The famous Chippewa Park Carousel, currently undergoing restoration. (File).
THUNDER BAY - The celebration of a historic milestone for Chippewa Park will have to wait one more year as uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic has halted plans this summer.
This July marks the 100th anniversary of the park opening and Friends of Chippewa Park were planning to hold a five-day family festival over the Civic Holiday.
“After considerable discussion and contemplation, the Friends of Chippewa Park decided to postpone the festival until the summer of 2022,” said Lorraine Lortie, president of Friends of Chippewa Park.
“We felt it would be irresponsible to hold an outdoor festival that could attract as many as 10,000 people when so many could still be susceptible to contracting COVID-19.”
A Thunder Bay resident is $16,630 richer after the Friends of Chippewa Park announced the winner of the 100th anniversary draw on Dec. 24.
Rick Stempein was announced as the winner of the draw â a fundraiser for the Friends of Chippewa Park 100th anniversary celebrations planned around the August long-weekend of 2021.
The winning ticket was drawn by Coun. Andrew Foulds and was one of 1,663 purchased.
âWe had hoped that this would have been for $40,000 but unfortunately with COVID and a lot of restrictions not allowing us to get out to different places to sell our tickets we werenât able to sell out,â said Cathy Sawicki, co-chair of the planning committee for the Friends of Chippewa Park.