Rankin Inlet councillor explains denial of beer garden for music festival

No one ever said a music festival has to have alcohol to be successful and this past weekend's Jammin' on the Bay may set the tone for years to come in Rankin Inlet.

Hamlet Coun. Mike Shouldice said the Jammin' on the Bay committee came to council and asked about a beer garden and council said no.

He said hamlet council is in the middle of trying to sort out a lot of things with all the alcohol-related incidents that have been happening in the community.

“We had no idea what it would look like without a beer garden until we did it,” said Shouldice.

“The Legion asked, as well. We talked about it and decided we'd stay with what we'd originally decided with the Jammin' on the Bay committee and that was that we wouldn't have a beer garden.

“We gave them a preferred bingo slot, just to help cover off any revenue loss and any other expenses they might have, and I thought that was pretty fair.”

Shouldice said one of the major issues council has been dealing with during the past year is the beer and wine store and setting purchasing limits.

He said anyone paying attention realizes the community has had some serious alcohol-related issues during the past year.

“You know, we've had murders and all kinds of deaths — like people being beaten to death in the street — so we've dealt with some pretty heavy issues.

“We just decided that was our stance, in general, and when it came to having a concert we didn't need a beer garden.

“They talked about it being a family event and all that kind of stuff and, at the end of the day, we just felt it was inappropriate. I, personally, think it would have been a little hypocritical on my part to have approved it.”

Shouldice said the local Legion has always been creative with ways of taking care of people and being able to serve them alcohol.

He said the idea this time was to see what it's like without a beer garden, meet to discuss it afterwards and then, maybe, it can be revisited for the next major event.

“When the Jammin' on the Bay committee presented, they were more than accepting and they agreed right away to our offer of the bingo.

“They presented, we countered, they said they were fine with that and left the room.

“That's where it was left and that's where it stayed. Now we'll see what happens moving forward.”