Requests for Designation of Public Events as Municipally Significant Procedure
 

Purpose statement

To define the criteria and process for designating public events as municipally significant for liquor licensing purposes.

Scope

This procedure applies to requests for designation of public events as municipally significant, for liquor licensing purposes. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario requires a municipal resolution or a letter from a delegated municipal authority designating the event as municipally significant and the Town Clerk has been delegated this responsibility.

Procedure

1. For the purpose of Special Occasion permits for public liquor sale events, an event may be designated as municipally significant if:

• it is a public event that is being advertised to the general public;
• alcohol is being served at the event; and
• the event promotes the social, cultural or economic development of the town.

2. The town will not designate events as municipally significant that:

• Promote consumption of alcohol, marijuana and addictive substances, at events or venues geared primarily to children
• Promote the sale of tobacco
• Promote pornography
• Promote the support of or involvement in the production, distribution, and sale of weapons and other life-threatening products
• Present demeaning or derogatory portrayals of individuals or groups or contain any message that are likely to cause deep or widespread offence.

Request Process

3. Requests for a public event to be designated as an event of municipal significance must be submitted in writing to the Town Clerk, at least 30 days before the event, if fewer than 5,000 people will be attending, and at least 60 days before the event, if 5,000 people or more will attend the event. Requests must include:

• Name and contact information of the event organizer, association, organization;
• Description of the event including target audience, number of people invited or expected, entrance fees, music provided and source, and activities;
• Location description, set up, will a tent be erected;
• Date and time of the event and times when alcohol will be served;
• Purpose of the event and how it benefits the community;
• Applicable fee, as set out in the town’s rates and fees annual schedule.

4. Requests for municipally significant events occurring on town property where alcohol is served must comply with the Alcohol at Special Occasion Permitted Events Procedure and the Insurance Requirements Procedure.

5. All requests are circulated for comment to:

• Town and Regional Councillors of the ward in which the establishment is located;
• Halton Regional Police; and
• Applicable departments within the town.

Responsibilities

The Town Clerk, or designate, is delegated the authority to designate an event as municipally significant and comment on all liquor licence applications.

Clerk’s department is responsible for receiving and processing requests.