ArriveCan app blocks parade plans for N.B.-Maine festival
Hopes for the return of a beloved international tradition between St. Stephen, N.B., and Calais, Maine, have once again been sidelined due to pandemic land border restrictions.
A parade between both communities had been a flagship part of the International Homecoming Festival since 1974. Restrictions against non-essential land border crossings stopped the two-country procession from going forward in 2020 and 2021.
Several land border restrictions have lifted this summer, but the lingering requirement of the ArriveCan app is once again preventing a parade.
“It just wasn’t feasible to do so with the ArriveCan app,” said Tammy Anderson, the International Homecoming Festival’s committee chair for Canada. “To come back and forth across the border at this time is difficult because of ArriveCan.”
Other events for the 2022 International Homecoming Festival are being scheduled for five days from Aug. 3 to 7.
“We hope that both sides of our communities celebrate together at the different things happening,” said Anderson.
Last week, the Canadian government said ArriveCan requirements would remain in effect at the Canadian border until at least Sept. 30.
Carole Smith, a lifelong resident of Calais, said it was disappointing to approach another festival without the once enduring parade.
“I’m going to miss it, I’m really going to miss it,” said Smith. “It’s always been a part of what has gone on for years and it seems like there’s a lot of things that just sort of fade away.”
Prior to the pandemic, the parade’s last major obstacle had been maneuvering through heightened security measures and the eventual requirement of passports, post-9/11.
Last year, the only festival event shared simultaneously between both St. Stephen and Calais was the fireworks presentation over the St. Croix River.
THE FUTURE OF ARRIVECAN
With ArriveCan, any person arriving at a Canadian border must have their vaccine information and travel documents uploaded to an online form.
Several travellers who’ve arrived at the Canadian border without ArriveCan information submitted have been turned around and told to return once the form was completed.
The federal government said Canadian residents who don’t complete an ArriveCan form may be subject to a COVID-19 test before entering the country, with another test on the eighth day of their 14-day quarantine, regardless of vaccine status. Foreign nationals may be denied entry without a completed ArriveCAN form and any traveller who failed to submit their information and proof of vaccination using ArriveCAN may be fined $5,000.
Mayors along the Canada-U.S. border and tourism industry leaders have called for the Canadian government to remove ArriveCan requirements.
Last week, Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino said ArriveCan may be applied beyond the pandemic. Mendicino said the forms helped reduce border delays and added compliance had been high.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.