Surrey Vaisakhi Khalsa Day parade cancelled

Organizers have cancelled the 2020 Surrey Vaisakhi Parade, one of Metro Vancouver’s largest annual gatherings, citing COVID-19 health risks and advice from provincial officials. The event, hosted by Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar, had been scheduled for April 25 and typically draws more than 500,000 people, making it the largest Vaisakhi parade outside India.

Parade organizers said the decision followed consultations with Fraser Health and the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, adding that “public safety remains the highest priority.”

The cancellation will have ripple effects across Surrey, where local businesses and community groups rely on parade crowds for visibility and revenue. Kuljit Singh, who arranges Langar stall every year on the parade route, said the move is disappointing but necessary: “It’s a big day for us, but health comes first.”

Public health experts noted that large festivals are among the highest-risk events during a pandemic. The province has already banned gatherings over 250 people, and officials warned stricter measures may follow.