Mississauga cancels New Year’s Eve fireworks and events, citing surge in COVID-19 cases

Bad news for those who were hoping to ring in the New Year at Mississauga’s Celebration Square.

In response to a surge in COVID-19 cases and the more transmissible Omicron variant, the city says it will cancel the organized events for New Year’s Eve on Celebration Square, including the fireworks display.

“This was a really tough decision to make but absolutely necessary to keep our residents safe. When we made the decision to host New Year’s Eve, the situation with COVID-19 was much more stable,” said Jodi Robillos, Commissioner, Community Services.

The skating rink at Celebration Square will still be open until 11 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, and food trucks will be operating on-site.

However, anyone on the Square after 11 p.m. will be encouraged to head home to watch a virtual countdown.

“Typically, New Years Eve events at Celebration Square have drawn very large crowds. With the current situation of COVID-19 cases, now is not the time to be gathering in massive groups,” said Robillos.

No reservations are required for the skating rink at this time, but city staff will be closely monitoring capacity.

The news comes just a few days after Mississauga mayor Bonnie Crombie announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19.

The mayor says she is isolating at home.

“My symptoms are, thankfully, mild, which is a reminder of the importance of getting vaccinated, if you haven’t yet. Stay safe and stay healthy,” said Crombie.