The Young Arts Market (YAM) in Parksville has been told it can no longer have large gatherings or events, following an incident where young people were found to be drunk and possibly on drugs at a dance.
The YAM, as it is affectionately known by those that make use of it, has been known as a drug and alcohol-free place for youth to create art, poetry, music and theatre in downtown Parksville. But it has also become increasingly known for its weekend dances, the most recent one which allegedly attracted around 400 people.
Mehdi Naimi, president of Rough Diamonds Creative Art Society, which opened the YAM, said the technical reason for the closure is the business license, which only allows for a retail store, and not a place for large gatherings. He said they are now looking for a new location that will allow them to do that.
The events at YAM had been tolerated by the City, Naimi explained, but after a city councillor found out police were removing drunk youth from the dance, they had the city enforce the business bylaw. Medhi said before they knew it the YAM had been shut down.
“We were disappointed that it went that far without anyone talking to us first. We were not hiding anything but instead of coming to us and saying these are our concerns, let’s work together, let’s improve on this and make sure that it’s all safe and can continue on ... instead of doing that they go to the staff in the city who have the obligation to enforce bylaws.”
Naimi said there were bag and coat checks frequently to ensure compliance, but some youth may have been consuming alcohol or drugs before they arrived.
Corporal Richard van de Pol said the building was meant to be simply an art gallery for youth and wasn’t equipped for anything more. He said police were invited to the last event by organizers, where they found five or six underage drinkers intoxicated, including a young female who was so drunk she was “vomiting almost in convulsions.”
City councillors became involved, he said, because some of them have kids of that age group and found disturbing information on Facebook, alleging drinking and drug use at the event. They then brought it up with the bylaw enforcement department, he said.
Although the police support the idea of the YAM, van de Pol said, this was not an ideal location.
“That building is not licensed for it, it’s not designed for it, it’s an old decrepit building and it’s not up to code,” he said. “So you put 400 people in a little building that doesn’t have the structural or safety aspects ... you’re putting a lot of people at risk.”
Van de Pol also said there was an increase in calls for youth on the streets after the last event. He couldn’t be sure these were youth from the YAM however, he said.
Naimi said event organizers at the YAM can’t control what youth do before they enter the building, but the negative attention of a few people should not overshadow all the positive and successful events the YAM has held for youth in the community.
He is optimistic about finding a new location for the YAM and hopes councillors support organizers in this endeavour, he said.
“I’m hoping the councillors will really rise up to the occasion and push for what the community needs.”