All things apple are celebrated annually in the orchard at Derby Reach. But due to COVID-19 precautions, Heritage Apple Day will likely not happen in person.

Tony Markin chairs the Derby Reach Brae Island Park Association said the festival plans were discussed at their recent monthly meeting.

鈥淕iven the nature of slicing and eating apple in close proximity, it doesn鈥檛 look like it will happen this year,鈥� Markin explained. 鈥淭hat said, we will do something to commemorate our Apple Heritage.鈥�

Volunteer coordinator Roxci Bevis has organized COVID-19 friendly events involving Zoom, as well as safe volunteer events at the parks in the past.

Markin said Bevis is part of a committee that is planning an alternative event, which will be announced at a later date.

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Often featuring booths, displays, entertainment, and yes, a wide variety of different apples, Heritage Apple Day takes place near the end of September and has been put on for 17 years.

For those looking to venture out to Derby Reach and Brae Island Park, the association have developed an App that provides the park user with an enhanced experience on their phone.

鈥淭his includes nature walks, talks from historians, and talks on specific local flowers and birds,鈥� Markin noted. 鈥淭he application will be available for free download in the Google Play store and the Apple Appstore shortly.鈥�

The application is owned by the Pacific Parklands Foundation and will be rolled out for use in other Metro Vancouver Parks in the future at its discretion.

More information at .