Many of the much-loved downtown summer activities organized by the Downtown Association (DTA) were cancelled, including the popular street parties, due to the pandemic.
The association isn’t ruling out a few events still scheduled for later in the year.
“We have cancelled most of our events for 2020,” says Ashlyn McMillan, interim manager for the DTA.
McMillan notes that the decision was made based on the advisement of the DTA’s Events Committee and Board of Directors, as well as input from Algoma Public Health.
McMillan notes that using social distancing event protocols, a few events might be able to move forward.
“There are still some events that come later in the year, such as ‘Halloween on Queen’ and a new event ‘Harvest Festival’ with the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site, that we will attempt to [run],” she says.
McMillan says the association normally aims to have as many free, family-friendly and inclusive activities as possible in the downtown that are music and art driven.
She notes that members of the Downtown Association have missed the regular roster of events, as they are opportunities to not only increase sales but also to bring awareness to and showcase their businesses to individuals who might otherwise not know about them.
“A lot of long-term clientele is [usually] gained from these events,” she says. “[They] also give our members the opportunity to work with their neighbours and plan what they would like to see happen on their block. I know a lot of them are missing that time together.”
Another factor for consideration was the funding required to make those events happen.
“As our events take a lot of community funding though grants and local sponsorship, it did not feel right to complete a sponsorship tier when local businesses have been struggling.”
The cancellation of events doesn’t mean that the association has stopped working towards the betterment of the downtown.
“We are working with a lot of other organizations to aid in different types of projects such as the Museum's ‘Recreating our Community,’ working with FutureSSM on mural projects to aid in beautification [of our] downtown and keep arts and culture in the forefront, working on online projects and physically-distanced events such as ‘Welcome Week’ with the Local immigration Project.”
McMillan also noted that the recent launch of the On this Spot App, which was developed by a partnership between the Sault Downtown Association, Sault Ste. Marie Museum and the city’s Tourism Sault Ste. Marie, provides an opportunity to bring people to the downtown core.
“We are hoping to see a rise in use [of this app] as it is a great way to get yourself and your family outside, safely socially-distanced and explore the local history of downtown, river to rail,” she says.
Users of On This Spot can view more than 100 historical photos and paintings of the community from the early 1800s to the 1950s and compare them to mapped-out and restaged pictures from the same perspective today.
McMillan says that the Downtown Association hopes to bring back any of the cancelled events in 2021.
“We were very sad to see the event season be postponed or cancelled this year due to COVID-19, but with safety and health being of the utmost importance, we felt it would be safer ...”
Find out more about the Downtown Association and get up-to-date information on their website or Facebook and Instagram pages.
