I've been living and working here on the Coast for almost 10 years now. I've witnessed many positive things, been a part of some amazing events and had the privilege of telling many great stories. But I've also seen the ugly side of this community on more than one occasion.
The past two years during the Sea Cavalcade festival are part of the ugly side I'm referring too. The family street dance has been marred with excessive drinking with youth and adults taking the party a bit too far. Those poor choices by a few resulted in numerous arrests, property damage and headaches for organizers, law enforcement officers and Town officials.
It has gotten so bad that at one point in the planning lead-up to this year's festival, slated for July 27 and 28, there were some questions whether the festival would happen at all.
A few weeks ago, I covered a Town of Gibsons committee meeting where Sea Cav organizing committee members Conchita Harding and Ali Glencross appeared as a delegation seeking support and guidance from council as they worked to finalize the event schedule.
The consensus was to hold the street dance earlier on Saturday, right after the children's events had wrapped up, and to keep the event to a two-day schedule rather than going back to a three-day affair.
The committee went away armed with information, thoughts and suggestions and came back to the Sunshine Coast Regional District policing committee at the end of June with their plans set. Besides the earlier street dance, the biggest change is moving the fireworks to the end of the festival on Sunday night.
As we reported on our front page June 28, news of the festival changes has not sat well with some. Many have voiced their displeasure with rude and abusive phone calls to Harding and her fellow committee members - something that is totally uncalled for.
Others have written letters to our paper bemoaning the change saying it's ruining their traditional parties and family gatherings. Others have taken to social media to vent and voice their displeasure. And while I see their point, I don't see anyone coming up with any better ideas or solutions, or for that matter, offering more money to help with the extra policing costs and expenses to the Town.
The Sea Cav committee is made up entirely of volunteers. This is a non-profit group, whose only means of funding is through a couple of grants-in-aid from the SCRD and the Town of Gibsons and some fundraising events.
It takes thousands of dollars and thousands of hours in the planning and running of this event. Over the years, the dollars have been declining, as too are the volunteers. People are getting burned out, they are getting tired of dealing with the troublemakers. Sunshine Coast RCMP have said this will be the last year they will cover the costs for extra policing to ensure the event is safe.
Bottom line is, the committee had no choice but to make some changes this year to try to ensure the festival is a fun, family event - changes that were requested by police and Town officials.
For those who are against the changes, think about altering your party plans. Maybe try to go in a little later to work on Monday morning so you can enjoy the fireworks on Sunday night. Let the little ones stay up a little later - it is summer holidays after all.
I know changes can be hard, but let's embrace the changes and show some support to the committee and the efforts that have gone into putting on this festival.
Sometimes you have to change and switch things up to make them better. What would you rather have, a Sea Cav celebration or a cancelled festival?
