It remains unclear as to whether Sault Ste. Marie will have its annual Rotary Santa Claus Parade in November.
“We are reviewing that now,” said Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie’s David Marshall, who serves as the event’s parade marshal, speaking to SooToday by phone Friday.
“It’ll be next week,” Marshall said when asked if an official announcement regarding this year’s parade will be made in the near future.
A Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie staff member, while not at liberty to issue a quote, did say the club will make an official announcement “if not next week, then very early the following week.”
Santa Claus Parades in other communities have been cancelled for this year due to provincial orders restricting the size of social gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Those communities include, in northern Ontario, Greater Sudbury (as of Thursday), Timmins and Thunder Bay.
Ottawa and Toronto, COVID-19 hot spots in recent days, have cancelled their Santa Claus Parades as well.
Premier Doug Ford announced Friday Ontario is asking people across the entire province to now only come in close contact with those inside their own household as COVID-19 cases jump to higher levels.
Before Friday's announcement, Ontario residents were allowed to establish social circles of 10, including others who did not live in their household.
Ontario Public Health announced its highest daily figure for positive COVID-19 cases with 732 reported Friday.
Algoma Public Health (APH) confirmed another new case of COVID-19 in the Algoma District Friday, the 34th case in the Sault and Algoma district.
