Vancouver bar operator speaks out about massive Halloween crowds on Granville Street
A Vancouver bar operator has taken to Twitter to address the massive crowd of partiers that were hanging out on Granville Street on Halloween Night.
Don Falconer, the operator of the Hotel Belmont bar, spoke out on social media Sunday night, calling the actions of the crowds of people near the downtown business Saturday night “extremely disappointing.”
As a business operator on Granville St, one of the many who are trying to survive financially and provide a safe and regulated environment for people to enjoy dinner and drinks, the actions of the crowds last night were extremely disappointing.
— Don Falconer (@TheFalconer) November 1, 2020
I of course want people to still come to the “entertainment district” and be able to have a good time. But what I saw last night was disheartening to say the least. There’s a safe way to do things – the crowd last night was not interested in safety for themselves or anyone else.
— Don Falconer (@TheFalconer) November 1, 2020
The roving party on the streets last night is exactly what’s going to lead to higher infection numbers, closures of more businesses, and perhaps further lockdowns. Just plain selfish.
— Don Falconer (@TheFalconer) November 1, 2020
Falconer also expressed his concern with the large crowds leading to closures for more businesses and “perhaps further lockdowns.”
In September, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced new orders for bars, pubs, and restaurants across the province. In addition to ordering all nightclubs and banquet halls in BC to close, Henry stated that liquor sales in all bars, pubs, and restaurants must also cease at 10 pm and the venues must close at 11 pm.
Falconer went on to call the actions of partiers “disheartening” and “just plain selfish.”
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Videos of partiers gathering with limited physical distancing surfaced on social media Saturday night.
Cst. Jason Doucette with the Vancouver Police Department told Daily Hive that extra officers were deployed Halloween night along the Granville Entertainment District.
“We are disappointed that party goers did not listen to the advice of our Public Health Officer and chose to gather in large crowds along the Granville Mall,” he stated.
Doucette added that the majority of the crowds were “peaceful” but there were some who “acted out” and needed to be removed from the area by police.
As for ticketing, Doucette said, “physically attempting to disperse the alcohol fuelled crowd or issue tickets wasn’t appropriate.”
With files from Simran Singh.
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