Royal Winter Fair, Toronto Canada

Apparently going ahead business as usual for 2021

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Big yikes. How in the world will they do this…the Royal is the most jam packed place you can go lol

I guess the hope is that much of the population will be vaccinated by then. Paired with masking and possibly limiting capacity?
I imagine it’s easier to begin planning and cancel if needed vs trying to plan last minute.

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This is great news.
I am on the board for an agricultural society in Ontario and we are struggling with determining whether to go ahead for 2021. It seems a long way out, but there is so much planning to go into these events and we are a tiny fraction of the the size of the Royal.
I think many events are making the decision of whether they will proceed or not and then go ahead with what that is going to look like.
It is a real roll of the dice at the moment.

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I would be shocked if we even have a 1/4 vaccinated by then with our plan lol

Maybe spectator free?

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I’m more optimistic than you.
In two months we’ve gotten the first dose to 5% of Ontario’s population. That’s with the reduced shipments of the vaccine.
Doesn’t seem like much, but it’s being ramped up. We’re still eight months away from Rawf.
The online booking for the general population (starting with 80 and over) should come live in March. Shipments should continue increasing. There is the possibility of new vaccines being approved over the summer/fall.

As we continue to vaccinate and protect the most vulnerable in the population it will also reduce the strain on the healthcare system. This is essentially what will allow us to return to a degree of normal.

This morning I was able to book my appointment for the first dose. I’m considered a “very high priority” healthcare worker.

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I hope they can pull it off.

The Royal is one of very few shows in North America that actually has a huge spectator turn out. If they decide to run it without spectators, it would have a completely different feel. And no doubt, a completely different financial set up.

Fingers crossed.

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You definitely are! But that is great to be so positive. I have a friend who is caring for her mom who is elderly and not well and she still can’t even get an answer when she may get the first dose. Looking like months and months for her. She is really stuck otherwise since she can’t be exposed at all being her moms caregiver.

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You are so optimistic! I am nervous that vaccinations will not truly be here for November at a rate that is beneficial to public events such as RAWF. As a low importance, secondary health professional, I was told my vaccinations will likely come in June. I am also wary that we (society) might consider the vaccine to be a “cure all” to the “covid problem” which it is merely a very strong tool. Regardless, fingers crossed, I hope the event can take place with consumers as it has in the past, though I am unsure that I will be committing to attending just yet.

I really hope they are able to go ahead. I suspect there will need to be concessions relating to COVID.

I feel like the ‘Royal experience’ will be a thing of the past. The food, the shopping etc.

Maybe it will run without spectators and they will fix their live stream.

Vaccines are rolling out. In spits and spurts, with little forewarning, but they are happening.

Two first responder friends had no indication of when they would be vaccinated at the end of last week. Both received their first dose this week.

I have hope, and will keep fingers firmly crossed, that the roll out will be substantially underway by summer. Giving enough of a buffer for the Royal in November to be possible live. Which would be fabulous!

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I wonder if the border will be open by then, or if it will be restricted solely to Canadian participants.

Good question! I can’t imagine our borders will be open by then … could they?! I can only guess that they have a contingency plan in place, the RAWF is such a massive undertaking and can get really, really crowded.

Although, I have a hard time imagining ANY crowded venue now as a result of a year spent keeping a distance of 6’ from all other humans.

I was in a setting last week where people were waiting in a long line, and I noticed how everyone was very matter-of-factly abiding by the 6 foot stickers on the floor to maintain social distance. It’s kind of funny how we have been totally trained in a relatively short time. Although I’m sure it does not happen everywhere.

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