The Rhythm 'n Ribs fundraiser for the Health Foundation of East Central Saskatchewan is off the summer schedule for 2021.
"We can't go ahead," said Ross Fisher the Executive Director of the Foundation."There's no way the governmemt (provincial) is going to change the regulations any time soon with the counts (COVID-19) so high," he said.
Fisher said an event such as Rhythm 'n Ribs requires "planning well in advance," and the uncertainty caused by the current pandemic makes such planning impossible.
This will be the second summer that Rhythm 'n Ribs is cancelled due to COVID-19, as the event was not held in 2020 either.
However, rib lovers can rest easy because the plan is to bring the event back once the pandemic is under control and regulations regarding how many people can gather in one place go back to normal.
"We do intend to start it again in 2022," said Fisher.
Fisher did add the decision to cancel Rhythm 'n Ribs for a second year will impact the fundraising for the Foundation, in particular raising money for a range of smaller cost items.
"We can't run a campaign for every piece of equipment that we buy," he said, noting they buys "dozens of pieces of equipment" costing $5,000 to $40,000.
Funds for the lower cost items comes from the dollars earned at events such as Rhythm 'n Ribs, the annual Road Race, golf tourney and gala the Foundation holds, and all four events were cancelled in 2020, and whether any can be held in 2021 remains uncertain, said Fisher.
