Hockey Enforcers TKO'd, Council Cancels Event

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 08:09 PM

Prince George City Council deliberates a motion to cancel the battle of the Hockey Enforcers

Prince George City Council has cancelled the Battle of the Hockey Enforcers
Final vote on this matter:

5 in favour of cancelling the event (Councilors Skakun, Sethen, Basserman, Krause, Scott)
3 against cancelling. (Rogers,Zarowski Mayor Kinsley)

On the floor, a motion from Councilor Brian Skakun to axe the event.
Here is how Councillor's addressed the motion:

Brian Skakun: My message to people is that the majority of people in Prince George do not want this. I say we cut our losses because this has hurt the community.

Dan Rogers: The sun will come up on August 28th, life will go on. I will not support the motion. There are rules and regulations, and they have been followed.

Don Zarowski: It is up to the people to decide if this event will be a success . I have to ask, what next, banning rock concerts because we object to the lyrics?

Don Basserman: I am making a compromise, my own beliefs and those of the community but the community concerns take precedent. .

Murry Krause: This event sends confusing messages about violence to our youth so I will support the motion, Sometime we have to say no to gratuitous violence.

Glen Moose Scott: I know it isn't unusual in hockey or lacrosse for a couple of players to drop their gloves and get into a round of "fisticuffs" but I cannot support this event.

Sherry Sethen: I am concerned about the cost endured , whether it be financial or a split in community with neighbours arguing about this matter over their fences, but we can certainly put a dollar value on the amount we will have to give back to the promoter. I will support the motion

Mayor Kinsley: "This is the toughest issue we have looked at in years. The question that will be left hanging for me, "what next, when we set the standard of what people should or should not watch.?" There will be a group of very vocal people who will claim they won the day, but I beleive we are causing harm to our community that we won't see for a while. How do we set a direction, based on the objection of the week or the night?"

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Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 08:09 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: owl on June 22 2005 10:55 PM

The mayor is the leader of the community. It is the responsibility of the mayor to understand not only the community of Prince George, but also the larger communities of British Columbia and Canada. We in this city cannot stand alone and base our principles merely on what is legal but on what is right and ethical.

When we have a mayor who does not understand that and does not know what the standard of his immediate and broader community is, then we have a mayor whose time has come to let others lead this community into the future.

Posted by: owl on June 22 2005 11:18 PM

On May 21, 1996, the Vancouver Athletic Commission made the following recommendation to Vancouver City Council:

“Extreme Combat Events in Vancouver

The Vancouver Athletic Commission met on May 21, 1996 to discuss the circumstances surrounding the recent Extreme Combat Event which was originally scheduled for the PNE in mid-May, prior to being cancelled.

The Commission wishes to go on record as not supporting Extreme Combat Events, or any other events of a similar nature, in Vancouver or anywhere in British Columbia. The recent event would not have been approved if it had come before the Commission. However, in this instance, the applicant stated the event was amateur in nature, and therefore did not fall within the jurisdiction of the Athletic Commission, which governs professional boxing and wrestling only.

In order to prevent this type of situation from arising again, the Commission believes that the City should ban extreme fighting. The appropriate mechanism for achieving this would be through a City by-Law.”

They also recommended that the Province assume responsibility for regulating such events.

That was 9 years ago, in this Province. Prince George is part of this province and ought to be aware of what some very wise people on Vancouver’s Athletic Commission stated. The City Manager of the day recommended that Council approve the recommendations of the Commission.

The City of Vancouver Athletic Commission and City Manager stood up to be counted as leaders. They went beyond the legality of the matter. They set a community standard.

Neither the PG Athletic Commission nor Prince George Administrators understand such leadership which they ought to be showing. They merely attempted to hide behind the bureaucratic legalities. Even that, they were unable to get right.

It takes more than being a technocratic paper pusher to be a quality commissioner and administrator.

Posted by: thedish on June 22 2005 11:21 PM

I am amazed that one city council member will cost the city millions of dollars for his actions. Plus now we look like total idiots to the world.

We will never see anything ever come to Prince George again.

The Dish

Posted by: LJ Gomes on June 23 2005 1:05 AM

It's good to see that some of our "elected" officials care about the people and our community over what they want and think is good for themselves. from an ealier comment, " this will make us look like idiots". Well speak for yourself. The message PG is sending out is the same message that other cities that have done the same, NO!. And the sponsor is saying that it will be a controlled event. Sure to what point? till one of them is laying on the ice out cold or until the stretchers come out? Controlled to what point???

Posted by: Chadermando on June 23 2005 2:24 AM

I don't think we need Brian Skakun to tell us what is moral.

I also think his morals has just cost this city millions in a lawsuit for damages.

I always liked Brian Skakun and figured he was a smart guy, but he made the wrong choice here IMO.

Brian Skakun IMO better not turn around and decide it is within his morals to now support a sodomy celebraiting gay pride day parade through our downtown better known as the Pride Days.

When politicians start selecting morals for the community where does it start and where does it end.

I think I have a moral right to watch two atheletes challange each other to a fist fight on skates in a sanctioned and paid event.

I do not think it is right to have sodomists parading down my street praying on children in the name of equal rights.

IMO issues of public moral norms should be decided by the voters and not the Brian Skakuns of the world.

This event should have merely been postponed until after the next election in November at which time the voting citizens of Prince George could decide if they want to allow this event to be held in our public bulding that was paid for by all the tax payers in this city not just the morally rightious.

As for the sodomist and their agenda to discriminate on the meaning of marrage that too should also be set aside until our federal election 30 days from the Gomory inquirery.

On this issue I stand for the traditional definition of marrage, as that between a man and a woman.

I do not stand for the discrimination against brothers, sisters, or other friend and family arrangements who wish to protect their loved ones with benefits equality.

Posted by: Chadermando on June 23 2005 2:43 AM

LJ GOmes,

I disagree with this statement:

"The message PG is sending out is the same message that other cities that have done the same, NO!."

Facts are the real message our 5 appologist councilors sent out was that they will turn their back on their community to please a few puritians that like to impose their morals on others.

A big arrogant 'NO' to the majority from a militant moral minority.

Lets face it we are a mill town, and some are ashamed of that.

Maybe they should just stick to the business of municipal governments....

Posted by: Opatcho on June 23 2005 9:22 AM

It is amazing the attention this stupid event has attracted. Gasoline prices are sky high, natural gas prices are going up as are our taxes. Ben has kept these important issues in the fore front yet the responces from the public is pathetic.
I have to agree that if you don't like the event don't go. And for once Brian Skakun is out in left field. I am really suprised that he should make such an issue out of this dum event.
I guess he's been watching our Mayor for to long and has also decided to follow the leader.
I hope that Brian has done his home work. If he hasn't and its going to cost us in legal fees He'll be out with his leader come November.
Have a nice day.

Posted by: Geordie on June 23 2005 9:50 AM

CENSORSHIP is alive and well in Prince George, Thanks to Councillor Brian Skakun. If a sanctioned event like this is going to send mixed messages of violence to the youth of PG you have bigger problems and more to come. Brian,Don,Murry,Shery and Moose if you don't believe this is censorship, please take time from your obviously boring life and look it up. CENSORSHIP: the control of the information and ideas circulated within a society. achieved through examination of books,plays,films,television,radio programs,news report,material deemed to be indecent or obscene. Prince George please remember this on Election Day. BEWARE THE LIBRARY IS NEXT!!!

Posted by: imextraspecial on June 23 2005 11:33 AM

It's facinating that this has happened. I puchased tickets and was excited to see that PG finally was going to be a city put on the world map. Instead 5 city councilors keep us sitting here in the jerkwater back country of Canada. How in the world can this council make this decision? Since when is a civic government in the business of telling adults what they can and can't watch? THAT IS NOT YOUR ROLE. This embarasses me as a citizen!