City of Penticton caught off-guard by 1991 riot
EDITOR’S NOTE: In recognition of Canada’s 150th anniversary, The Herald is reprinting historic stories from the South Okanagan focusing on the biggest news story of each year.
JULY 29, 1991 — Windows are boarded over and some scattered debris remains today, after a riot tore through the downtown and Lakeshore Drive early Sunday.
The city resembled a war zone early Sunday as smoke filled the air in the early morning after police fired canisters of gas at a 1,000-person crowd rampaging through two concessions and a tourist information building.
The destructive riot is believed to have began when about 20 young people began throwing rocks at an RCMP officer directing traffic shortly after midnight Sunday. Police were also pelted with beer cans and bottles.
One witness said that a crowd gathered downtown near Lakeshore Drive “and they were rocking a police (ghost) car.”
“People were running up Main Street saying there was a riot coming up the street,” he said. “A few moments later, I saw a guy take a garbage can and chuck it through the Zellers window (on Main Street.)”
Thirty-seven windows on Main Street were smashed and there were reports of looting from some businesses, including a government liquor store, which had almost its entire front window smashed.
Mayor Jake Kimberley read the riot act to the crowd at 12:41 a.m. from a police car, and left when the crowd pelted the car with debris.
Additional extra police officers were called in from throughout the Okanagan, swelling the already reinforced ranks from 55 to 130 officers. This included riot squads from Kelowna and Vernon. Police officers firing tear gas followed the crowd, moving west on Lakeshore Drive.
Witnesses say the crowd kicked holes in the cement peach-shaped concession, then tipped it over onto Okanagan Lake Beach. The crowd ripped out the food and were tossing it around the area. A nearby phone booth was also trashed by the crowd.
A group of about 200 people entered the Jubilee Pavilion tourist information building and gutted the interior, the witness said.
Police continued to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd.
“I heard a boom and tons of people were running, it was pretty much in a frenzy but no one was getting trampled,” said the unidentified witness. At least one person was directly hit by a canister. “I saw it hit him in the leg and he just came running out of the smoke,” a second witness said. He said many people retreated to the lake when the tear gas exploded on them, trying to clear the pungent gas from their eyes. The crowd moved west down Lakeshore Drive, ripping out many of the wooden and wrought-iron benches along the walkway. Witnesses say revellers used the wooden planks to destroy the decorative lamps along Lakeshore Drive. The crowd also swarmed through the Lakawanna refreshment stand and a small clothing kiosk. Police firing tear gas advanced on the crowd, then there was a 10-minute lull, as “the cops stayed still and the crowd (at Power Street) didn’t move” the witness said.
When the crowd began to advance on police, more gas was fired and a line of RCMP officers in gas masks carrying riot shields advanced on them, the witness said. The crowd moved west on Lakeshore, then dispersed when more tear gas was fired.
Police said the main crowd had dispersed after 1 a.m., although the riot squads were kept on alert until 3 a.m.
Hospital officials report about 60 people were treated and released overnight Saturday. One police officer suffered a separated shoulder in the incident.
City crews began clearing up the ransacked area at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday. By 6 a.m., much of the damage was cleared away and the remains of the peach concession had been removed.