N.B. dad wants trick-or-treat ban lifted
Bylaw in town of Bathurst bars anyone older than 14 from participating in the fun
Like every Halloween for the past decade, when this year’s crop of 14year-olds in Bathurst, N.B., trot doorto-door dressed as zombies or witches collecting candy, it could be for the last time.
But one local father is hoping to get an age-restricting bylaw in the city changed so children 15 and up, including his daughter, can trick-or-treat by this time next year.
The bylaw, which has been in place since 2005, prohibits children older than 14 from trick-or-treating on the holiday. It also restricts anyone from trick-or-treating or wearing facial disguises in public past 7 p.m.
Anyone who violates these restrictions could face a minimum fine of $80 or a maximum of $200.
For Calvin Sisk, enough is enough. With two teenaged daughters, one 13 and the other 16, he says the bylaw makes no sense and has to go.
“There are some kids that are old, but they’re really young at heart. That’s what my daughter is. She’s 16 years old and she can’t go out with her sister anymore trick-or-treating,” Sisk said. “She missed Halloween last year because of the bylaw.”
Sisk emailed Bathurst Mayor Paolo Fongemie asking that council look at abolishing the bylaw. For Fongemie, who was elected in May, it was the first he’d heard of the issue.
“I was kind of surprised that we had such a bylaw. Personally, I guess my kids were illegal for the last three, four years when they were trick-ortreating with their friends,” he said. “We were surprised a bit about giving fines to kids . . . I can assure you that I think our police officers have other things to do than to police that matter on Halloween night.”
The mayor said council has begun discussing the matter, but no deci- sions have been made on whether to keep the bylaw, abolish it or amend it to make the age and curfew restrictions more lenient.
“Personally, I would take it out,” Fongemie said. “I’m not sure that bylaw gives the message out that we’re open to having young families in our community.”
Other members of council are less certain.
“I’m divided. To be honest, I have some mixed feelings about that,” said Councillor Samuel Daigle.
“I understand that some people have some worries. They feel uncomfortable with having anybody of any age at their house.”
Deputy Mayor Lee Stever said he was still considering how he’d vote, since he’s received messages from people on both sides of the issue.
“I don’t know if it’s necessary to change anything at this point,” he said.
“One thing I understand from previous councils was the fact that people were complaining of trick-or-treaters showing up at their door late and adults showing up. So, I think for the senior citizens and single people, it caused a bit of a problem. They were nervous about opening their doors.”
Sisk said he doesn’t understand the concern.
“Anybody that complains about older kids going on their doorstep, my advice to them is give them a bag of chips and wish them Happy Halloween and they’ll be on their way.”
Council is split on whether to change the bylaw, according to Stever.
“It’s been working all this time, it’s not a problem,” he said. “I’m in favour of leaving it as it is, but I’m going to weigh what the citizens say.”
Sisk said his eldest daughter Kaylee purchased matching Coca-Cola bottle costumes with her boyfriend this year for their Halloween school dance, but felt it wasn’t fair she couldn’t participate in the door-todoor ritual.