Note: This will be the last weekly wrap-up. Please continue to check the EC website, Facebook and Twitter for COVID-19 updates.
EC’s key actions this week:
- Launched the #SaveCanadasHorses social media campaign to increase pressure on government for immediate COVID-19 relief programs for those equine businesses that need it most. Share how your equine or equestrian business has been impacted by COVID-19 on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram using the hashtag #SaveCanadasHorses and tag your government representatives.
- Hosted a webinar reviewing the Response to COVID-19 for Canada’s Active Equine Summary Report. Bronwynne Wilton of Wilton Consulting Group walked through the report in detail, outlining the impacts of COVID-19 on equine and equestrian businesses and EC’s specific asks for government support. Afterwards, Peter Seemann of Grassroots Public Affairs connected the report findings to EC’s advocacy plan and what you can do to help. View the recording here.
- Announced operational changes undertaken in response to the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a reduction of employee hours and the extension of Yves Hamelin’s contract as Interim Chief Executive Officer. Please note, the EC office will be closed every Friday starting June 26, 2020, until further notice.
- Suspended hunter/jumper points accumulations and programs due to the varying states of readiness for provinces/territories to return to training and competition.
- Adapted EC’s annual rule revision cycle into a condensed timeframe and limited revisions to those that are essential. The essential revisions made will be included in the Rules digital format only as a summary document. Hard copy rule books will not be printed in 2021.
As the conclusion of EC’s suspension period for in-person events approaches on June 30, 2020, EC sanctioned competitions are expected to resume in some provinces on July 1. EC supports an early, safe return to competition, and we have collaborated with event organizers to foster safe competition operations in this new environment. Stay tuned for further information and resources.
Additionally, EC would like to remind the community that as provinces/territories reopen, Learn to Ride programs and evaluations will be able to restart if permissible by regional and provincial health authorities. Please contact your Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization for information about program status in your area.
Previous weeks:
EC is making every effort to ensure continuous, thorough and up-to-date communication concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. EC’s complete statement on COVID-19, including regular updates, can be found on our website here. For a list of important COVID-19 resources, visit our COVID-19 Resources page. Want to help save Canadian working horses? Visit our COVID-19 Response page.