After initially seeing its opening date delayed due to an expired public health exemption, Calaway Park has announced its approval from Alberta Health to reopen for the 2021 season on June 12.
The announcement follows a period of uncertainty for the park after Alberta Health advised that a previous public health order exemption allowing the park to remain open last summer had expired.
The exemption, which was granted in 2020, enabled the Springbank-based amusement park to open to visitors for a shortened 60-day season, as it was deemed an outdoor facility. Last year, the park was subject to restricted capacity, social distancing measures and mandatory mask requirements, among other public health protocols.
According to a statement issued by Calaway Park on May 11, the heath exemption would have allowed the park to open on May 22 this year, as planned. But in an effort to “stop the spike,” the park’s staff set out to delay their opening weekend until June 5.
“As we have done throughout COVID-19, we have been monitoring the evolving situation while actively working with Alberta Health and the International Association of Amusement Park and Attractions,” read the statement on Calaway Park’s website. “Due to the current situation with COVID-19, we will be moving our opening weekend – this is simply the right thing to do.”
The decision to delay the park’s traditional May-long weekend opening came as a result of the Alberta government’s announcement on May 4 to shift back to Step 1 of its reopening plan, due to an increase in cases and hospitalizations across the province.
In light of their plans for a delayed spring opening, Calaway Park officials said they believed the exemption to be withstanding and were not aware of its termination by Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, on May 6.
In a CTV News article, Alberta Health provided a statement confirming that last year’s exemption was no longer valid.
“Under the current health restrictions in place, Calaway Park is not able to open to the public at this time,” said Tom McMillan, Alberta Health spokesperson in a statement to CTV News on May 21. “We are following up with them to ensure there is no confusion.”
Calaway Park then issued a statement the same day, advising the park had received notification from Alberta Health late on May 20 that previous public health order exemptions would not be applicable under the new measures issued on May 6. Their exemption had been valid from June 13, 2020 until May 6 this year.
“It is unfortunate that we only learned of this change yesterday and not during our correspondence or meetings with Alberta Health on May 6, 11, or 13, during which time we continued to plan for our opening with Alberta Health and discussed our exemption,” the statement on the park’s website read.
“With this communication consistently coming from Alberta Health throughout May, there was no indication that our exemption wouldn’t still apply and that we couldn’t open on June 5. We were operating with the information that we had and discussed.”
According to a statement issued on May 28, based on a submission made to Alberta Health, approval has now been granted for the park to open as planned this June.
The reopening will be based on a maximum 33 per cent capacity, wellness checks at point-of-entry, physical distancing, mandatory masks, and other health protocols as outlined on the park's website.
Calaway Park park will be open daily from June 19 to Sept 6, and Saturdays, Sundays and Holiday Monday from Sept. 11 to Oct. 11. They have added additional dates to their operating calendar in order to make up for seven missed operating days this spring and will be open June 21 -25 and Sept 1-3, with limited operations.
"As the exact date of Stage 3 of Alberta's Open for Summer Plan is unknown at this time, Calaway Park will review all COVID-19 safety protocols and procedures as we approach Stage 3," read the May 28 statement on Calaway Park's website.
"We will update guests on our Stage 3 COVID-19 safety protocols during the last week of June. We anticipate relaxing some of our COVID-19 restrictions once the province enters Stage 3."
The statement said that the park appreciates Alberta Health's work keeping Albertans safe during this "challenging time."
Carmen Cundy, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @carmenrcundy
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