Trick-or-treat hours altered this year in CBRM

The trick-or-treat hours in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality have been adjusted slightly for 2017.

Hours assigned to collect treats in all communities under the CBRM banner will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to information released Friday by the Cape Breton Regional Police.

That’s a change from the hours of 5-7 p.m. CBRM had established to trick-or-treat in 2016.

Across Cape Breton, there’s a slight variation in hours for other communities.

Children can trick-or-treat

from 5-8 p.m. in the Town of Port Hawkesbury, the Village of Baddeck and Victoria County.

An 8 p.m. curfew has been established for Inverness County and Richmond County.

Whatever time you might find yourself trick-or-treating, regional police are reminding children, parents and motorists to take precautions.

They are also asking drivers to watch for children and extra pedestrian traffic.

Other tips offered include dressing in brightly coloured costumes with reflective tape, carrying a flashlight, wear makeup instead of a mask and short costumes that help avoid tripping.

When collecting treats, police advise that you go down one side of the street at a time, instead of crisscrossing.

Kids should visit houses in groups or with a responsible adult and parents should check treats before they are eaten.

In the CBRM, police will have extra resources in place on Halloween night — on foot and in vehicles and Canadian Coast Guard College cadets will provide additional foot patrol support in several neighbourhoods.

Residents are being asked to pay attention around their properties and neighbourhoods on Halloween and to contact police should they notice anything suspicious or if they require assistance.

Those using fireworks are asked to use them safely and responsibly. No one under the age of 18 can legally buy or carry fireworks, say police. And it’s illegal to throw or set off fireworks in the street.