VANCOUVER — Concerns about marijuana smoke seeping in to the ventilation system and misuse of city property have prompted the closure of the Vancouver Aquatic Centre on April 20 while an annual pot protest is held nearby.
Vancouver Park Board Chairwoman Sarah Kirby-Yung says the facility at Sunset Beach will be closed Wednesday, while thousands of pot smoking protesters are expected to pack the beach for the 4-20 Smoke Out celebration of cannabis culture.
Kirby-Yung says large intake fans at the Aquatic Centre control humidity and can't safely be turned off, creating the possibility that smoke from the marijuana protest will be drawn into the building.
Vancouver police estimated that last year's crowd reached 15,000, and Kirby-Yung says there is a concern some at this protest could use the centre inappropriately.
The annual 4-20 protest has been growing in Vancouver since 1995 when about 200 people attended a rally in Victory Square on the city's Downtown Eastside.
The event has been held at the art gallery in downtown Vancouver for several years, but construction at that site prompted organizers to make the unauthorized move to Sunset Beach for this year.
"This is absolutely not sanctioned," said Kirby-Yung. "It is not permitted, it has not been approved by the park board."
She says the board is focused on trying to keep these people from harm and is working with Vancouver police to ensure they're as safe as possible.
"The cost is significant. There's policing efforts that are ramping up, we are having to put lifeguards down there for the day, park rangers to help with education and traffic flow, there is a significant clean up effort, so it remains to be seen what the final costs of the event are, but it does represent a significant cost to taxpayers."
