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Hope’s first Pride month, cannabis store, and Alexandra Bridge on council agenda

Council had a lot to discuss during this week’s meeting and public hearing

Hope’s first Pride month, a third cannabis store, and a letter of support for the Alexandra Bridge, were the hot ticket items for this week’s council meeting and public hearing.

Both the District of Hope council and community had a lot to think about during Monday evening’s (March 13) public hearing and council meeting. The night opened up with a public hearing, at 6:30 p.m., where the community shared their thoughts, with council, on a proposed cannabis store to be located at 740A Fraser Avenue, Hope BC — near Memorial Park. A total of four people voiced their concerns, both in-person and written, during the hearing with half in support and half being against it.

The proposal came from Shawn Dang who currently owns and operates two stores in Williams Lake and Cache Creek.

Those in support of the cannabis shop said it would be good for the local economy. David Radmore, the owner of 740A Fraser Avenue and who would be gaining Dang as a tenant, was one of those who supported the store.

“I believe that this business will not only be good for me personally, but also believe it is good for the community as a whole,” Radmore said. “I support a small business that will work hard to be part of the community, provide jobs and contribute to the economical growth of our amazing town.

“After long discussions with Shawn and investigations into his current businesses, I feel confident that he will provide a safe and secure business setting. And I’m comfortable with him setting up his shop in my building.”

Those against the store cited concerns that the shop’s proposed location was too close to Memorial Park and other sites used frequently by families. In particular, Dr. Monica Monty, who owns the Hope Family Dental clinic, expressed worries the cannabis shop would affect her business; the dental clinic is within 50 m of the cannabis shop’s proposed location and Monty’s patients include children and the elderly.

“My office is across the street. I received the notice because I’m less than 50 m away and practically across the street,” Monty said. “Because I might have fears that are unfounded, I asked my staff. Some have told me if they were to choose to go to a dental office, they would not go to a dental office that is across from a cannabis store. They would feel uncomfortable, basically.

“And if I consider that I want to have families with children [as patients], different ages — I serve the elderly too — I am not sure how this fits in the picture.”

Dang, who was present during the hearing, addressed Monty’s concerns and said that his business would be safe with strict guidelines to ensure that minors would not have access to his shop’s inventory.

“[Budtenders] are required, according to our standard operating procedures, to check for ID if you look anything below 40-years-old. So, no minors will be in the building at any given time, or loitering in the area, and there’s no smoking around our shop as well,” Dang said. “[And] from my experiences as an owner and also the CEO of a company and also a budtender myself, [my stores have] positively contributed more than negatively impacted the communities that we have been in. With the professionalism that we have put together and the program that we have put together, we will be educating all the customers that come in.

“And we’ll also be doing free deliveries to all of Hope’s residents who could not make it [to us] because of a condition, or lack of transportation, or they can’t walk to our place.”

Council voted later in the evening, during the council meeting, on whether to allow Dang to open his shop at the proposed location.

A majority of council, 4-1, voted in favour of Dang, with Coun. Zachary Wells voting against it.

If everything goes according to plan, this will be the third cannabis store in Hope.

After concluding the public hearing, council began their council meeting. While a majority of the meeting discussed bylaws and rezoning, one item of interest was the Hope Pride Committee officially introducing themselves to the District and discussing their plans for Hope’s first Pride month. In particular, the Committee is hoping that council will consider raising and flying the Pride flag during the month of June.

“The biggest impact that the District can make, with the least amount of effort, and the least amount of resources is raising the pride flag for the month of June,” said Megan te Boekhorst, the founder and a board member of the Committee.

“The flag for our community — and by our community I mean the queer community — is a symbol of inclusion. It is a symbol that we don’t welcome homophobia or transphobia in our community. And it’s a symbol of belonging and safety and it shows to us, in the community, that those who have power and privilege support us. And it’s an important step for the queer community to not live in fear, to not be afraid of being outed or ostracized by your friends and family or losing employment or being harassed on the street just for loving somebody.

“The flag is a symbol created for the community by the community, and it tells us that you’re listening and that you actually care. Raising the flag is an authentic and meaningful show of solidarity with our community.”

During the Pride month, the Committee will be hosting a number of events throughout the town. This includes a drag queen Storytime, a rainbow paint day, a big community barbeque, a free concert featuring Queer Response, and reopening Dorothy’s Cabinet.

The Committee’s first event, Dorothy’s Cabinet, took place early February. It was a swap clothing event where members of Hope’s local LGBTQIA2S+ community could try on, swap, (and take home) gently used clothes, shoes, accessories, and attire.

Council also received a submission from Spuzzum First Nation asking the District for a letter of support in order to obtain funding to continue restoring the Alexandra Bridge. Council unanimously agreed to provide a letter.

The next council meeting will take place on March 27 at 7 p.m.

READ MORE: Homelessness count, AdvantageHOPE, Tour de Cure, and new deputy fire chief, all part of council meeting


@KemoneMoodley
kemone.moodley@hopestandard.com

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Kemone Moodley

About the Author: Kemone Moodley

I began working with the Hope Standard on August 2022.
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