Image: City of Chilliwack / Chilliwack Councillor Bud Mercer spoke during Tuesday's city council meeting in which he wondered why Fraser Health seemed to have an issue with a plan by the city to allow seasonal alcohol consumption in one park, but not with hard drug use like fentanyl, coke, meth and heroin.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Seasonal alcohol consumption

Chilliwack councillors OK seasonal booze in city park despite Fraser Health concerns, but wonder why FHA was silent on hard drug use in parks

Mar 20, 2024 | 11:12 AM

CHILLIWACK — Two Chilliwack councillors expressed bewilderment at Tuesday’s council meeting as to why Fraser Health has apparent concerns over the city’s plan to allow seasonal alcohol consumption in one city park, but hasn’t said much about hard drug use within various city parks.

Like it has in years past, Chilliwack council approved an agenda item Tuesday (Mar. 19) that permits alcohol consumption at one city park, Vedder Park, between May 15 and October 31. The park is not immediately surrounded by any major residential developments within 50 metres, and has two children’s playground areas and a pump track for youngsters.

Joe Koczkur, director of public works and parks for the City of Chilliwack, told councillors in response to a question that there had not been a single complaint received in 2023 when seasonal alcohol consumption was been permitted at Vedder Park last year. Not one complaint was received through city bylaw or the Chilliwack RCMP, Koczkur confirmed.

Dr. Jing Hu, a medical officer and medical director for Fraser Health within Chilliwack, the District of Kent and Hope, wrote a letter to the city of Chilliwack dated Tuesday, Mar. 19 expressing consternation around the city’s seasonal alcohol consumption plan. The letter was not attached to Tuesday’s agenda because it had been received just before the meeting.

“It has come to my attention that Chilliwack is proposing to permit annual, seasonal consumption of alcohol at Vedder Park through City Parks Bylaw 2024, No 5382,” Dr. Hu said. “I would like to take this opportunity to express my concerns regarding the proposed bylaw and strongly caution against it as its implementation further normalizes alcohol consumption, a substance that we know causes significant harms to individuals and communities.”

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Councillor Bud Mercer, a retired 34-year member of the RCMP, cited this letter sent from Fraser Health in which the health authority said it had not been consulted about Chilliwack’s plan to allow seasonal alcohol consumption

“With the greatest respect to our public health officer, I find it somewhat ironic that they’re objecting to having alcohol in the park, but they’ve legalized the use of fentanyl and meth, cocaine and heroin to be used in the same parks,” Councillor Mercer said. “But, they object to alcohol and it seems a little disingenuous to me in the comments, and I quote, ‘I have not been consulted on this matter, so please take this letter and my recommendation as consultation.'”

Mercer said the city of Chilliwack was never consulted when Fraser Health apparently allowed public drug use in Chilliwack parks.

“We were never consulted, as a city, when they promoted and legalized public drug use in our parks,” Mercer asserted. “We weren’t consulted. It’s a bit disingenuous that they want to be consulted on something that’s given us absolutely zero problems, something that’s been enjoyed by the citizens of Chilliwack. I fully support this (seasonal alcohol consumption).”

Councillor Jeff Shields said he couldn’t agree more with Councillor Mercer’s sentiments. He asked city staff whether RibFest, the summertime event that drew tens of thousands of people to Vedder Park last year, had a totally different alcohol license. Koczkur stated that RibFest had a special event license to sell alcohol.

Councillor Chris Kloot said he found the comments from a Fraser Health official about temporary alcohol consumption baffling.

“Do we have any correspondence from Fraser Health…who corresponded with the city when fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and meth could be used anywhere, including our parks?” Kloot asked city staff. “Was there any correspondence from Fraser Health where they raised any concerns or objections?”

Koczkur said he wasn’t aware of any memos or letters from Fraser Health pertaining to open drug use in city parks.

“I find it a little ironic,” Kloot said. “Certainly there is some risk associated with alcohol consumption in public spaces. To me, this would be a much smaller risk associated than with hard drugs in our parks.”

Council wound up voting unanimously to approve the six-month seasonal alcohol consumption at Vedder Park, located at 45450 Petawawa Road.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack councillors OK seasonal booze in city park despite Fraser Health concerns, but wonder why FHA was silent on hard drug use in parks

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