East C

BRALIFAX — Along

_ with a couple of hun- dred thousand other people, I passed a pleas- ani Saturday night gaz- ing upon a fireworks display framed by the majestic masts, spars and stays of one of a hun- dred tall ships in Halifax harbour.

But, one of the things that struck me, given a long experi- ence with the festival-ruining, lager louts permeating Vancouver, was the absence of problems in the midst of a Very serious party. Sure, there was a significant police pres- ence, but it was more of a jovial, yet almost bored pres-

s is noticeably differ- ent than the coiled spring intensity adopted by Vancouver area police any time there is a lange gathering of people for an event.

Look at North Van's Hose & Reel festival where drunks and foul-mouthed idiots abound and the RCMP tend to police the entrance gate rather than risk starting a full- scale riot by trying to actually deal with the ignorant drunks who annually ruin what should be a fun family day. Truth be told, a senior Mountie told me many of the younger officers are too afraid to wade into the drunken debauchery.

At Tall Ships 2000, the waterfront boardwalks and

iers were teeming with

umanity from all over the world, with a stroll of a mere hundred paces yielding at least half a dozen different lan- guages overheard in passing. The beer gardens were over- flowing with merry-makers

crime and punishment

amidst the cacophony of music emanating from sound sys- tems, buskers and paid bands from around the world.

Waterfront pubs were jammed and the pints flowed as though the taps were never closed. Perspiring bartenders looked like whirling dervishes vainly trying to keep up with the demand of a 10-deep gathering in front of them. The Fife & Drum pub actually ran out of the most popular local brew, Alexander Keith's, with more than four hours of tippling left for the thirsty crowd.

The Split Crow, a fashion- able downtown pub on a pedestrian mall, spilled through its doors onto the cobblestones out front, turn- ing a good portion of the street into de facto pub space as well. Management simply threw open the doors and win- dows to let the band’s music spill out with the patrons.

And the police just kepr a calm eye on the «pirited, yet peaceful proceedings.

Add to the organized chaos, several hundred private boats jockeying for fireworks viewing position in the har- bour. Yet, as opposed to the annual English Bay Symphony of Fire example, Staff Sergeant Larry Bowden of the ports division of Halifax Regional Police actually commended

the boaters publicly for the exemplary behaviour.

There were no collisions, hot even minor ones. Police conducted literally hundreds of spot checks on vessels and not asingle charge of drinking and boating was laid. Not one.

On the first tof the Tall Ships 2000 testival, there

¢ a couple of stabbings, a

ious beating with a pipe and a shooting death that bore all the hallmarks of an execution. But none of this urban insanity was connected to the festival. It all was, IT suppose needless to say, related to drugs and took place in the city’s north end, about 10 or so blocks from the party.

It turns out the shooting victim and at least one of the identified stabbing victims were crack cocaine dealers, demonstrating that no city is immune to the urban blight protiterating cities across this country. While the area is pre- dominantly black — a racial ghetto made possible when city fathers forced the closure of “Affieville” (sic) in the mid- 1970s and moved the resi- dents to the area where the violence occurred — race rela- tions in the city are remarkably good, also in contrast to Vancouver.

A few days before the arrival of the tall ships, | had the privilege of attending a mixed-race wedding in the area. The small Baptist church, replete with gospel music, was decorated with plaques and other memorials to communi- ty leaders from the past.

While the ushers had no need to ask guests the usual “friends of the bride or groom” question, simple observation providing the answer, the mood was celeb

tory and lacking any negative racial overtones.

more pleasing. Guests were deliberately seated randomly, ensuring social and indeed,

al integration, making,

ends of strangers. Through conversation, I was able to understand this was the norm in a city where the perception elsewhere is one of racial disharmony.

One of the more amusing events of the week, and, cer- tainly, one which also showed the differences between Halifax and Vancouver, came from the small, yet voval protest organized by Amnesty International. They stood alongside the Chilean tall ship Esmeralda, railing about alleged torture they claim occurred on board during the tumultuous reign of the despi-

miaihox

Wednesday. July 26, 2000 — North Shore News - 7

ship party a lout-free zone

cable General Augusto inochet.

Instead of drawing posidve attention to their dubious cause, they got heckled by local and tourist alike. Evidently, the fact that the ship is an inanimate object and all but three of the crew had not even been born during the Pinochet years was lost on the feisty, if ill-advised litle group.

While we all ake pride in the beauty of our fair city, we seem somehow incapable of acting as civilized as our East Coast cousins. What used to be a pvo-week showcase of Vancouver, the Sea Festival, has been reduced to the four nights of the Symphony of Fire, largely because of the antics of the ubiquitous crowd of idiots.

We boast of being a world- class city and can’t even host a

peer nettemtetmret Anetta rans eva neaennttet Sent

Thanks for the grass

Dear Editor:

Re: Meadow to ahead (June 28)

I would like to extend my thanks to Bill Granger and the staff at the North Vancouver City parks department for the exceptional job they have done with the ornamental meadow on Grand Boulevard.

It’s about time that mem- bers of our council and others begin to recognize that “nature” cannot be continual- ly mowed, clipped, and inun- dated with pesticides without causing irreparable damage to the natural habitat.

Enlightened city managers all over the country are begin-

grow

ning to understand that we must allow natural vegetation, drainage, and contours to keep our cities healthy.

Pm a neighbour who walks up the Grand Boulevard park frequenty, and [ say, “keep up the good work.” Allison Howard North Vancouver allisonh @attcanada.ca

party in public Ss across the country, and indeed, around the world, partied in the year 2000 with abandon

In Halifax, the last of the tall ships will have barely cleared MeNab’s Island when the annual Busker Festival will draw thousands more to the bustling waterfront.

Evidently, we need often go elsewhere to see what we are missing.

~~ lknight@direct.ca

tennis player, looking for a new racquet — what would you recommend? Greg Jobnson o The Volk} Quantum 20, a designed by Roris Becker offers a super Lite carbon/ titanium frame. This cacquet provides cacetlent control to improve your gaiie.

P= RACQUETS & RUNNING

1480 Marine Dr, North Van

980-3912

Green Tip from Eovireanent Casade '

‘

162% Lonsdale Ave Horth Vancouver

‘t top up the gas tank.

Gosoline vapours will escape when your gas tank is too full and contribute fo smog.

iS.LAURSEN & SON

draperies

Serving the Lower Mainland for over 28 years

- www.oldrapesandblinds.com . Custom Rods, Upholstery & Bedspreads (Ask about our Seniors Discount} For Free Estimate call 922-4975 or 987-2966. Drapery Labour $14.95 per pane! lined. Low ho

& blinds Itd.

Ww Prices