Remembrance Day, Diwali and other celebrations adapt to unusual fall and winter

Some familiar fall and winter events in Metro Vancouver will look very unfamiliar in 2020, organizers say.

COVID-19 case numbers are rising in B.C. and across Canada and adaptations — or in some cases, cancellations — are in the works for some events that normally would see hundreds or thousands of people attending.

Diwali, the celebration of light observed by Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities, is one example.

Diwali Fest board director Kriti Dewan said after months of weighing options, organizers decided pandemic safety was best achieved by moving festivities online.

"It makes more sense," Dewan said. "We have a lot of grandparents coming to our events and these are the people we really need to protect. We're happy to switch to a digital form."

Dewan said normally about 500 to 700 people would attend celebrations in Surrey and another 3,500 to 7,000 would attend the main event in Vancouver. Attendees enjoy food, music and dance performances, art workshops and sometimes fireworks.

Now, festivities are moving online with offerings like music and dance videos, children's stories and virtual painting workshops.

"I'm so pleased our artists and partners have really stepped up," Dewan said. "It's been a very interesting and challenging year."

'We just don't want any further risks'

Vancouver's Remembrance Day at Victory Square will proceed on Nov. 11 but will look like no other, said director of ceremonies Cam Cathcart.

Cathcart said the programme will be abbreviated. There will be no parade. There will be no vigil guard or colour party and fewer wreaths will be laid.

There will be a choir and band as in previous years, but they will be joining the event remotely via video feed.

Cathcart said people should not come to Victory Square and instead take in the ceremonies through live streaming.

"We just don't want any further risks with large gatherings," Cathcart said. "We hope that next year, we'll have a special Remembrance Day which will be memorable as they have [been] in the past."

Light displays

Heading into December and the Christmas season, some holiday events have been called off but others are still going ahead with modifications.

The Vancouver Christmas Market was cancelled earlier in October, and on Tuesday, the City of Coquitlam cancelled the 2020 Lights at Lafarge display.

In North Vancouver, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which is presently closed, will reopen on Dec. 1 for its Canyon Lights display. The Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove is opening a holiday lights display Nov. 18, and Vancouver's VanDusen Botanical Garden will hold its annual Festival of Light beginning Nov. 27.

All events will have various safety protocols such as physical distancing and contact tracing in place.