Article content

Surrey’s Vaisakhi parade, which every year draws hundreds of thousands of spectators, has been cancelled over COVID-19 fears, as health officials recommend social distancing as a way to slow the spread of the virus.

Organizers of the Surrey Vaisakhi Khalsa Parade said the event, scheduled for April 25, have “made the difficult decision” to cancel the parade until further notice or there is a significant change in the transmission of COVID-19.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or COVID-19: Surrey's massive Vaisakhi parade cancelled Back to video

They said the decision follows days of discussions with health officials including the Fraser Health Authority and the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.

Surrey’s Vaisakhi parade last year drew an estimated 500,000 people. The event is to observe Vaisakhi Day, a spring harvest festival that also celebrates the creation of the Sikh community’s rich and diverse heritage.

So far, there has been no announcement regarding the status of Vancouver Vaisakhi parade, which is still scheduled to take place April 18.