MAN, 23, DIES AT ALL-NIGHT RAVE

A young Port Hawkesbury man collapsed at a huge all-night dance party in
Halifax and died early Sunday.

Tantallon RCMP estimate more than 3,000 young people were at the "rave" at
Halifax's Exhibition Park when the 23-year-old man collapsed around 3 a.m.

Edward James Britten, who was to be married in November, was rushed to
hospital, but was declared dead on arrival. His fiancee is expecting their
child.

Raves are known for wild dancing and for the use of hallucinogenic drugs
like ecstasy.

Police would not confirm reports that the man had taken four pills
containing the stimulant. But they are looking into a drug connection.

"There were indicators of possible drug involvement," said Tantallon RCMP
Const. Phil MacLellan.

An autopsy was done Sunday, but Const. MacLellan said results won't be
complete until toxicology tests are done.

The identity of the victim, who worked at Central Supplies in Port
Hawkesbury, was not confirmed by RCMP.

It's believed he drove one of several carloads of young people from the
Cape Breton mill town to Halifax for the rave.

One man who attended the party said he left about 30 minutes after the death.

"You could kind of see the news sort of go through the crowd as people
started to be bummed out and people said 'Wow, something really bad
happened,' " he said.

"I didn't tell anyone else because I didn't want to bring them down."

Raves are not new to Halifax and are held about twice a month.

The man said he's been attending them for about three years.

He likes the friendly, warm crowd, which he describes as quite different
from the Halifax downtown bar scene.

"Generally, it's a really safe, community environment."

He worried that Saturday night's death would give the rave scene a bad name.

"It's really going to colour people's perception. It's not a crazed
drugged, sex party. People just get together and dance. At least 50 per
cent of them are sober.

"Hopefully, we'll say it's a freak accident and put it behind us."

Although some people drink at raves, alcohol is not the drug of choice, he
said.

Soft drugs such as marijuana and designer drugs such as esctasy are also in
evidence, he said.

"It's an individual positive environment. Whatever you are into, it's fine."

The average age of people at Saturday night's rave was about 20, which the
man said is a little older than usual and the party was sold out.

The doors opened at 10 p.m. and it was expected to go until 8 a.m. or 9 a.m.

"The Halifax scene is really quite famous right now because it's supposed
to be the most positive scene."

Raves are known for their techno-style dance music and last night's disc
jockey was playing trance music, which the man described as a type of
techno music that alternates between really fast beats and slower melodic
music.

But this style of party is physically demanding and you have to be fit to
do it, he said.

"You sweat a lot. It's great. It's so much fun."

The party continued for four hours after police and paramedics arrived on
the scene, prompting police to "investigate the controls on this thing,"
said Const. MacLellan. He said police cannot stop such parties, as long as
rules are followed, but they would like to know when they are happening.

A vigil will be held 8:30 p.m. Monday at Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home.
The funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Church.