Critics say bylaw makes us look like a 'backwater town'
Publication title: Edmonton Journal
Pages: B1 / FRONT Section: City
Publication date: Jun 16, 2001
ProQuest document ID: 252826327
Copyright: Copyright Southam Publications Inc. Jun 16, 2001
Author: Foster, Scott
Abstract:
"During the World's, we're going to have a lot of worldwide travellers coming to our city who are going to be looking for this kind of (all-night rave) environment to take part in," said Marcus Gurske, spokesman for the Edmonton Right to Dance Coalition. "All- night dancing is the norm in Paris, London, Toronto, Vancouver and across the U.S. "
Along with six other rave supporters rallying against the proposed bylaw, Gurske scorned a possible 3 a.m. curfew proposed by a council committee. "We do not want to have what happened in the movie Footloose," Gurske said, referring to the 1984 film about a town that demonized and outlawed dancing.
This great place could quickly become an unpopular place for young adults from out of town if the bylaw is approved in its present form, said Martin Ignasiak, a lawyer for Fraser Milner Casgrain. Ignasiak joined Gurske's cause after learning the city's executive committee proposed unexpected changes to the bylaw last week. "I'm infuriated by the committee's decision. It's obvious this is a knee-jerk reaction," he said.
Full text:
Ran with factbox entitled, "Rave on", which has been appended to the end of this story.
Rave promoters and DJs banded together Friday to spin a concerted argument against a bylaw that pulls the plug on raves at 3 a.m.
They said the bylaw, which city council will consider June 26, would hurt Edmonton's ability to host high-profile events such as the World Championships in Athletics and the Juno Awards.
"During the World's, we're going to have a lot of worldwide travellers coming to our city who are going to be looking for this kind of (all-night rave) environment to take part in," said Marcus Gurske, spokesman for the Edmonton Right to Dance Coalition. "All- night dancing is the norm in Paris, London, Toronto, Vancouver and across the U.S. "
Along with six other rave supporters rallying against the proposed bylaw, Gurske scorned a possible 3 a.m. curfew proposed by a council committee. "We do not want to have what happened in the movie Footloose," Gurske said, referring to the 1984 film about a town that demonized and outlawed dancing.
"We're a world-class city, not a backwater town," Gurske added.
The group charged that the proposed 3 a.m. curfew would make it impossible for rave promoters to compete with other cities where the parties go on until 7 a.m. The possibility of not taking part in this global phenomenon could hurt Edmonton's reputation as a cosmopolitan city, said Gurske.
But organizers of the World's are not fazed by this suggestion.
"Our focus is to make sure Commonwealth Stadium is filled for ten days to watch the world's best athletes compete," said Randy Kilburn, spokesman for the championships.
"What the spectators do once the competition is through for the day is up to them. Of course, we want them to get to know Edmonton because it's a great place to live and visit."
But this great place could quickly become an unpopular place for young adults from out of town if the bylaw is approved in its present form, said Martin Ignasiak, a lawyer for Fraser Milner Casgrain. Ignasiak joined Gurske's cause after learning the city's executive committee proposed unexpected changes to the bylaw last week. "I'm infuriated by the committee's decision. It's obvious this is a knee-jerk reaction," he said.
Gurske also wonders what organizers of the Juno Awards would think about having their ceremony in "a city that might ban dancing," thereby strangling the electronic music market. The music typically played at raves has been the largest-growing music category in the Junos for the past three years, he said.
The city's film commissioner, Patti Tucker, felt confident last week that Edmonton's pitch to host the Junos in 2004 would be approved.
Rave promoters and club owners say raves pump significant amounts of money into the city's economy because they attract visitors.
City council has not asked Economic Development Edmonton to perform an impact study on a potential loss of rave-related businesses, said Kenn Bur, spokesman for EDE. "A cosmopolitan reputation is important to a city, but we have no way to evaluate whether this argument has any affect on our national or international reputation," he said.
RAVE ON
- Last Saturday's rave at the Sportex building drew 600 people from outside of Edmonton. Tickets for the event were on sale in Red Deer, Fort McMurray, Saskatoon, Calgary and Vancouver.
- With each person spending an estimated $200, that means $120,000 would have been injected into the local economy.
- On June 24, the Edmonton Right to Dance Coalition will hold a "protest dance demonstration" on the steps of City Hall. The group expects close to 5,000 teenagers and young adults who oppose the bylaw to show up.
Source: Edmonton Right to Dance Coalition
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