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'I feel slapped in the face' Slopitch organizer frustrated by city's decision to impose liquor licence curfew
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Friday, July 12, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Enjoying a beer at a ball game under the midnight sun might be a thing of the past as the result of a decision made at city hall.
Yellowknife Slopitch Association president, Trevor Bourque pauses during a weeknight softball game at Fritz Theil Ball Park, on Wednesday evening. Bourque says he feels "slapped in the face" after city administration decided to lower the curfew on liquor licences ahead of the annual Slo-Pitch National regional qualifier and territorial tournament, taking place at the park from July 12 to 14.- Cody Punter/NNSL photo
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Under the proposed rules, the cut-off hour for liquor licences issued for outdoor events held on city property will be reduced by two hours to 8 p.m.
The decision comes days before the Yellowknife Slopitch Association hosts its annual Slo-Pitch National regional qualifier and territorial tournament running tonight through Sunday.
"I'm feeling slapped in the face," said Trevor Bourque, the president of the Yellowknife Slopitch Association. Bourque said he first heard about the decision on the radio Wednesday morning.
"I'm rather disappointed that I hear (city administrator) Dennis Kefalas on the radio this morning, saying he gave us ample warnings and that they fell on deaf ears, because I've responded to every one of their complaints."
Bourque said he has never had a personal conversation with Kefalas.
The decision to reduce licensing hours in the evening was made after city hall received a complaint from the Back Bay Community Association regarding the Suds Cup, which was held at Fritz Theil Ball Park on Canada Day long weekend.
Grant White, director of community services, said the city held a community engagement meeting where the association brought up the complaints.
"They brought up obnoxious, raucous, inappropriate language and activities that were coming out of liquor-licensed areas in their neighbourhood," said White.
After considering the complaints, administration made the decision to reduce hours. The decision does not require council's approval, said White.
Lois Little, a board member for the Back Bay Community Association, said the group raised the issue of noise coming from the field at a meeting with the city on June 27, but said "it was not a complaint per se." She added the association did not make any additional complaints after the Suds Cup.
Liquor licences now state serving alcohol is allowed until 8 p.m. and the facility must be vacated by 9 p.m., whereas it used to be that serving would go until 10 p.m. and the premises vacated an hour later.
When asked whether specific incidents were mentioned, White said there were complaints regarding fights and the use of the loudspeaker to broadcast inappropriate comments.
White added this was not the first time complaints had been raised regarding licensed events at Fritz Theil Ball Park, where the slo-pitch association holds all of its tournaments. He said the association had been given warnings after complaints had been made in previous years.
A further warning was issued when the association applied for a liquor licence for the Suds Cup, according to White.
"The liquor licence was issued for last week, people were given fair warning, they didn't adhere to it, so the decision was made," said White, who added the change in rules would allow "the neighbours to use their backyards and use their decks without being subjected to a lot of inappropriate behaviour."
Bourque said he was only at the Suds Cup for a few hours over the weekend, and that the two people in charge of the event did not report any incidents to him.
He said no city officials came down to the park.
"Bylaw never came down to warn them to quiet down, and the liquor inspector didn't come by to issue any warnings or tickets," said Bourque.
Bourque said he has not heard any direct complaints this year and that he hadn't spoken with the city's administration regarding the complaints until Wednesday morning.
"Obviously someone is pissed off on Back Bay. I don't know who it is, and they won't let us know," said Bourque.
Bourque met with White on Thursday afternoon to try and argue against the implementation of the curfew on the association's liquor licence.
Despite Bourque's plea, White said the curfew would be enforced for the upcoming tournament. However, the city was open to holding further discussions, with the involvement of the Back Bay Community Association, he said.
Bourque is concerned cutting out the drinking between 8 to 10 p.m. will have a financial impact on the league. "There goes two hours of revenue at peak time."
The association, which has 48 teams and approximately 800 members across Yellowknife, depends on revenue from its beer gardens to help subsidize the $1,200 team fees required to play in the league.
It also hosts the Tim Walsh Memorial Tournament every year to raise money for local charities and for the education of Walsh's children.
"We don't make a dime on that thing. For them to hamstring our beer garden, we're not going to be able to donate much more at the end of the day," Bourque said.
Despite Bourque's protest, White emphasized the change in regulations for liquor licensing were relatively small and that alcohol could still be served at outdoor events.
"What's key is we're not telling people they can't have a liquor licence," White said. "We're just saying be responsible, respect the neighbourhood and shut down by 9 p.m. so people can still enjoy their decks, their backyards and their neighbourhood."
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