File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Victor Kaisar

NYE Regulations

Kamloops council to review proposed extended New Year’s Day hours for bars and nightclubs

Nov 25, 2024 | 3:02 PM

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops is poised to make changes to Zoning Bylaw No. 55 that would allow liquor primary establishments like bars and nightclubs to serve alcohol until 3:00 am on New Year’s Day.

Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association (KCBIA) Past President Dino Bernardo, who owns the Commodore downtown, says the changes will bring the city back in line with provincial regulations that allow these businesses to stay open until 4:00 a.m. on the first day of the year, as long as the municipality is on board.

“This was always the case in Kamloops, as well, and then it somehow got changed during the COVID times,” Bernardo said. “Last year, we brought it forward to council and the city did a great job of allowing us to stay open. I think now that they’ve had a year to see that it’s not causing any problems, we’re able to move forward on this on a yearly basis, so that we don’t have to keep coming to council every year.”

At present, businesses in Kamloops that are classified as “neighbourhood pubs” can stay open until 1:00 a.m., while nightclubs can be open until 2:00 a.m. every day.

“Historically, city staff have not supported requests for hours extensions past 2:00 a.m. due to feedback from the RCMP that such extensions would negatively impact policing resources,” a City of Kamloops staff report said. “However, in 2023 the application by the KCBIA was supported because the RCMP arranged to have additional resources available.”

Question of the Week

Do you start decorating for Christmas before December 1?

7h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: John Rustad's big gamble

Nov 24, 2024

Two and Out

PETERS: Eby could learn something from Horgan, who bridged the ideological divide between urban and rural B.C.

Nov 22, 2024

The report goes on to say Kamloops RCMP noted “minimal impacts” on Jan. 1 this year, when bars and nightclubs were allowed to stay open until 3:00 a.m..

“The RCMP have stated that they support the proposed hours extension to 3:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day and will plan their resources accordingly,” the report said. “This will accommodate the new proposed closing time, but the RCMP have indicated they would not support any further extensions.”

“Similarly, Kamloops Fire Rescue agrees a 3:00 a.m. closing time is appropriate but would not support anything later.”

Unlike last year, Community Services Officers will also be available as they’ve been working around-the-clock since late July.

“They are prepared to respond to calls for service in the early hours of the morning on New Year’s Day and are in support of the proposed business hours extension for liquor primary licensed establishments,” the report added.

Bernardo told CFJC Today that the extension will allow bars and nightclubs to make a little extra money on what’s typically one of the busiest nights of the year.

“All this would do is say the city would approve this if you applied for it to the province [as the business owner],” Bernardo said. “Right now, I can apply to the province for [the extension], but if the city isn’t approving it, then its not going to get approved.”

“This is just saying that on New Years Eve, I want to stay open till 3:00 a.m. and you have to meet the province’s stipulations but the city would approve it.”

Staff are also proposing to remove the 150-person capacity limit for neighbourhood pubs and the 380-person capacity for nightclubs from the Zoning Bylaw, saying the City has other avenues to review proposed capacities on a case-by-case basis.

Kamloops city councillors are being asked to send the proposal to a public hearing where people will be able to have their say. While it’s not clear when the hearing will be, staff note the changes could be in effect for Jan. 1, 2025.