Publication title: Edmonton Journal
Pages: B1 / FRONT
Section: City
Publication date: Jun 25, 2001
Author: Stewart, Darren
Former prime minister Pierre Trudeau once famously told Canadians the state had no place in the bedrooms of the nation.
On Sunday, more than 1,000 supporters of Edmonton's dance culture put a modern twist on those words, saying the state has no place in the bed times of the nation.
The Edmonton Right to Dance Coalition organized a three-hour "protest rave" on the steps of City Hall to show opposition to a proposed rave bylaw. Children, seniors, a few families and a mixed crowd of ravers from as far away as Calgary attended the event.
City council will vote Tuesday on a bylaw that could force rave events to close at 3 a.m and send those under age 18 out the door at midnight.
Organizers said they wanted to put rave culture on display so those who don't normally see it will have a better understanding of what the subculture is about. Plenty of downtown pedestrians stopped to watch and listen, occasionally busting out a few dance moves.
"We old people don't really fit in but the music is welcoming," said Edmonton senior Joe Falvo, speaking above the loud bass thump. Falvo sat on a park bench on city hall grounds with his wife Kay as a younger pierced and tattooed group bounced and grooved their way around them into the main crowd. The couple said they were happy to see so many young people politically active, and they hoped city councillors would take note.
Coun. Robert Noce, who showed off an impressive set of dance moves, said he couldn't remember the last time such a large crowd gathered outside city hall.
"We clearly need to send the bylaw back to administration for more work," he said, taking a breather.
He said executive council made a bad decision by amending the rave bylaw to include the 3 a.m. curfew, though he still thinks the city needs more regulation for the dance events.
Not everybody was happy to see and hear the protest music, which drowned out the nearby Jazz in the City stage.
"It's a bit loud," said one man, who didn't want to be named. He said he didn't oppose rave culture as long as those who took part obeyed the law. "Though I don't know why they need to be up past 3 a.m. But then again, I'm an old man; I don't understand these things." But the majority of the crowd clearly understood the frenetic beats and danced wildly.
"Do you see people dying or do you see people having seizures?" asked Samantha Brooks, who danced while holding her six-month-old son Magnus. "I feel safe enough to bring my son here, I don't know what the problem is."
Two members of the Edmonton police patrolled the crowd but said that there were no problems, other than a few noise complaints from those who lived or worked nearby.
Local DJ Dragon Jargic emceed the event and encouraged the crowd to visit a display showing ward maps to learn who represents them on city council. He thanked the crowd for acting responsibly and encouraged them to remain politically active after the event. "Take a look around you. This is what a responsible community looks like; this is what a family looks like."
Illustration
Colour Photo: Michael Aporius, The Journal / Edmonton Right to Dance Coalition rallies at City Hall against proposed anti-rave bylaw. ;
Publication date: Jun 25, 2001
Author: Stewart, Darren
Former prime minister Pierre Trudeau once famously told Canadians the state had no place in the bedrooms of the nation.
On Sunday, more than 1,000 supporters of Edmonton's dance culture put a modern twist on those words, saying the state has no place in the bed times of the nation.
The Edmonton Right to Dance Coalition organized a three-hour "protest rave" on the steps of City Hall to show opposition to a proposed rave bylaw. Children, seniors, a few families and a mixed crowd of ravers from as far away as Calgary attended the event.
City council will vote Tuesday on a bylaw that could force rave events to close at 3 a.m and send those under age 18 out the door at midnight.
Organizers said they wanted to put rave culture on display so those who don't normally see it will have a better understanding of what the subculture is about. Plenty of downtown pedestrians stopped to watch and listen, occasionally busting out a few dance moves.
"We old people don't really fit in but the music is welcoming," said Edmonton senior Joe Falvo, speaking above the loud bass thump. Falvo sat on a park bench on city hall grounds with his wife Kay as a younger pierced and tattooed group bounced and grooved their way around them into the main crowd. The couple said they were happy to see so many young people politically active, and they hoped city councillors would take note.
Coun. Robert Noce, who showed off an impressive set of dance moves, said he couldn't remember the last time such a large crowd gathered outside city hall.
"We clearly need to send the bylaw back to administration for more work," he said, taking a breather.
He said executive council made a bad decision by amending the rave bylaw to include the 3 a.m. curfew, though he still thinks the city needs more regulation for the dance events.
Not everybody was happy to see and hear the protest music, which drowned out the nearby Jazz in the City stage.
"It's a bit loud," said one man, who didn't want to be named. He said he didn't oppose rave culture as long as those who took part obeyed the law. "Though I don't know why they need to be up past 3 a.m. But then again, I'm an old man; I don't understand these things." But the majority of the crowd clearly understood the frenetic beats and danced wildly.
"Do you see people dying or do you see people having seizures?" asked Samantha Brooks, who danced while holding her six-month-old son Magnus. "I feel safe enough to bring my son here, I don't know what the problem is."
Two members of the Edmonton police patrolled the crowd but said that there were no problems, other than a few noise complaints from those who lived or worked nearby.
Local DJ Dragon Jargic emceed the event and encouraged the crowd to visit a display showing ward maps to learn who represents them on city council. He thanked the crowd for acting responsibly and encouraged them to remain politically active after the event. "Take a look around you. This is what a responsible community looks like; this is what a family looks like."
Illustration
Colour Photo: Michael Aporius, The Journal / Edmonton Right to Dance Coalition rallies at City Hall against proposed anti-rave bylaw. ;
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