Winnipeg's Nuit Blanche rescheduling events, installations over coming month due to COVID-19 concerns
Annual free art event was scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26
This year's Nuit Blanche in Winnipeg — an annual event that typically draws thousands of people to downtown — will be changed from a one-night event to multiple activities through the next month due to concerns over COVID-19.
A statement from the event's organizers posted to social media Thursday says art activities and installations that were scheduled for the evening of Saturday, Sept. 26 will now run at different times during the Culture Days Manitoba event, which runs from Sept. 25 to Oct. 25.
There were nine public art installations and performances scheduled throughout central Winnipeg for Saturday night, with many other activities and exhibits planned.
CBC has reached out to Nuit Blanche organizers for comment.
Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin said he couldn't comment on any specific event when asked at his COVID-19 news conference Thursday about Nuit Blanche.
But he said every event has to consider public health orders and avoid scenarios that lead to the spread of COVID-19, such as crowded places.
"Also as a Manitoban, everybody has to consider the trajectory of cases right now and make decisions that are best for Manitobans," he said.
Winnipeg has seen COVID-19 case numbers climb in recent weeks. More than 80 per cent of the province's 449 active cases were in the city as of Thursday.