SHAMBHALA DEFENDS SAFETY RECORD

Only weeks have passed since the 2011 Shambhala Music Festival wrapped
up and already organizers have announced the dates for the 2012
festival, but with negative reviews from members of the RCMP floating
around, organizers are reminding the public of the work they do to
keep festival goers safe.

"Shambhala has always had a mind towards public safety, and this has
improved over the years as we reflect after each festival on what
worked, and what can be done better," said Zak Matieschyn, Shambhala's
harm reduction team leader.

"This process has been assisted with the input of local community
stakeholders including police, mental health workers, public health,
emergency room staff, health educators, youth workers, and social
support workers," he said.

In the August 17 edition of the Star, RCMP sergeants Fred Mansveld and
Derrick Donovan spoke out about the dark side of Shambhala.

"I've worked a lot of places throughout BC where there were similar
activities and things got better each year, but I don't foresee that
happening with this event," said Donovan who works with West Kootenay
Traffic Services. "We've seen from our focus that things have gotten
worse. We've been very fortunate, I believe, that there haven't been
more fatalities and serious injuries as a result."

But Shambhala organizers and staff feel they are working hard to make
sure festival goers are kept safe on site and as they leave after the
festival.

"I believe that one of the biggest misconceptions about this festival
is that it is a drug-fuelled party that is out of control," said the
festival's public safety officer Barry Wilding.

"I have worked in the security industry for more than 15 years
providing security services for concerts, music festivals and
large-scale events, and Shambhala is something that I, as well as many
of my associates, look forward to every year.

"Taking into consideration that for close to one week we have the
population of a small town, on a per capita basis Shambhala has one of
the lowest incident rates of any major festival I have been involved
in," he added.

Mansveld was concerned about drug overdoses and the use of an
"overdose tent" at the festival, but staff said there is no such thing.

Britz Gilchrist, social media director for Shambhala said the
sergeants may have been confusing the Sanctuary with an "overdose tent."

The Sanctuary is in downtown Shambhala and is where people can go 24
hours a day if they need a safe quiet place to rest during the festival.

"The most common reason for visits to first aid is stubbed toes and
minor cuts. That's the bulk of what we see. Number two is dehydration
and heat stroke. Our medical incident rate is somewhere around .08 per
cent, which is low for our population size," said Alex Chudis, first
aid coordinator.

Mansveld and Donovan are concerned about the police resources needed
during the festival weekend, but staff said the involvement of the
public, like the RCMP, is important.

"Police and security work in concert," said Wilding. "Police
roadblocks and proactive patrolling are the first line of defense and
have been very effective at preventing alcohol and drugs from coming
into the festival and has a direct correlation to the decrease in
on-site incidents whether those be security or first aid related. All
vehicles that enter the festival grounds are subject to a search by
security. Those who do not consent to a search are denied entry."

"Our policy on drug use is the same as federal law -- its use is
illegal. However, we all know that in spite of laws to the contrary,
people will still choose to use them and engage in potentially harmful
activities," said Matieschyn.

"This is where Shambhala is in alignment with many bodies including
the World Health Organization and the BC provincial health authority
to name a couple, as well as many eminent social and health policy
scholars who feel the best way to decrease the harm associated with
drug use is to offer education, non-judgmental counselling and
support, and barrier free medical assistance when necessary," he said.

RCMP who are out on the road as the festival wraps up and people head
home, are as concerned about fatigue as they are about impaired
drivers, but staff encourage festival goers to make sure they are well
rested as they hit the road to head home.

"Fatigue factors in 19 per cent of fatal collisions, and 23 per cent
of non-fatal collisions. And we don't want you to be a statistic! We
want all of our Shambhalovlies to get home safe," read the festival
Facebook site prior to the festival.

Staff also suggested a number of ways that people protect themselves
as they head onto the road such as "plan a designated driver for
Monday morning. As designated driver, you commit to getting at least
eight hours of sleep before departure. Schedule a departure time. This
makes it much easier to follow through with step one."

Shambhala 2012 is slated to take place August 8 to 13 at the Salmo
River Ranch.