![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Hockey brawl gets green light
Last updated Jun 28 2005 10:47 AM PDT (CBC News)
Prince George city council has decided to allow the controversial Battle of the Hockey Enforcers to go ahead after all – reversing its earlier decision to cancel the show.
It will features ex-hockey players skating onto the ice and scrapping for cash – without playing any hockey.
Council's decision follows the threat of a lawsuit by the show's organizers, who said they stood to lose $2 milliion because of the cancellation.
The city had gone to its lawyers for advice. And most councillors who originally voted to cancel the show changed their minds – among them Glen Scott.
"The legal advice came down, and the least risk for the city was to allow the event to go ahead," he says.
Councillor Brian Skakun had led the effort to stop the fight from coming to town. And he says the city should have taken its chances against any lawsuit.
"We have to draw the line somewhere, and look at what we want in our community."
Scott agrees, and says he now wants to change city policy to stop similar fights from being held in Prince George in the future.
"I don't think it does anything to enhance the city of Prince George. It certainly reinforces the redneck image we've had given to us over the years. And this certainly is still in my mind a black mark against the city of Prince George."
But Councillor Dan Rogers, who pushed for the reconsideration by council, blames the Vancouver news media – not the event – for tarnishing the city's image.
"It's interesting to note that of all the coverage, it's frankly been the Lower Mainland media that's been targeting Prince George more than any media across the country," he tells CBC News.
"Across the country, it's been more focused on the event. I'm not sure what that says about Vancouver, and the way that they look at Prince George."
***
"reinforces the redneck image we've had given to us over the years."
Hm, well, I guess I should change my mind too. I think PG has worked very hard for that image, and now they should enjoy the fruits of their labour.
Last updated Jun 28 2005 10:47 AM PDT (CBC News)
Prince George city council has decided to allow the controversial Battle of the Hockey Enforcers to go ahead after all – reversing its earlier decision to cancel the show.
It will features ex-hockey players skating onto the ice and scrapping for cash – without playing any hockey.
Council's decision follows the threat of a lawsuit by the show's organizers, who said they stood to lose $2 milliion because of the cancellation.
The city had gone to its lawyers for advice. And most councillors who originally voted to cancel the show changed their minds – among them Glen Scott.
"The legal advice came down, and the least risk for the city was to allow the event to go ahead," he says.
Councillor Brian Skakun had led the effort to stop the fight from coming to town. And he says the city should have taken its chances against any lawsuit.
"We have to draw the line somewhere, and look at what we want in our community."
Scott agrees, and says he now wants to change city policy to stop similar fights from being held in Prince George in the future.
"I don't think it does anything to enhance the city of Prince George. It certainly reinforces the redneck image we've had given to us over the years. And this certainly is still in my mind a black mark against the city of Prince George."
But Councillor Dan Rogers, who pushed for the reconsideration by council, blames the Vancouver news media – not the event – for tarnishing the city's image.
"It's interesting to note that of all the coverage, it's frankly been the Lower Mainland media that's been targeting Prince George more than any media across the country," he tells CBC News.
"Across the country, it's been more focused on the event. I'm not sure what that says about Vancouver, and the way that they look at Prince George."
***
"reinforces the redneck image we've had given to us over the years."
Hm, well, I guess I should change my mind too. I think PG has worked very hard for that image, and now they should enjoy the fruits of their labour.
