The 2020 Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede in Armstrong is the latest casualty of COVID-19.
It was announced today that the event wouldn’t go on as planned from Sept. 2-6 in the North Okanagan.
“Public health must and always will come first,” said a statement posted to the IPE website.
“This decision has been made by the board of directors and staff of the IPE with a great deal of consultation, discussion and regret.”
Since the event is still four months away, there was hope until recently that the current public health crisis could improve to a point where the IPE could still happen.
However, recent information from Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s provincial health officer, about no large events taking place this summer was the final nail in the coffin.
“Considering present circumstances, this decision was unavoidable,” the IPE’s statement said.
Donations towards the 2020 event will go towards covering costs and future fairs, as the IPE will return to Armstrong in 2021 from Sept. 1-5.
