GATINEAU WANTS TO THROW OWN RAVES IN BID TO CONTROL ALL-NIGHT DANCE
PARTIES

Now that part of the area rave scene has migrated to West Quebec
because of tight regulations in Ottawa, Gatineau council wants to
license its own all-night dance parties at two city arenas and a
convention centre.

Councillor Joseph De Silva said recently up to six parties a year
would be permitted at the Palais des Congres on Promenade du Portage
and at the Robert-Guertin and Sabourin arenas on Carrillon and Jean
Proulx streets respectively under proposed regulations.

Louise Logue, co-ordinator of the Ottawa police youth intervention and
diversion unit, said Ottawa police must often search for missing
youths at Gatineau raves because many dance parties are now held
across the river. She said a shuttle bus takes Ottawa youths to raves
in Gatineau.

Ms. Logue said 85 per cent of those who attend raves are high on drugs
such as ecstasy, speed and cocaine.

"You have young people who are impulsive and unpredictable at the best
of times fuelled by drugs at these parties," she said.

"At one rave we went to in Gatineau, they turned off the water supply,
jacked up the furnace and sold bottles of water for $10 each. They
strip down to sports bras, or nothing in some cases, and engage in
sexual activity to get water. If you don't have the money, you will do
what is necessary to get water or drugs."

There have been several drug-related deaths in the Ottawa area, Ms.
Logue said, as well as reports from hospital emergency wards that
treated overdosed young patients.

Ms. Logue said parents should know that date rape drugs, public
disturbances and impaired driving are common at all-night parties.

Susan Jones, Ottawa's director of bylaw services, said the city has 20
to 30 all-night parties a year in public halls and bars. Ms. Jones
said the number of raves and the problems associated with them have
declined since the city began regulating them in 2002.

Mr. De Silva said the parties will last no more than 18 hours. He said
security guards or police officers hired by the rave operators will be
needed to control the parties.

Other proposed regulations include limiting admission to youths 16 and
over and requiring operators to have a minimum of $2 million in
liability insurance. Guards may have to inspect bags and metal
detectors may be required to discourage knives and other weapons.

Gatineau council is considering regulating raves because four
entrepreneurs have been lobbying the city for permission to hold more
large all-night parties.

The city will not name the business owners who want to hold raves
unless they attend a May 10 council meeting that is to consider the
proposed regulations.

Mr. De Silva said councillors want to make sure that if something does
go wrong it will be the responsibility of the operators.

Maxime Gauld, owner of the Bar le Petit Chicago on Promenade du
Portage and one of the founders of the Ile de Hull Residents
Association said Gatineau has many unregulated raves.

"It is better to have them out in the open than to have clandestine
rave parties," Mr. Gauld said. "If it is out in the open, the
operators don't serve alcohol, but if it is in secret, they do anything.