No suds at cenotaph, town suggests Heritage Centre

Planners of the Labour Day weekend motorcycle rally were seeking permission to use the area in front of Digby’s cenotaph for a Harley Davidson VIP hospitality tent.

Town council instead suggested the Heritage Centre parking lot.

In the request to council, Julie MacLean, a member of Wharf Rat Rally’s board of directors, said certified servers would serve beer and alcohol at the VIP tent, and invitations would be sent to members of the Harley Owners Group (HOG).

Liquor licenses are only granted in such situations when event organizers have the support of town council and local police.

Last year, in response to their request to have a beer tent at the rally, both Staff Sgt. Phil Barrett of the RCMP and town council refused to provide support to organizers, remarking that a beer tent would counter the rally’s proclaimed image as a family event.

This year, it looks like both the RCMP and the town will support the ‘hospitality tent’ idea, as long as it’s not in the middle of downtown.

Council pointed out that downtown is full of kids and families. “The area you want is too central,” said Coun. Brian Manzer. “You could turn people off.”

In a motion introduced by Mike Bartlett and seconded by Danny Harvieux, council voted unanimously to support the VIP tent idea, but at the Heritage Centre location. Const. Patricia MacQuarrie endorsed the location on behalf of the RCMP.

MacLean and fellow board member Peter Robertson agreed to show Harley Davidson representatives the proposed Heritage Centre location.

Robertson also discussed proposed street and parking lot closures for this year’s rally. Although he had previously proposed closure of Water Street during business hours Sept. 4, Robertson told council that, after discussing the proposition with local business people, he believed closure of just one lane would suffice on that Friday.