News Article: March 10, 2009
Type: Press Release
Outlet: Upper Fraser Valley RCMP
Byline: Cst. Lea-Anne Dunlop
Title: Upper Fraser Valley Bar Watch - Committed to Community Safety
Date: 2009-10-03
Upper Fraser Valley- The Upper Fraser Valley Bar Watch Committee has just celebrated a successful 18 months in operation, and is actively soliciting new members because of the benefit of having police officers and liquor inspectors regularly drop into their premises. “The members of Bar Watch are taking a pro-active approach and are working closely with community liaisons to make the restaurants, pubs and nightclubs safe for everyone to enjoy” said Ryan MacDonald, Chair of the Upper Fraser Valley Bar Watch Committee. “So far we have had very positive results”.
Members of the Committee include business owners who operate licensed premises, partnering with the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch, RCMP, ICBC, MADD, the Health Authority, the Fire Department, Chilliwack city officials and various representatives from the Agassiz, Hope and Boston Bar area. Member bar and restaurant owners welcome liquor inspectors and police into their establishments as a preventative measure, and work together to promote programs that support responsible alcohol consumption. Their collective goal is to facilitate a strong working relationship between bar owners and community partner agencies, and ultimately, a safer environment for patrons and the community at large.
Mayor Sharon Gaetz is very pleased with the work Bar Watch has done over the past year and commented, “Bar Watch has been a positive influence in our community. The City and its residents benefit from a great working partnership with members of Bar Watch to ensure a strong and safe Chilliwack.”
Programs like Bar Watch help promote cooperation and information sharing, which in turn helps ensure that communities are better able to work together to address disturbances and liquor-related public safety concerns such as service to minors, intoxication and overcrowding.
Police and liquor inspectors routinely check licensed establishments as part of their duties to ensure compliance with the Liquor Control and Licensing Act, as well as other provincial and criminal statutes. “The preventative value of doing routine checks at licensed establishments is tremendous,” said Inspector Keith Robinson of the Upper Fraser Valley RCMP. “We’re please to have such a strong working relationship with Bar Watch, and other community partners.”
“I enjoy working with the Bar Watch group,” said Mike Weightman of ICBC. “They have assisted with our Get Home Safe messaging by having educational kits on display. It’s great to be able to work with a group devoted to community safety.”
Raffaele Aiello, General Manager of Earls Restaurant in Chilliwack sees the benefit of being part of Bar Watch first hand. “As a member of the Upper Fraser Valley Bar Watch Committee we have found that the communication between all community liaison partners has benefited all members. Working together the committee has created a forum where members can communicate and work together finding solutions to provide a safe environment for all guests and employees.”
According to Liquor Control and Licensing Branch officials this is also a useful forum to share information with licensees on changes to the regulations and to discuss strategies for ensuring the safety of staff, patrons and the surrounding community.
The Bar Watch program is open to all owners and operators of bars and licensed restaurants. The Upper and Lower Fraser Valley programs are welcoming new members. To join Bar Watch, or for more information, contact Ryan MacDonald at 604-805-0695, or email barbiz@shaw.ca.
This release has been posted by the Upper Fraser Valley RCMP as a proud partner of the Upper Fraser Valley Bar Watch group, and on behalf of all involved.
Released by
Cst. Lea-Anne Dunlop
Communications Officer
Upper Fraser Valley RCMP
46326 Airport Road, Chilliwack BC V2P 1A5
Office: (604) 702-4017
ediv_internet_webmaster@rcmp-grc.gc.ca