Authorities shut down an illegal concert at the Hideaway Recreation Site in the Upper Squamish Valley.
Squamish RCMP issued a release stating that police and Natural Resources officers broke up the music event on Sept. 3.“In 2021 we have seen an unprecedented amount of music events with stages and multiple power sources in our backcountry,” said Sgt. Gareth Bradley of the Squamish RCMP in a news release.
“Our preference is to obtain compliance through a measured approach that includes awareness and education, however, if people do not comply, we move to enforcement that can include seizing event equipment.”Police say Natural Resources had ordered the organizer to stop, but the organizer decided to go ahead with the concert.
About 100 to 150 people and 50 cars attended the event, which was held at the small recreation site.
Natural Resource Officers, who are tasked with protecting environmentally sensitive Crown lands, seized a number of generators used for the event, RCMP say.
The Ministry of Forests told The Chief that on Sept, 1, Natural Resource Officers had issued a Trespass Notice to individuals setting up the event.
The notice required that organizers stop event preparations, remove all stage structures, and vacate the site by end of day Sept. 2.
Once it was determined on Sept. 3 that event organizers had not complied with the Trespass Notice, officers seized four generators worth $3,000 to 5,000 to prevent the continuation of the unlawful event, a spokesperson for the Ministry said in an email to The Chief.
Officers have issued numerous Land Act notices this summer due to a growing number of large-scale backcountry events hosted by organizers not adhering to existing land protection laws.
Squamish RCMP asks anyone with any information about any crime to contact the Squamish RCMP at 604-892-6100, or, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or, go to www.solvecrime.ca
**Please note, this story has been updated since it was first posted to include information gathered from the Ministry of Forests. The photo caption has also been corrected so as not to imply that all raves are illegal. This one was, but not all such dance parties are.
