Safety concerns prompt city to explore rave bylaw

The city is working on a new bylaw to increase safety at raves.

The recommendation comes in a report going to city council’s community and public services committee Wednesday, and is the outcome of a directive to find ways to reduce harm at large rave events that councillors made when they backed away from a police request for a moratorium on the dance events.

Health and safety concerns were raised in June 2018 following an event that saw 18 people treated on scene for drug-related illnesses, and 11 others transported to hospital. The issue arose again following the hospitalization of more attendees at events in October and December.

Survey results going to committee Wednesday indicate that 59 per cent of the more than 2,000 respondents used both drugs and alcohol while attending a “largescale electronic dance music event.”

More than 90 per cent of the people who reported taking drugs indicated that they used MDMA, more popularly known as ecstasy or Molly. Other popular substances used were cannabis, LSD, cocaine, psilocybin, ketamine and MDA.

The results noted that 11 per cent of respondents felt they had been drugged, possibly by having their drink spiked.

Ideas being considered for the bylaw include requiring event promoters to have a valid business licence, to provide free access to water, to create a “cool off” area for people who are overstimulated, and to put emergency and medical safety measures in place.

The survey also found that 46 per cent of attendees had experienced a form of harassment — including physical violence, unwanted sexual behaviour or sexual harassment — and that 66 per cent of attendees had witnessed a form of harassment taking place.

Committee chair Ward 5 Coun. Sarah Hamilton said those findings alone are troubling, but what’s worse is that people surveyed said that despite the high rate of harassment they felt safer at a rave than at bars and other nightlife venues.

“That to me says that while we have to do better with these specific events, we also have a lot of work to do when it comes to addressing sexual assault in a nightlife environment in this city. Full stop,” she said, noting she is interested to hear the perspective of the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton, who will have representatives at the committee discussion Wednesday.