Armstrong’s IPE, Stampede Cancelled

Armstrong’s Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede has been officially cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

General manager Yvonne Paulson expressed sadness over the cancelation but added that public health must always come first.

“This decision has been made by the board of directors and staff of the IPE with a great deal of consultation, discussion, and regret,” said Paulson in a press release. “Unfortunately, the fair, planned for September 2, will not go ahead as planned this year.

“In these unprecedented times, we have consulted with peers from BC Fairs, CAFE (Canadian Associations of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions), West Coast Amusements, CPRA (Canadian Professional Rodeo Association) and have followed the health official and government press conferences for the last couple of months.”

She said, considering the present circumstances, the decision was unavoidable.

“We are deeply grateful to our many donors and sponsors who have generously donated in 2020 and previous years. We are fully committed to ensuring your contributions now and in the future go towards offering a top-notch Fair for our community in the future.”

This is not the first time the IPE and stampede have been cancelled.

In 1905, the Armstrong Spallumcheen Agricultural Fair decided to cancel the fair as they were going to participate and send an exhibit to the Dominion Fair, that was being held in New Westminster

“Our work continues: reorganizing for next year’s fair with new public health standards, creating programming, and researching other fairs for new ideas.”

Paulson said next year’s IPE was expected to take place Sept. 1 to Sept. 5, 2021.