Gravenhurst council has given the green light to allow a safe cannabis consumption zone to be created for the Tall Pines Music and Arts Festival.
Shawna Patterson, Gravenhurst’s director of recreation, arts, and culture, explained during the March 19 council meeting that she and a representative from the town’s by-law department were involved in a meeting with festival organizers, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to coordinate how the zone would be set up.
“I think this is especially important for events like Tall Pines Music Festival because people will use cannabis freely,” said Patterson. “Having a safe zone where they go and use takes it out of the space and away from the other people attending the festival.”
She said she plans to follow up after the event to see how things went.
The consumption zone was approved as part of a motion designating eight events as municipally significant. Patterson said any event wanting to serve alcohol is required by the AGCO to let their respective council know of their plans.
Along with Tall Pines, the Gravenhurst Triathlon, Gravenhurst Car Show, In-Water Boat and Cottage Show with Ribfest, Gravenhurst Curling Club Summer Bonspiel, Gravenhurst Winter Carnival, On the Pond! Canada – North American Cup, and Toronto Outboard Racing Club (TORC) were named significant events.
TORC and Tall Pines were also given noise exemptions.
Patterson explained the stage will be set up on the infield of the baseball diamond while the cordoned-off consumption zone will be to the east, near the back of the park.
The third edition of the festival is being held at Gull Lake Rotary Park this year.
Patterson said it and the Gravenhurst Farmers’ Market moved to Gull Lake Rotary Park because of the “Bay and Beyond” infrastructure project.
However, Patterson said the Antique and Classic Boat Society Toronto Vintage Boat Show has been forced to cancel this year’s event because of the project while the Princess Margaret Northern Pass to Conquer Cancer is moving to Bracebridge.
She expects the events to return to the Muskoka Wharf in 2025.
Coun. Sandy Cairns mentioned how she has heard concerns from residents living near Gull Lake Rotary Park about how parking will be handled. “Even with Music on the Barge, there have been people who will park in front of their driveway,” she said one resident told her.
Patterson said they will work with the various festival organizers on a plan. She pointed to Tall Pines using shuttle buses as an example of how the parking pressure may be alleviated.
Deputy Mayor Randy Jorgensen filled in for Mayor Heidi Lorenz who was unable to attend the meeting.
“We’re looking forward to those events,” he said to town staff. “We know a lot of work goes into each one of them. We appreciate your efforts.”