A bustle of activity goes on during Plummer Avenue Day as part of the annual New Waterford Coal Dust Days last week. A parade and fireworks planned to close out the event on Sunday have been cancelled. Photo by T.J. COLELLO/CAPE BRETON POSTArticle contentA parade and fireworks planned for the final day of New Waterford’s Coal Dust Days have been cancelled due to the death of a young boy in the community as well as a fire ban current in place for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentOn Saturday, a six-year-old boy was found dead off the shoreline of New Waterford, according to a Cape Breton Regional Police news release issued Saturday. Officers responded to a call of missing child with autism in the community after the mother noticed the boy had escaped through a kitchen window, the release said.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentEmergency personnel — including the regional police service’s dive unit, a regional fire rescue and EHS — also attended the scene.Article contentShortly after 2 p.m., police and fire crews wound up locating the body of the boy in the water near a cliff.Article contentGerald Coady, deputy fire chief of the New Waterford Volunteer Fire Department, confirmed the child was a boy and autistic. He also said the boy’s name was not being released, for privacy reasons. The age of the child is still being confirmed.Article content CBRM District 11 Coun. Darren O’Quinn: “The decision was made to do this out of respect for the child’s family.” Photo by CONTRIBUTEDArticle content“With heavy hearts, we have made the decision to cancel the upcoming parade out of respect for the tragic loss of a young member of our town,” organizers posted on the event’s Facebook page.Article content“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and all those affected by this heartbreaking event. In times like these, we come together not in celebration, but in support and solidarity.Article contentArticle content“We thank you for your understanding as our community grieves this unimaginable loss.”Article contentCBRM councillor Darren O’Quinn, whose District 11 serves New Waterford and area residents, said the decision to call off Sunday’s event was the right thing to do.Article content“Today was not a day to celebrate,” O’Quinn said Sunday.Article content“We wanted this to be helpful for the family of that child, to make sure the mom’s OK, the child’s family’s OK — and certainly make sure the first responders are OK.Article content“So the decision was made to do this out of respect for the child’s family.”Article contentOrganizers also said that because of a fire ban currently in place for the CBRM, the fireworks planned for Sunday closing ceremony has been nixed.Article content“Due to the current fire ban in our region, we also regret to announce that the fireworks have been postponed in order to prioritize the safety of our community and environment,” the event’s Facebook post read.Article content“Keep an eye on our Facebook page for a rescheduled date.”Article content
Organizers nix parade, fireworks planned to close out New Waterford Coal Dust Days
