So far, everyone is happy with how Canada Day festivities in Parksville turned out — even the local police.
Promising to step up enforcement (most notably in the liquor laws) with an increased presence, there might have been the danger of instigating a response from revellers who take things too far.
Yet, it seems no one was in such a mood. We certainly don’t need a repeat of the Vancouver riot over here on the Island.
In the end, police stated people were, for the most part, well-behaved. They arrested only 18 people (17 adults and one youth) for either being intoxicated or having open liquor in public places on July 1. Eighteen tickets were issued, plus another five under the city’s own liquor-in-the-Community-Park bylaw.
On our roads, police reported they handed out five immediate roadside suspensions on Canada Day, and another two on July 2.
That was the extent of their Canada Day enforcement — well, other than a pair of marijuana seizures and no arrests. Seems like alcohol is the bigger threat to worry about.
Even so, there are more reports of how everyone enjoyed the event and the fireworks show. There were people here from all over the central Island to see what’s what in Parksville and one woman experienced something she just had to share with The News.
During the fireworks, a large group of youth in the city’s skate park broke out in ‘O Canada’ — twice.
“I thought that was so awesome,” said Nanaimo’s Marilyn Collier. “It brought shivers to my spine.”
That kind of says it all.