The role of the Royal Lancers remains uncertain, but there’s a glimmer of hope for supporters of the longstanding New Westminster tradition.
Last month, New Westminster city council voted in favour of “modernizing” the May Day banquet and thanking the Royal Lancers for their service to the city. For more than 100 years, the Royal Lancers have danced traditional square dances with members of the May Queen Suite at the May Day ball or banquet.
Coun. Lorrie Williams said she supports a bigger role for the Royal Knights at May Day, but didn’t want the change to be viewed as a rejection of the lancers. She was hoping the Royal Lancers’ roles would change so they would serve as “escorts and protectors” of both the girls in the May Queen Suite and Royal Knights.
“I would appeal to the lancers to consider a shift in the role, that’s all,” she said. “I am hoping that there will be a chance for dialogue and a chance to see if there is an appropriate compromise that we can have to include the lancers in some way.”
Last week, Royal Lancers and their supporters, including members of May Queens’ Suites, filled council chambers and appealed to city council to reconsider its decision. On Monday, council supported a motion to have three councillors meet with the Royal Lancers to discuss the matter.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr, who raised the issue of modernizing the Royal Lancers’ dances in July 2013, said he is comfortable with the direction the city is moving with May Day.
“I am very proud of the heritage and history of New Westminster,” he said. “Going back, you see little tweaks here and there on different things that we do. That’s all part of growing a community. That’s all part of encompassing changing demographics.”
Puchmayr said he believes there needs to be protocols in place for anyone dealing with children, including sports and schools, not because they’re doing anything improper but because it’s best practice.
Since supporters of the Royal Lancers appeared before council last week, Puchmayr said he’s heard from numerous people who support council’s decision, including two former members of a May Queen Suite, fathers of Royal Knights and a past Royal Knight.
Coun. Mary Trentadue said she believes traditions need to be flexible to reflect changing times.
“A tradition needs to be meaningful to the whole of the community, and it isn’t if people don’t understand it or they question it,” she said. “I think in a different social context we need to modify traditions so that they reflect our society and our community, and our community is changing. I think that is something this council needs to be mindful of.”
Coun. Patrick Johnstone said he’s comfortable with the direction the city is moving but said the discussion has been polarizing the community. He said council has to hear from people with varying opinions and must consider all of their opinions.
“The tradition is important. Traditions are important in this city. But the May Day tradition has changed numerous times over the last 140 years,” he said. “The reason we still have the May Day tradition in this city … is partly because it has adapted itself to remain vital and to remain important to the people who are taking part in it. It has remained important to the community. We are at a point here where the majority of people in the city were not brought up in this city. It’s a growing city.”
Johnstone said traditions must remain relevant to residents as they’ll die over time if they remain rigid.
“I do not disagree with the original position we have taken because I do think that the way that this tradition was being carried on was less relevant. I had so many people asking me about that. It needs to be addressed,” he said. “We have to start the dialogue.”
Coun. Bill Harper suggested three city councillors meet with the lancers to explore a common vision and “have a stab” at coming up with a resolution on the divisive issue.
“I think it’s pretty clear there wasn’t enough dialogue, previous to last Monday’s meeting,” he said. “I think it’s important for us to back up a bit and actually have that dialogue. That dialogue is going on in the community.
Coun. Jaimie McEvoy said supported a meeting with the lancers to see if they can fine some “mutual ground” and volunteered to participate. Williams and Johnstone will also meet with the lancers prior to May Day, which is set for May 20.
Puchmayr said he doesn’t want to give lancers’ supporters “false hope” that the meeting will result in everything going back to the way it was.
Mayor Jonathan Cote said he’s pleased that the Royal Lancers have indicated they’re open to having a discussion about the tradition.
“We heard a lot of comments last week about the process,” he said. “I think the city could have done a better job, even myself personally as the mayor could have done a better job, in how this was communicated and discussions.”
David MacGrotty, chair of the Royal Lancers, welcomed council’s decision and looks forward to meeting with council to discuss the role at May Day.
“We have been willing to sit and meet with city council for three years. It has just never happened,” he told the Record after Monday’s meeting. “They have never contacted us. We have always started the discussion about a meeting.”
MacGrotty said the Royal Lancers are “extremely happy” with council’s decision and look forward to meeting with them and discussing their role at May Day. Aside from talking amongst each other, he said the Royal Lancers also talk to coordinators of the Royal Knights and the May Queen Suite about the May Day program.
Nikki Binns, who is the coordinator of the Royal Knights and a mom of 2012 May Queen Leah, said representatives of the May Queen Suite and Royal Knights should be included in the discussion, as they’re directly impacted by any changes to May Day and have insight that may be valuable.
“We have all had discussions, we have all been flexible,” she said of the Royal Knights, the May Queen Suite and Royal Lancers. “We have been willing to do changes and we have made changes. Not once have they (the city) sat down and said, ‘this is what we’d like to see happen.’”
