The City of New Westminster isn’t calling last call for liquor at Westminster Pier Park.
Earlier this year, the province enacted new regulations that allowed the city to test the success of the sale of wine and beer at several events in Westminster Pier Park. Based on the success of the liquor service at the New Westminster Arts Council’s Music by the River events, the city has decided to permit ongoing licensed summer events at the park in partnership with the arts council and other community-based organizations.
While the staff recommendation had suggested the city permit the arts council and other community-based arts organizations to serve liquor at Westminster Pier Park for licensed events, Coun. Lorrie Williams suggested other community organizations, such as sports groups, should be considered as well. Council agreed.
“Our riverfront is such an incredible location. To make it a bit more animated and give more reasons to come down there and enjoy the space we have down there is really important and connects well with our riverfront strategy,” said Mayor Jonathan Cote.
Cote said council was a “bit unsure how something like this would work out” when it allowed liquor to be served at Pier Park as part of a pilot project in the summer. The arts council’s Music by the River events featured live music, artisan vendors and included the sale of wine and beer.
“I think a lot of credit goes to organizers of the event who really make the event successful. I think it also speaks to the fact that the community is mature enough to be able to host this event in a public space in the type of gathering that was there,” he said.
“I had the opportunity to bring my family on a couple of occasions. It was just a fun way to spend a summer evening. I certainly am supportive of us moving forward and continuing this for next year.”
Coun. Patrick Johnstone said Music by the River were not small, niche events but were inclusive to the community.
“They were really fun events on a Thursday night. They were low-key. They weren’t big and splashy, but they were very well attended,” he said. “It was a really great demographic of people. There were young families with kids, there were seniors, there were all kinds of people showing up to hear what was an interesting variety of music.”
