Vancouver looking at smaller scale events for playoffs

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – One year after Vancouver’s Stanley Cup riot, Canucks fans celebrating the team’s playoff run are likely to see dozens of smaller-scale events where it will be more difficult to access alcohol.

The city has released broad details of plans for this year’s NHL playoffs, saying municipalities have been working with police, transit authorities, and other agencies to prevent another riot.

They say the focus will be on smaller events like block parties and viewing events at community centres rather than the massive gatherings that were held in front of giant TV screens last year.
    
The municipal government will also work with the local transit authority and the provincial government to curtail the sale of alcohol and prevent massive crowds from arriving in the downtown core.
    
The city doesn’t actually have a detailed plan for what those events will be, but says organizers are  working on those details and expect to spend roughly $50,000 to $100,000.
    
Several reports into last year’s riot concluded massive crowds, excessive alcohol use and inadequate planning contributed to the riot and allowed it to continue for hours.

VANCOUVER POLICE DEPARTMENT PREPARING FOR CANUCKS PLAYOFF RUN

The VPD is already coordinating efforts with the Mounties, Transit Police, TransLink, and other agencies.

“80 percent of the people that we have charged do not live in Vancouver” said Deputy Chief Doug Lepard with the VPD. “So it really is a regional event. We are confident that we have done everything that we reasonably can to be well prepared this year.”

An effort was made last spring to stop people from bringing booze downtown. Lepard says they will work even harder to intercept alcohol this year.

That means a regional plan to ensure that we are dealing with things upstream, that we’re not having as many trouble-makers come downtown from various locations, that we are dealing with the liquor going on the train.”

The VPD will be consulting with the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch about early closings for liquor stores and beer & wine stores, if there is trouble during the playoffs.

Also, the Deputy Chief says more officers will be equipped with cameras this year, and steps are being taken to speed-up the process of arresting, charging, and prosecuting offenders.

Social media like Facebook and Twitter will also be monitored by police, as the Canucks attempt another run at the Stanley Cup.

BINGE-DRINKING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

The provincial government and Vancouver Coastal Health will attempt to educate young people, especially men, about the dangers of binge drinking.

“Young men in BC, 20-to-34, 45-percent of them report binge drinking in the last month” said Doctor Patricia Daly with VCH. “Those men might not be aware of the harms that we can now document, associated with binge drinking”

“What we are really trying to do is to begin a conversation about the culture of binge drinking that we are seeing among our youth, the fact that many young people feel that the only way to have a good time is to binge-drink, to pre-load, so-to-speak, before going out to enjoy an event.”

The campaign will begin later this spring. VCH has been working with City Hall and TransLink on this effort, likely meaning that posters and advertising will go up in the city and at transit stops once the effort has been launched.