**CITY OF TIMMINS NEWS RELEASE**

Due to the current restrictions and unknown mitigating factors surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Steering Committee of the Great Canadian Kayak Challenge & Festival is taking a proactive stance by rescheduling the 2020 event to 2021.

The Steering Committee considers the safety and health of the participants, volunteers, spectators, exhibitors, and supporters paramount. This is the responsible course of action to take.

The Steering Committee will take this “pause” and will come back with yet another incredible event for everyone to enjoy in 2021. We thank the hundreds of volunteers who have pitched in over the years to help make this an extremely successful multi-year award-winning event. Your generous time and talent makes the Great Canadian Kayak Challenge & Festival shine!

“We ask everyone to support our local corporate, retail and hospitality community as best you can,” said Marnie Lapierre, Tourism Timmins Coordinator of Festival, Events & Special Project, and Acting Chair for the festival. “They have been instrumental to the success of this event over the past 11 years. By supporting them, these important stakeholders will be able to support future community events, including the Great Canadian Kayak Challenge & Festival.”

By staying apart, we will be able to come together in the future. Please observe the regulations so this can happen sooner rather than later. We promise a great event when the green light is given, so stay tuned, stay safe, and stay healthy.

Filed under: Local News