Maureen Brown of Emerald Events in a banquet hall in Surrey, British Columbia on Friday. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Covid-19 is showing no signs of slowing down in BC, and there’s evidence that part of the reason for that is people continuing to host large events, like weddings and funerals, with large guest lists and very little social distancing.
The CBC recently interviewed Emerald Events’ Maureen Brown to get her thoughts and observations as an event planner.
Emerald Events‘ Principal Maureen Brown is hearing about quite a few events where people completely disregard guest number limits and other restrictions that are designed to help us all stay safe and healthy during Covid-19. Maureen is not only a go-to party planner in Greater Vancouver, she also sits on the board of the Fraser Valley Event Planning Association.
CBC’s The Early Edition recently interviewed her to get her take on BC event planning challenges in light of Covid-19.
Recent concern over multi-day events like weddings and funerals being linked to Covid-19 numbers surging in BC is a very real and urgent concern. Maureen shared with CBC’s Stephen Quinn that she’s unhappy seeing other planners flout the rules while she follows them carefully.
Below is an excerpt from the CBC’s recent interview with Maureen.
Tap here to listen to the full interview on The Early Edition.
“Those are the kinds of things that give us a bad reputation,” said Brown on Friday, adding that she’s a member of the Fraser Valley Event Planning Association and follows all provincial health protocols.
Maureen said she has turned down clients who have pressured her to break the rules, but assumes those people went ahead with their parties without her.
“People are going to do what they’re going to do. I don’t know if Dr. Henry is going to stop that,” said Brown.
Brown has one client who has been waiting since last spring to hold a celebration of life for her daughter.
“It’s devastating,” said Brown.
Based on the success of the few micro events Brown has done, she said if people follow the rules then keeping the guest list at 50 is manageable.
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