CITY TO HELP ENSURE SAFE RAVES

A protocol to ensure safe raves within the city is being developed.

Council gave two readings Monday to a bylaw to that would make a
city-issued permit mandatory for holding a late night event.

And to get that permit, organizers would have to employ a licensed security
firm that would provide entrance control to ensure that alcohol or illicit
drugs are not brought onto the premises.

Council's action came after a presentation from four members of the Safer
Rave Initiative Group: RCMP Sgt. Hilton Smee, youth and family counsellor
Craig Clark, South Peace Teen Town Society (SPTTS) secretary-treasurer Tim
Mottishaw and drug and alcohol counsellor George Wiens.

Clark said that some set of standards should be set for out-of-town
promoters before a problem arises. In communities where raves are
unregulated, safety concerns can emerge, but in those where there are some
standards in place, Clark said things go more smoothly.

"There are many scenes where the community is involved and they're held in
a safe manner," Clark said.

Raves are all-night dance parties that usually feature a brand of techno or
industrial music and have been gaining popularity among teenagers.

Typically, troubles revolve around drugs and alcohol finding their way into
the venue, and improper ventilation and water supply for the ravers.

Asked if it's possible to hold any kind of all-night dance without alcohol
and drugs gaining some kind of presence, Smee said that it would be
virtually impossible.

But with proper security at the door and with police supervision outside
the venue to keep drug dealers away, Smee said the problem could be kept to
"the barest of minimum."

Mottishaw said that SPTTS has held two successful dances for teens so far,
and that the events that get the headlines because of the trouble they
create are the bad apples.

Council gave only two readings so that some changes could still be made to
the bylaw. Mottishaw said that the $187.50 application fee is too steep for
SPTTS, which is a non-profit society.

According to the bylaw as it currently stands, a late night event is
defined as a commercial dance or other entertainment, performance or other
event where 20 or more people are assembled at any time between 2 a.m. and
6 a.m.