RAVES MAY BE BANNED AT EX

Concerns Peak After 24 Arrested

The City of Toronto will reconsider allowing rave parties at
Exhibition Place after 24 people were arrested on 57 drug-related
charges during a massive Saturday-night dance party.

Councillor Joe Pantalone, chairman of Exhibition Place, said no raves
are scheduled in the near future and that likely won't change for some
time.

"There's been a great deal of public concern. We're going to take a
break, pause and analyze what's happening at raves," said Pantalone
after the party -- the second in less than a month at the Better
Living Centre -- which drew about 8,000 people from 8 p.m. Saturday to
8 a.m. yesterday.

During the night, three people were taken to hospital, treated for
drug-related problems and released.

Seized Drugs

Along with the 24 arrests, the 70 paid-duty cops on hand seized
hundreds of illegal pills, including Ecstasy, ketamine and crystal
methamphetamine.

With no reports of violence or weapons, Pantalone said he didn't
regret scheduling the all-night dance but emphasized a need to
re-examine the city's role in what police say are drug-infested bashes.

Last month, when about 12,000 people attended a rave at the same
venue, 19 people were arrested by police for trafficking or possessing
Ecstasy and other drugs.

"The amount of problems are comparable to any concert," Pantalone
said. "Regrettably, though, drugs and raves have become
synonymous."

Supt. Ron Taverner of Toronto Police, who was at Saturday's rave, said
drug use was rampant and police estimated 80% of the participants were
either using or selling, which, he added, was not reflected in the
number of arrests.

"These are young kids who are involved," said Taverner. "I saw some
kids who looked like they were 13, and that's pretty scary. The
parents obviously don't know what's going on."

There have already been several raves at city-owned locations this
year and the general argument, which Pantalone reiterated yesterday,
is it's safer to hold them where police, on-site medical crews and
city officials can watch for trouble.

Racy Ad Campaign

"It might be safer, but that shouldn't detract from the fact there is
an excessive amount of drug abuse," Taverner said. "In some ways you
are providing a place for kids to do drugs. Is that what the city wants?"

Saturday's rave drew the ire of councillors and police before the
event with a racy ad campaign that depicted cartoon characters
surrounded by coloured pills.

"That's out-and-out advertising for drugs," Taverner
said.

The organizers, Goin' Deep Productions, paid the city about $55,000 to
hold the rave, paid for the cops and charged $35 to $40 a ticket.

Adam Wilson, who produces the Toronto Rave Scene publication, said the
CNE parties aren't really raves at all and have been turned into
city-sanctioned, all-ages night clubs.

"That's not a rave," Wilson said. "It's just another nightclub and at
any nightclub you're going to see the same amount of drugs."