The Struggles of Planning Community Events in a Pandemic

Clarence-Rockland has received a $10,000 grant to run its virtual community activities planned for the rest of 2021. TVC22 Journalist Bruce de la Cruz, and Clarence-Rockland program Coordinator Christine Sarault, discusses exactly how the money will be used, and the struggles of planning events during a pandemic.

Sarault explains that the 3 main events that the grant is going towards is the Virtual Canada day celebration ($4000), the virtual art exhibitions that will run during the summer at the YMCA ($1000), and the Christmas Parade of Lights ($5000).

For each event, all the money from the grant will be used for marketing, paying the talent (performers and artists), and marketing each event respectively. 

Under normal circumstances, the money would be used in the same fashion, although due to COVID restrictions, the Seniors Games and the Ottawa River festival have been cancelled this year.

Sarault then goes into detail on how the events will be structured in a virtual/socially distanced format.

Starting in July and ending in December, the art exhibition will call 2 artists every month to display their work virtually at the YMCA, and will be broadcasted to the city’s facebook page. Admissions are free.

Since Sarault is currently planning and booking the talent for the Virtual Canada day celebration, she can’t disclose who will be performing, although she says that she is changing things up compared to last year. 

Sarault says that she is trying to balance out the amount of events for kids and events for adults this year.

The event will be pre-recorded, and broadcasted on the city’s facebook page.

As for the Christmas Parade of Lights, the event will once again take a drive through approach, with plans for it to take place in the Clarence Creek Arena Parking lot.

Sarault explains that during planning, they always keep COVID measures in mind to make sure that everyone involved with the production and those attending will remain safe.

The City plans to market the events using their facebook page, radio ads, and T.V. Commercials.

The interview ends with Sarault explaining that it is important that these events continue to operate as they provide a chance to bond and to create memories within the community, which is something the pandemic has made us realize how important it is.