Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jun 2015
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Michael Mui
Page: 5

CANNABIS DAY ORGANIZERS VOW TO CONTINUE

City of Vancouver says construction and parallel events on both sides
of the art gallery would stop July 1 event

Organizers of the Canada Day pot rally on July 1 say they'll be
refunding donations for those who paid to reserve booths at the
Vancouver Art Gallery - but the event will happen despite the city's
efforts to shut it down.

Late Tuesday, the City of Vancouver sent statements and conducted
interviews with media to announce how they have decided not to approve
a permit for the so-called Cannabis Day event that traditionally takes
place on the art gallery steps.

"The South Plaza of the VAG is not available due to the annual VIVA
event that is located there throughout the summer," said a city
statement to 24 hours.

"The North Plaza of the VAG will be fenced in preparation for planned
construction and is therefore unavailable for any events."

The city said it would work with organizers to find a different date
and place for the event, adding that organizers must provide proof of
insurance, payment for city costs including policing, a site plan and
notification letters to neighbours in the area.

Jody Emery of Cannabis Culture, who helps organize the event each
year, said she was surprised to receive a letter from the city to
"cease and desist" advertising of the event.

She said booths had been fully booked - about 100 in total - with many
paying $300 donations to secure the spots.

"We would have to refund people for sure," she said.

"It has always happened there and they've worked. We can't - people
are showing up there for decades, they're going to show up whether
we're there or not."

According to a tender document for membrane replacement at the
northside of the gallery - this is the intended construction that
would require fencing - the city knew the work had to be done as early
as last year.

The document is dated November 2014 and details the maintenance work
the art gallery's underground vault regularly needs for its waterproof
membrane underneath the north side. It also states the work must be
started by July 13.

At the southside of the gallery, the VIVA event will be a public art
structure called Porch Parade being displayed starting on Canada Day,
city staff said, rather than a live event.

Jeremiah Vandermeer, editor in chief of Cannabis Culture, said it
doesn't make sense then why the area would be closed two weeks ahead
of time.

"This is using a construction event and changing the date to ruin our
protest ... any way you spin this one, it's completely underhanded,"
he said, adding organizers received notice from the city after media,
including 24 hours, received word of the closure.

"There's no way even if I tried that we can stop people from coming
down there. We'll just take over Robson Street and put all our stuff
there."
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MAP posted-by: Matt