Your Right to Dance versus Calgary's Anti-Dance Bylaw
Where have all the events/concerts/shows gone?:
Many people are asking this question. What the average music fan, dancer or event-goer doesn't realize is that Bylaw #34M2000 (The Anti-Dance Bylaw) has essentially banned or made it financially impossible to hold many of the great events once held in Calgary. Your right to dance and listen to music is being refused via this bylaw. The Calgary Police are also using this bylaw as a tool to legally extort money from event organizers / promoters at $68/hr per officer.Read the latest news: News
Since August, 2000, a Calgary City bylaw has been in effect known as the "Extended Dance Bylaw" (#34M2000). This oppressive and discriminatory bylaw contradicts The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and has had a huge impact on dance/concert events across the City. This bylaw has seriously impacted a previously thriving cultural scene that has been growing since 1991, and in reality, since man could first dance around the fire. This has resulted in a significant decline in both quality and quantity of events since August 2000. It is estimated there is currently less than 1/7 the events compared to pre-bylaw event numbers. In reality, this bylaw is prohibition under the guise of control.
This bylaw was brought forth by Alderman Diane Danielson who decided she didn't like Raves and people dancing all night. She publicly stated ( Calgary Sun April 20, 2000 ) that she was going to put a bylaw in to stop raves, before she ever set foot inside of one (an enlightened viewpoint!). This is the bylaw she put in by convincing the other Alderman that Calgary's moral fibre would disappear unless they stopped people from DANCING all night long. Very few bylaws have ever been put through city council chambers as quickly as this was. It was also handled in a similar fashion that the Enmax fiasco was, in July when no one was around to oppose it.
The city has told us they are going to make amendments to the bylaw June 2002. They are not being specific, but they intend to close all the loopholes that allowed us to throw small under 250 people parties. This cannot be allowed to happen. They claim they are going to hold public consultations and the lot. They did this initially in Spring of 2000, but it was rigged against us and less than 10% of the recommendations we made were implemented. We have insider information that told us the bylaw was written before these consultations took place. We have to show the city that this type of non-sense will not be tolerated.
What Can I Do?:
Be Informed:
Please click on and read: The Right To DanceTypically, us music lovers stay away from political issues, unless they interfere with our rights and freedoms!. Be sure you voice your concerns to ALL the Cities Aldermen. We have talked to many Alderman ourselves, but they need to hear from their own constituents to understand how fundamentally wrong this bylaw is.
Until now, club, dance and music enthusiasts have felt quite powerless against City Hall and The Calgary Police Service. We need your help in persuading City Hall to finally review and amend or repeal this bylaw in a timely fashion to give us back our right to dance. Weather you prefer folk music to funk, a rock concert to a rave or opera to hip - hop -- we all need to take an interest in how our rights are being infringed upon by Calgary City Council, The Calgary Police Service and this bylaw. Please read up on the issues and phone/fax or write in intelligent complaints to the City Alderman using the links provided on the left menu.
Are you a person who loves freedom? Are you a person who also supports law and order? When you see that your freedom is under attack do you submit -- or do you take action? Do you decide to take action later -- or do you decide to dial that number or write that letter now?
Contacting / Complaining to City Hall and The Mayor's Office:
Join Up:
Click here to add yourself to the mailing list or offer some assistance in spreading the word.If you have any experiences with The Calgary Police Service's strong arm tactics re: concert or dance events, or have other useful information to contribute, please e-mail Save Our Scene