Easter 2012 just wasn't the same for some folks accustomed to attending a vintage car parade in the Royal City.
The Hyack Festival Association has organized the antique car parade in past years, but it wasn't held this year. Owners of the vintage vehicles parked in downtown in the morning before departing along a designated route to the Easter in the Park festivities in Queen's Park.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr said he received a call from a member of an antique car group who was disappointed that the car parade was cancelled.
"I am looking at a way we can appease and support that car community," he said. "It is part of the city and the region. I think we can get a win-win out of it. I anticipate we can get this thing back again next year."
After reviewing its services, Hyack decided not to organize the car parade, having concluded it was facilitating a parade on behalf of a third party - a car club.
Puchmayr believes there may be a way to have a parade without requiring police to attend to monitor traffic and without requiring barricades and road closures along the parade route.
He noted that a car parade that runs from Vancouver to Steveston doesn't have those requirements.
"They do the whole parade under the rules of the road," he said. "It wouldn't be part of it. They would still end up in Queen's Park."
Puchmayr has asked staff to consider if a different model could be implemented so the Easter antique car parade can take place in the future.
"They were really upset," he said of antique car owners.
Puchmayr noted there are few opportunities for people to don their Easter bonnets and show off the cars they often work on all year long. Residents have also called him to inquire why the parade was cancelled.
Mayor Wayne Wright said the city will re-evaluate the parade and see if there's a way to hold it in the future.
He noted that someone has to be willing to organize the event.
"If there is people willing to do it, you will always find people willing to ride," he said.
tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com
