The May long weekend is now the biggest event of the year in Whistler, with over 25,000 visitors expected — and police are prepared.
“I said, ‘Listen, this can’t happen anymore on my watch. Let’s do something about this weekend,'” Whistler Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden said.
Even before noon today, a road block was set up checking motorists entering the village, with police telling young drivers that Whistler hotels will only allow adults 25 and over to sign in.
Over the years, the municipality has evolved into a destination for young people over the May long weekend, and by 2014, Whistler RCMP received 200 calls for police service.
“Anybody that’s caught with an open ticket can expect to get a $230 fine. If they’re caught with drugs, they can expect to be prosecuted, and with weapons they can expect to be prosecuted,” says Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair.
Last year, there were just 20 people who spent the night in jail, down from 38 in 2014. But there was also the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Burnaby resident Luka Gordic. An adult and three teenagers are charged in his death, and the issue is still before the courts.
READ MORE: Family of Luka Gordic releases emotional video on anniversary of his death
“We had couple of terrible isolated occurrences last year, but aside from those, and they were awful, the trend was for more families, less hooliganism,” says Wilhelm-Morden.
– With files from Ted Chernecki
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