halloween’: Mayor of Hamilton
Published October 14, 2020 at 6:45 pm
At a council meeting on Wednesday (Oct. 14), Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger said that Halloween will be a go this year in the city but it might look a little different.
At a council meeting on Wednesday (Oct. 14), Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger said that Halloween will be a go this year in the city but it might look a little different.
Eisenberger was responding to remarks from Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann who was plugging the 7th Annual Kate Andrus Pumpkin Prowl event on Halloween.
“I can confirm that we’re not going to be cancelling Halloween,” Eisenberger told councillors following Nann’s comments.
“But there will be some recommendations on how to do so safely.”
Videos
He added that he expects school events will take place and he said: “I think trick-or-treating is likely to happen as well.”
He did say that more details are expected in the days to come but one thing he did caution against planning for was adult celebrations.
“One thing that might not be recommended is the adult Halloween party,” Eisenberger said. “This is probably not the right time to celebrate with a group of people in costume.”
On Tuesday (Oct. 13), a City of Hamilton press release announced that Eisenberger was among several Ontario city mayors pressing the provincial government to provide clear public health guidelines for the upcoming holiday.
The GTHA Mayors and Chairs held their weekly teleconference and it seems a major topic of discussion was Halloween in the wake of the recent regression of several Ontario regions to a modified Stage 2.
“Looking ahead to Halloween, now less than three weeks away, the Mayors and Chairs will strongly advocate for one clear public health message, preferably coming from the province, by the end of this week,” the release said.
This comes on the heels of comments from Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, who said trick-or-treating should be possible this Halloween as long as precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are taken.
In her comments, though, Tam strongly urged parents to listen to local public health authorities for advice on their particular communities.
“Halloween is quickly approaching and the Province must provide clear guidelines for the public to enjoy a safe and healthy Halloween,” Eisenberger said in a statement.
“We will work with the Province to ensure a safe and consistent approach and not a patchwork of approaches municipality by municipality.”
insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising