Wildlights to Return

Although planning and approvals are still underway, Wildlights is set to return and once again welcome guests into the BC Wildlife Park.

Last year, the light display event was cancelled in December after health guidelines changed to prohibit events. But since then, about 85 per cent of the province has received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

BC Wildlife Park executive director Glenn Grant said the biggest question that remains right now is whether or not the park will have to use the vaccine card system. He explained that, while the event itself is outdoors, the park is accessed through an indoor area.

“But we’re basically an outdoor event, so how do the rules that are in place right now apply to us, and what do we need to do to move forward?” he said.

Grant said he and his staff are meeting to determine next steps, which will include consulting with Interior Health and the Provincial Health Office.

Last year, the park was able to operate during its normal business hours, with a thousand people moving through the park.

“And then, after closing, we wanted to re-open at five o’clock for an event, but we couldn’t because it was classified as an event,” he said about the 2020 attempt at Wildlights, which ultimately became a virtual event.

Grant said the park has remained a safe place to visit and all existing protocols will remain in place to keep visitors and staff safe. In the wildlife park’s case, that also includes a vaccine mandate for its staff.

“We have a mandatory vaccination policy. Right now, 100 per cent of our staff is vaccinated,” he said.

Grant said he is also planning more online booking, in order to keep people out of lineups. Information on those tickets will be available on the park’s website.

The event typically runs from mid-December to early January, and in the past, has seen upwards of 20,000 visitors through the park.