Hogs for Hospice cancels 2020 event

By Mark Ribble

LEAMINGTON — People looking forward to the 5th Anniversary version of Hogs for Hospice will have to wait another year.

The Hogs for Hospice committee made the formal announcement on Friday, May 29 to cancel this year’s event which was scheduled for July 31 to August 2.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of many events worldwide and the committee held off on a decision as long as they could.

“It’s a sad day,” said committee spokesperson Joe Oswald. “I’m sad for the community on so many levels.”

According to Oswald, the decision has been looming for some time with the virus affecting so many surrounding events. JOE OSWALD “Reality hit us when three of the four bands we had scheduled asked us to postpone,” he said.

The bands, from the United States, were concerned about border issues and they had already postponed their 2020 performances due to the virus.

“We were waiting for some direction from the provincial and federal governments, “ he added.

Oswald said the committee was concerned about the safety of their 500 volunteers as well.

“We don’t want to put anyone in danger,” he said.

Negotiations are underway, and may well be finalized by press time, for the same bands to return to next year’s event.

An announcement on those bands will come at a later date.

The cancellation doesn’t mean the Hogs for Hospice board will be resting on their laurels this summer.

“We plan to be out in the community, helping wherever we can, “said Oswald.

They look at it as a ‘labour of love’ and the seven board members will make themselves available to help in anyway they can.

“We’ve made a choice to be Leamington’s guardian angels,” he said. “Now with time on our hands, we will be helping our community.”

Planning is already underway for 2021 and any vendors or participants who signed up for 2020 through Eventbrite will be issued a full refund.

The group will proceed with a modified version of the Blessing of the Bikes scheduled for June 7.