A few bad apples: that's all it takes to ruin a good time.
In this instance, the few bad apples left a foul taste in the mouths of police, Gibsons councillors and community members after too much alcohol and much less common sense marred Sea Cavalcade festivities in Gibsons last weekend.
Friday night, which is usually the busier night of the weekend, saw lower numbers of complaints to police, rude behaviour and public intoxication. Police were encouraged by the response of the public and their early enforcement, which enabled everyone to have, for the most part, a great time Friday night at the fireworks and opening of Gibsons biggest summer festival.
Saturday night, that encouragement went south, when several fights broke out between youth and young adults after the street dance shut down. At one time Saturday evening, 12 youths were sitting in jail cells in Sechelt, put there to sober up before their parents came to pick them up. Police are calling the acts ones of stupidity, while Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk called it a "goon show." We couldn't agree more with these assessments.
Events like Sea Cavalcade and many other festivals on the Coast are run on tight budgets by volunteers who pour all their efforts into creating activities designed to celebrate and have a good time with family and friends. We're not naïve enough to think that alcohol doesn't play a role in that good time, but there is a difference between a few beers and a few cases.
What happened after Saturday's street dance is appalling. And it's time that some in our community take a good look at themselves in the mirror and assume some responsibility for their actions.
The street dance was supposedly an alcohol-free event, so why do some think they have a right to drink heavily in public, be intoxicated and start a brawl - and in the process, ruin the event for others? And where are the parents of the youth who ended up in jail? Shouldn't they take some responsibility for their sons' or daughters' actions?
Another weekend like this will force festivals to be cancelled, which would be a shame. Some folks need to have a bit more respect for themselves and their community.
If you want to drink and brawl, stay at home and do it in your own backyard. Don't bring your stupidity out into the streets.
