Jason Luciw - Kelowna Capital News Published: July 09, 2009 10:00 PM
Local politicians will make another attempt to officially ban the colours of organized crime from being displayed anywhere in the Central Okanagan. However, this time around, it’s the Central Okanagan Regional District board is taking the initiative, building on a suggestion the City of Kelowna made a few years ago to try to do the same thing. Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd said the city’s attempts went nowhere, but she was open to giving the notion another try. Joe Rich/Ellison director Kelly Hayes asked the regional board to write to the B.C. government asking that emblems of gang members be banned across the entire province. “The Hell’s Angels are back in town,” said Hayes. “This is obviously a concern for the RCMP and, in my opinion, should be a concern to the community at large, particularly the merchants who have no choice but to cater to these individuals who are linked to organized crime.”
Regional board chairman Robert Hobson said he agreed with Hayes’s proposal, noting that the only way a ban will work is if it is implemented province-wide. North Westside director Jim Edgson said he too supported the idea, however, as a member of a recreational motorcycle club, he wanted assurances that groups like his wouldn’t be lumped in with the ban on colours. West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater said he suspected any attempt to ban logos of organized crime would face challenges under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The board’s move came Thursday morning, just minutes before the RCMP issued a press release confirming their concerns that the Hell’s Angels will arrive in town this weekend. “The public will see this group in the bars, night clubs and public spaces in the city showing their colours, starting on Friday when they are set to arrive,” said Sgt. Ann Brinnen.
The RCMP supports the entertainment community’s stance on not allowing the wearing of gang colours inside these establishments, she explained. “Police will respond to assist the establishments if complaints of ignoring this code are received.” Enhanced policing will occur in traffic services; general duties; foot, bike and boat patrols and AIR 3 will be up and about. The RCMP’s goal is for everyone to enjoy themselves in a way that does not infringe upon the enjoyment of others, and to feel safe in the process, Brinnen concluded.
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