Drinking alcohol will be allowed in some Burnaby parks this summer
Visitors will be able to legally drink booze in some Burnaby parks starting June 23, as city councillors voted in favour of an alcohol in parks pilot project on Monday.
Other Metro Vancouver municipalities have run similar pilot projects--some becoming permanent programs--since the beginning of the pandemic, but this is the first outdoor alcohol trial to be implemented in Burnaby.
From June 23 until October 30, alcoholic beverages will be allowed at Confederation Park, Central Park, Keswick Park and Edmonds Park during their opening hours, which are from dawn to dusk.
“Recognizing the experience of many municipalities who have also run similar pilots in previous years, staff have kept the pilot program small and limited,” reads a staff report given to councillors.
The four parks were chosen based on existing amenities such as washrooms, seating areas and waste disposals, as well as being near public transportation, according to the report.
Drinking alcohol will not be allowed within ten metres of any playground, pool, skate park, parking lot or sports court, or on any artificial trail, pathway, natural parkland or forested area.
Signage will be placed in the designated parks with instructions on the boundaries and hours for drinking, and violations of the rules will be punished with a $200 fine, or $160 if paid within 15 days.
The pilot project was approved despite objections from Fraser Health officer Dr. Lindsay Bowthorpe.
She voiced her concerns about the new bylaw in a May 30 letter to Mayor Mike Hurley and city councillors, pointing out Health Canada’s updated alcohol consumption guidelines, which warn against drinking more than two standard drinks per week to avoid negative health outcomes.
“Alcohol use in parks can further normalize alcohol use in social settings, encourage underage drinking and lend legitimacy to spaces used by young people for drinking,” the letter reads.
“While social connection and community belonging are vital for health and wellbeing, it is important to recognize that alcohol may not support the social connection goals of everyone in the community. Alcohol in parks may create riskier environments for individuals in recovery from an alcohol use disorder and act as a barrier for families and groups who are uncomfortable being around those who drink alcohol.”
She recommended that if the city approve the policy anyway, to limit the number of sites and hours where drinking is allowed. She also recommended adding extra staff to monitor underage drinking and public intoxication, set alcohol consumption limits, and to continually evaluate the program.
At the end of the summer, Burnaby city staff will analyze the pilot and gather feedback to provide recommendations for next year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP calls out Conservatives for effort to squash pharmacare legislation
The federal New Democrats are calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party for trying to block the bill that could pave the way for millions of Canadians to access birth control and diabetes coverage.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
DEVELOPING Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar
Hamas said it has accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar which seeks to halt the seven-month war with Israel in Gaza.
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer's disease
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer’s disease — in people who inherit two copies of a worrisome gene.
B.C. court date set for 3 accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three suspects accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year are scheduled to appear in court in Surrey on Tuesday.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.