Masks to be required at Regina’s Summer Market

Despite some opposition to the plan, organizers of Regina’s Summer Bash have decided to make masks or face coverings mandatory at the Summer Market event.

The event is set for Saturday and Sunday at the South Leisure Centre and in Realtors Park. All vendors, shoppers, volunteers and crew members will be required to wear masks while at the market in hopes of stopping the potential spread of COVID-19.

“This was not an easy decision by the volunteer board, but it is the right decision to keep safety as a focus of our Summer Market,” board chair Adam Hicks said in a media release.

“Our board was split on the decision, but in the end, we reflected on our core values and realized we all want to support local while doing our part to keep the community safe.”

Mayor Michael Fougere and city councillors have encouraged people to wear masks while they’re out and about, but mask use isn’t mandatory.

According to the media release, a few vendors opposed the decision, with some opting to pull out of the event. Organizers also said some members of the public “expressed frustration and an intention to boycott the event” in social media posts.

In addition to masks, the market also is to feature one-way traffic, restrictions on the number of people on site at any one time, hand-sanitizing stations, physical distancing requirements, and regular cleaning of common areas and touch points.

More than 50 vendors are expected to be at the market, as are a variety of food trucks.