Toonik Tyme cancelled, Iqaluit asks non-residents to postpone visits

(Updated 3:45 p.m., March 15)

For the first time in its 55-year history, Iqaluit’s Toonik Tyme spring festival is cancelled, and the City of Iqaluit asks non-residents to delay any travel to Nunavut’s capital, unless absolutely necessary, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

At the same time, multiple group programs hosted by Iqaluit’s municipal recreation department are suspended from March 15 until April 5

City staff and the 123Go! Toonik Tyme committee released this information in three separate announcements issued on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15, following local meetings held in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest announcement follows an emergency meeting of Iqaluit City Council held at 1 p.m. March 15.

In it, the city asks all non-essential visitors not to travel to Iqaluit.

“The health and well-being of our residents is our priority and we are urging people not to travel to Iqaluit, unless absolutely necessary. Residents who have plans to travel outside Nunavut should also consider delaying their trip,” Mayor Kenny Bell said in the release.

The city has also cancelled all non-essential work travel by its employees and consultants.

“Iqaluit’s vulnerable population groups are most at risk, including elders, those living in crowded living situation and the homeless. We must do what we can now to protect them,” said Iqaluit’s deputy mayor, Janet Brewster.

As for Toonik Tyme, which normally features multiple mass gatherings, organizers said on Saturday evening that they’ve cancelled the spring festival, which was to have been held from April 9 to April 19 this year.

As of March 15, no COVID-19 cases were reported for Iqaluit or Nunavut, but Toonik Tyme organizers say the health of the community is their first priority.

“It is out of an abundance of caution, and with much disappointment, that the board of 123Go! has decided to cancel this year’s event in light of the COVID-19 virus,” the Toonik Tyme organizing group said in a statement.

It’s possible the group will organize a community activity later in 2020, and they say they’ll be back in 2021.

Avoid mass gatherings, health officer says

This comes in the wake of a statement on March 13 from Dr. Michael Patterson, Nunavut’s chief medical health officer, advising Nunavut residents to avoid mass gatherings.

Public health officials in most other jurisdictions are issuing the same advice. In Quebec, which includes Nunavik, all gatherings of more than 250 persons are banned.

At the same time, the City of Iqaluit has suspended multiple group activities at its various facilities until April 5.

The suspended activities include all programs at the Arctic Winter Games arena. Some activities at the Arnaitok area and the aquatic centre will continue, with certain limitations.

What’s closed?

Here are the group programs the city has suspended:

• Elders’ Qammaq.

• The Arctic Winter Games Arena: all ice times are cancelled.

• The Arnaitok arena: all ice rentals for user groups, birthday parties and private rentals are cancelled.

• The aquatic centre: all group-fitness classes, including Aquafit, are cancelled, as are birthday party and group rentals in the Northwestel multipurpose room and public and family swims. The hot tub and saunas will be closed.

• No new rental bookings for any recreation facility will be accepted during the March 15 to April 5 time period.

• The city’s April break camps are cancelled.

What’s open?

The following programs and facilities remain open for now:

• Youth centre: regular hours.

• Arnaitok arena: public and family skate times will continue and additional skate times will be added. Note that no more than 30 people will be admitted at one time.

• The aquatic centre: all lane swims will continue and additional lane swims will be added. The Iqaluit Breakers swim team and the national lifeguard certification course will continue. The fitness centre will remain open.

• The curling rink remains open for league play, but no special events.

City staff say they’ll reassess these cancellations and closures by April 5 and notify the public of any changes.

City to maintain essential services

All other city facilities and workplaces remain open.

And the city says it’ll provide essential services during the pandemic, including water and sewer delivery, garbage pickup and emergency services like fire, ambulance, and dispatch.

But it warns that it’s possible that other city facilities could be closed in the future.

For more information on recreation programs and facilities, including refund requests, you should visit this web page, or call the AWG recreation office at 867-979-5611.

For information on preventive measures, go to Nunavut’s Health Department web page.

For information on travel, and related advisories, go to this federal government web page.

These decisions follow the formation late last week of a COVID-19 task force at the City of Iqaluit.