As numerous events have been cancelled due to COVID-19, the fate of Kindersley’s Goose Festival still hangs in the balance.

Last week, the Kindersley Chamber of Commerce met on the topic and executive director, Kevin Martin, shared that not all hope has been lost on hosting the event.

“Right now, we do not know – but we aren’t saying it’s cancelled. Our concern, like many others, is the health and safety of our residents and those who would come to the event,” said Martin, “We are following the lead of the government, but – it depends when they say we can once again have groups of people. So for right now, we aren’t cancelling but we also can’t say that it will go on either”.

Goose Fest is typically held mid-September and events that are usually held later in the year, including the Rosetown Harvest Festival, have already announced their cancellation for 2020. However, Martin said they are leaving their options open as, although it would be very hectic, they could get the annual event organized in approximately six weeks.

“That would be if we have people and businesses on board to help out, we could do it but it would be... it would be busy,” said Martin.

Last fall, it was stated that the Chamber was not going to host the 2020 Goose Festival and would be more involved with promoting it, so long as the businesses took the lead. Martin said recently that they will still have a hand in the planning and hosting process, yet are still looking to the local businesses to have a more active role in the event.

As the province is still just in the first week of phase two, is it plausible to think that large gatherings will be allowed by fall?

“We are watching all of the updates and we are also waiting to see what the province says about schools reopening in the fall. As we look at it now, we are talking we are phase five before we can have gatherings of more than 30 people – will that happen by September? We don’t know, but we are keeping our options open if it does,” shared Martin.

With the start of phase three yet to be announced, right now, Martin, The Chamber and the rest of the province, can only wait and react to information as it becomes available from the province and Saskatchewan Health Authority.