ST. PAUL - About half an hour before Chief Medical Officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw provided a provincial update on COVID-19 on March 12, which included a request that any large events with more than 250 attendees be cancelled, St. Paul Education Regional Division had already made the decision to cancel events within the district.
SPERD superintendent Glen Brodziak confirmed that 3A basketball zones, set to be hosted in St. Paul, have been cancelled. Schools from Fort McMurray had already called to cancel, which resulted in Brodziak connecting with the other school divisions involved in the sporting event.
A decision was made to cancel the tournament, along with a decision to not send students to other zone tournaments. Students from Ashmont, St. Paul Regional High School, Mallaig and FG Miller (Elk Point) were supposed to compete at various basketball zone tournaments over the weekend.
The division also cancelled a Grade 9 orientation event that was scheduled for Thursday night at St. Paul Regional High School. Events have been indefinitely postponed, said Brodziak.
"Student safety, and community wellbeing" are the division's top priority, he added.
On Friday, the division will be making a decision regarding upcoming school field trips. The division will also be looking at the use of some common areas at schools, since large groups of students often gather in those areas.
