
Another annual local tradition has fallen victim to COVID-19.
The Antigonish New Year’s Levee has been cancelled.
After December’s regular town council meeting Monday night, Laurie Boucher, the town’s mayor, said they’re following the advice of public health officials.
“Both municipalities want to lead by example,” she said. “Both (Chief Medical Officer of Health) Dr. (Robert) Strang and (Premier) Stephen McNeil are telling us to stay home, and we want everybody to stay home.”
The event is hosted annually by officials with the Town of Antigonish and Antigonish Co.
Boucher said it was impossible to go forward with the current restrictions.
“We did talk to the (Royal Canadian) Legion, and they said that there’s just no way,” she said. “It doesn’t make sense to be able to have community members coming in, shaking hands, and talking idle chit-chat for a couple of hours.”
Boucher said town and county officials will look forward to the 2022 event.