RAVE BYLAW WILL APPLY TO UPCOMING EVENT

Organizers of a rave set for the Crest Theatre on March 30 will have a few
more hoops to jump through before the event can be held.

Council gave third reading Monday to a bylaw that sets out a protocol to
help ensure that raves held within the city are safe ones.

Although it must still go through a fourth reading before it can be
adopted, deputy administrator John Malcolm said the bylaw still applies to
the coming event.

But it appears that the show will go on.

"We've met with them and they are complying with the requirements," Malcolm
said Wednesday.

The bylaw makes a city-issued permit mandatory for holding a "late night
event" like a rave. And to get that permit, organizers must employ a
licensed security firm that would provide entrance control to ensure that
alcohol or illicit drugs are not brought onto the premises.

The matter was first brought up more than a year ago, when members of the
now-defunct Safer Rave Initiative Group made a presentation to council.

A bylaw was subsequently given two readings, but has remained in limbo ever
since while the city waited for the group to draw up a list of approved
locations.

With the group now silent for more than a year, it would be easy to assume
there is no interest in such an event being held in Dawson Creek.

"However, it would be prudent to have regulations in place should an event
be planned in the future," said director of development services, Greg
Dobrowolski, in a report to council.

Administrator Jim Chute told council Monday that Dobrowolski's report was
prepared before the city knew that a rave was being planned.

Some changes have been made to the bylaw. Rather than designating specific
locations, raves will be allowed in areas zoned commercial general. And the
processing fee has been increased from $187.50 to $400 per application.

A late night event remains 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.

Dawson Creek-based Havoc Productions is putting on the rave which will
feature four disc jockeys from Vinylution, a large organization based in
Prince George that promotes DJs across Canada.

Tickets are on sale and are available at Selectus, the Cedar Lodge room 67
and at Nightriders from Havoc's Ryan William on Friday and Saturday night.
You can also contact William at 782-8531 and ask for room 67.