THUNDER BAY — The president of the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition feels the board of directors should cancel plans for this year's summer fair.
Doing so would cost the CLE "well over a million dollars," said Al Law, but he believes it's inadvisable to try to operate the fair in the midst of safety concerns and all the uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview on Tuesday, Law said he's doubtful that – even if the exhibition were able to sort out health and safety issues – enough people would attend to make the five-day event profitable.
"Everyone that's phoned me, the question is 'Are you having a fair?' or 'Why haven't you cancelled it?' Everyone I've talked to won't come to the fair even if we have it," he said.
Noting that 40 to 50 per cent of fairgoers fly in from northern First Nations, Law questioned whether the fair would attract even half its usual attendance.
"You end up losing money in the end because you still have to pay for everything for five days," he said.
The CLE is a non-profit agricultural society.
Law said a number of other agricultural societies in Ontario have already cancelled this year's fairs, including Hymers and numerous ones in southern Ontario.
He said there's a host of challenges related to health and safety requirements throughout the CLE grounds, the concessions, the rides and the exhibits, and their impact on staffing.
"The first thing is safety for the patrons, your staff, the volunteers. We have a huge group that works here for the fair," Law said.
One of the biggest issues involves protective equipment.
"If you look at all the volunteers and staff, are they going to have to have facemasks and gloves, protective equipment? You have a group that normally cleans all over the grounds. Is that group even willing to come?", Law asked.
He said a number of volunteers are older, and suggested they may choose not to work this year regardless.
Law speculated that, at the same time that the fair might be challenged to get enough workers, First Aid and security staffing might have to be doubled in order to deal with social distancing requirements in queues.
The board of directors, he said, needs to consider its own safety as well.
"We have a very mature board, and some of the directors have compromised immune systems. I'm for cancelling the fair. Never mind my age, I have a compromised immune system. I will not volunteer if the fair runs," Law said.
The board, however, will make that decision.
The chair of the fair, Law said, is putting a brief together for the directors.
He has already forwarded some issues on his own for their consideration.
Law expects the board will make a decision by May 15, noting that the midway operator, out-of-town food vendors, entertainers, and exhibitors in the CLE's 1,000-category creative arts contest need to be notified soon.
The CLE board previously cancelled the annual April Home and Garden Show.
