According to both the RCMP and festival organizers, Billy Barker Days Festival was a howling success.
The police reported no major incidents and only the usual alcohol-related arrests where revelers were intoxicated in public.
Both organizations credit extensive planning and a strong police presence for the relatively peaceful weekend-long festival.
Planning was critical for the smooth running of many events taking place throughout the community, many with a competitive element which can sometimes whip the public into frenzied reactions.
But that didn’t happen and now the streets are clean, the park is back to normal with little evidence a block party took place.
Businesses are all back to their usual operations and most local residents and visitors alike have returned to regular activities.
We can’t help but speculate that if this type of planning (knowing what the potential for rioting was, they’ve seen it before), with a markedly increased police presence has been put in place for the final NHL playoff game in Vancouver, much of the rioting may have been avoided.
It seems to be a recognized fact that the police presence was woefully inadequate for the size of crowd everyone anticipated and which materialized.
As the game progressed and the dismal outcome became more and more apparent, the call still did not go out for reinforcements and the crowd became more and more restless.
Quesnel has been known to have unruly crowds during Billy Barker Days. A few instigators have created havoc in town but we’ve learned from the past. The necessary precautions have been taken and the festival is the family event we all love.
Can’t Vancouver learn from its mistakes?