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WATERLOO REGION - Waterloo Region's cities are cancelling scheduled events and festivals until the end of June because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The cities are cancelling events until June 30 to allow for the potential extension of physical distancing until that time, even though the province and public health has not mandated the restrictions.

Most of the events require volunteers and ample time to prepare ahead of time which can't be done now, said the City of Waterloo.

All three cities say they are still considering alternatives to large gatherings on Canada Day. Decisions will be announced later this week.

"Today's decision is another difficult one but a necessary one. We need to stay home, practice physical distancing and do everything we can to help stop the spread of COVID-19," said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.

"I know it's hard to see these cancellations, but we're a resilient community that will get through this together and see these events either rescheduled to later in the year or see them return, in 2021," he said.

Festivals in Kitchener include the K-W Multicultural Festival, tri-Pride, Summer Lights Festival, Tacofest and the Muslim celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr festival.

Private events such as school graduations and weddings planned at city facilities have also been cancelled.

In Cambridge, events such as Cambridge Celebration for the Arts, Cambridge Kin Carnival, the Tour De Grand and Portugal Day Parade have all been cancelled.

In total, more than 20 special events traditionally held in city facilities, public spaces, or parks will be impacted in Cambridge.

For a listing of cancelled events check, Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge websites.

lmonteiro@therecord.com

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Twitter: @MonteiroRecord