Foothills residents questioning the status of Halloween can rest assured that participation in this year’s ghoulish tradition is their choice.
Despite the ongoing cancellation of concerts, community events and other public gatherings, Halloween is not among them, according to government officials.
“The provincial government is not here to cancel Halloween,” said Highwood MLA R.J. Sigurdson. “The reason we’ve seen low case numbers in Alberta is because everyone is taking personal responsibility. I have trust and faith that people will do the same in our community.”
Sigurdson said Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, will establish regulations and guidelines surrounding Halloween to ensure it is celebrated in a safe manner.
“Halloween is one of those times when our community and people come together and, of course, there is going to be some guidelines and recommendations that come out from our chief medical health officer on how to do it safely,” Sigurdson said. “She will be speaking more to it in the days to come.”
Okotoks Mayor Bill Robertson said he's already been asked about the status of Halloween from members of the public.
“I had somebody ask me, ‘Is Halloween cancelled?’ Definitely not,” he said. “I think that people are just recommended to be safe. We’re just going to follow Alberta Health Services protocol recommendations.”
Black Diamond Mayor Ruth Goodwin said any decisions regarding Halloween won’t go to council.
“That’s not a council thing - it is not even a provincial or a federal thing – this is an individual’s choice,” she said. “This has nothing to do with government. There’s no reason people can’t go out and enjoy themselves if they choose to.”
Black Diamond resident Anneke Kramer is looking forward to continuing her usual traditions at Halloween this year. She plans to decorate her home, put out candy on her front step and join her 12 and 10-year-old sons trick-or-treating the Saturday night.
“I don’t care what anybody says, it’s been six months of no fun for the kids,” she said. “They need this. It’s fun to see the smiles on the faces of the kids.”
Turner Valley resident Jacqueline Williamson is looking forward to handing out candy to eager trick-or-treaters next month, although she will take extra precautions by wearing a mask and gloves and use tongs to handle the candy.
“Kids need to have this,” said Williamson, whose own children have grown and moved away. “Everything else has been taken away.”
Okotoks mom Tammy Romaniuk said she’s choosing not to hand out candy or decorate her home this year.
With her husband visiting his elderly father frequently, she said she feels safest keeping her family at home.
“I understand other people are going to do it,” she said. “If they think the risk is okay for them, fine whatever, but we’re removing ourselves from it. We’re going to buy our own candy and watch movies.”
Turner Valley Mayor Barry Crane said whether or not people celebrate Halloween in 2020 is up to them.
“Halloween is a parent’s choice,” he said. “If you’re not comfortable with it don’t participate.”
Crane said he will be among those participating.
“My light, personally, will be on and I will go out to scare kids as I always do and I look forward to it,” he said. “It’s a tradition.”
He cautions residents choosing to participate in Halloween do their best to stay safe.
“An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure,” he said. “Use some common sense.”
While Halloween is still a go, the Royal Canadian Legion Turner Valley Branch is cancelling its popular haunted house and children’s Halloween party, said first vice-president Linda Macaulay.
“We can’t sanitize the basement properly (for the haunted house) and we can’t social distance,” she said. “It just can’t happen, sadly.”
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