Norfolk council asks bikers to steer clear of Port Dover on Friday the 13th
Norfolk County is asking bikers not to come to Port Dover for next month's Friday the 13th motorcycle rally.
Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, Haldimand-Norfolk's medical officer of health, said he strongly discourages" people from visiting Port Dover on Nov. 13, calling the spectre of big crowds from COVID-19 hot spots rolling into Norfolk particularly worrisome."
I would ask people, respectfully, to stay at home," Nesathurai said.
Norfolk councillors are worried that sunny skies could see Port Dover become another Sturgis, the August motorcycle rally in South Dakota that ended up being a superspreader event.
Ordinarily, (Friday the 13th) is something that many in town, especially our small business owners, look forward to. But COVID-19 has changed much about the way we live," said Mayor Kristal Chopp.
Port Dover and Norfolk County has always been very welcoming to the bikers, and I think it's a show of support for our community to stay home this November. Let's take all the precautions we need to this year and hopefully be able to move forward with a great event next year."
As Friday the 13th isn't an organized event, it can't be formally cancelled. But the county can take steps to discourage visitors, such as not allowing the Port Dover Kinsmen Club and Board of Trade to lease space to vendors hawking shirts, patches and other biker-themed wares on county land, and denying special event permits for vendors on private property.
The mayor said the OPP and the province have been alerted to the potential for large crowds on Nov. 13 and a full complement of bylaw officers will be on duty that day.
Amie Ferris, a volunteer with the Kinsmen, said club members are supportive of the decision in the name of public health.
We think it's the smart move to make," Ferris said. For the safety of our community, our members who would be out there selling the shirts, and for visitors coming to town, it was best that we take a step back."
The Kinsmen donate the proceeds from T-shirt sales and vendor fees to local charities and community projects. But Ferris explained that off-season Friday the 13th rallies - those held from November to April - are typically small affairs that don't generate significant revenue.
We're not making thousands of dollars like we do in the summer months," she said.
The Kinsmen will sell commemorative T-shirts next month, but they will only be available online.
Despite council's urging to stay home, Ferris expects some bikers will still ride into town to continue a tradition that dates back to 1981. They could provide an economic boost by patronizing downtown restaurants, bars and shops that saw sales slump over the summer.
We've had a lot of local businesses that have suffered over the course of the last seven months," she said.
If COVID-19 restrictions are still in place come next August's Friday the 13th, Ferris said losing a summer rally would be a major blow to the community.
Who knows who August will bring? We have no idea. But we have to start to plan now," she said. We appreciate all the support the bikers have given over the years and we hope to see them again in August next year."
J.P. Antonacci's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows him to report on stories about the regions of Haldimand and Norfolk.