Kelowna musician Anna Jacyszyn is flabbergasted and angry that a special Mother’s Day performance by her and her quartet was cancelled at the last moment by Interior Health.

“Everything was perfect and clean,” she told iNFOnews.ca. “It’s the safest gig in Kelowna.”

She worked with the Coast Capri Hotel management which consulted with Interior Health and believed they had the approval to go ahead about a week ago.

“We checked every single button that was on the protocol list,” Jacyszyn said.

The idea was that people could book rooms with balconies overlooking the hotel’s outdoor pool. They would be served dinner before the performance along with a bottle of wine and a desert during the break.

If they were in a bubble with another couple, that couple could book a room across the hall to sleep in but share the balcony for the performance.

They even had staggered hotel registration times so everyone did not arrive at the same time.

Others could dine outdoors by the pool while the quartet would perform at the other end of the pool. Jacyszyn would sing unmasked but the musicians would be masked.

In seven days, 18 rooms and all the tables were booked.

On Thursday, the hotel was informed by Interior Health that the event could not go ahead.

“Somebody called in (to Interior Health) with a concern about why is Anna Jacyszyn doing a live concert when it says no live concerts,” she said, noting that other venues are doing outdoor concerts, which she has written about in her weekly newspaper column.

“I wonder if it’s somebody that complained that feels a little bit bitter or is it somebody truly concerned about the health and safety of the patrons coming,” Jacyszyn said. “Either way, they would see this is the perfect time and the perfect place.”

With people being advised not to travel even from Penticton or Vernon, this was a perfect opportunity to fill some rooms in the hotel, she said.

“Concerts are defined as an event in the Gathering and Events Order and events are specifically not allowed,” Interior Health said in an email. “We understand people are tired and frustrated, but now is not the time for any gatherings and events, indoors or out.

“Just to clarify, the event was never approved but we did confirm that outdoor dining in general was permitted with appropriate precautions.”

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