Advocacy Now: Vancouver Liquor Policy, Supporting Silver Valley, and more

Remember previous discussions of a need for greater advocacy efforts?  Here’s what’s on our radar between now and the end of May:

 

Pop-Up City Hall: Liquor policy and survey: 

The City of Vancouver has announced today their presence at the Nat Bailey Farmer’s Market for what they have titled their “Pop-Up City Hall”, where a number of issues will be discussed: including liquor-related policy review in Vancouver. This takes place on Saturday, April 16 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Additionally, there is a survey the City has opened to the public which you can find on the page linked above.

The survey itself contains undertones that suggest that liquor availability and consumption in general are problematic – a statement most of us are likely to disagree with. Bear in mind that a lot of the changes we believe are truly advantageous and that lend legitimate growth to our scene here aren’t represented in these questions – but you will be presented with a chance to add notes/input at the end of the survey to address these things. When submitting your views, be honest, be thoughtful, but remember that they are less likely be read with any degree of seriousness if it is poorly written or emotionally charged.

While policy isn’t going to be decided at a Farmer’s Market on Saturday, I cannot stress enough the importance of showing up, being heard and presenting your concerns and interests (in a respectful, well-constructed way, of course). A number of our Executive team will be on site to represent our members, and encourage you to join us in being heard.


Public Hearings: 

Maple Ridge:  Silver Valley Brewing  is currently working City of Maple Ridge in an effort to get approval to manufacture beer at the location they’ve been eyeing for some time. The City of Maple Ridge has been supportive of breweries opening in their city, and a solid show up support from local consumers and nearby small businesses alike will go a long way towards moving this forward! Here’s how we can help: On Tuesday, May 17, there will be a public hearing at Maple Ridge City Hall with Council to discuss the matter. This is a great opportunity to speak to the advantages and importance of allowing them to open! I will be on hand to lobby on their behalf, and hope many of you – especially in the Tri Cities – can make it there to stand with these folks as well. The hearing will take place at 7pm, and once the specific room at City Hall is confirmed, we will inform you immediately.

Port Coquitlam:  Though the date has yet to be announced (and please feel free to send me more information if you happen to have it), the City will be holding a public hearing on proposed changes to allow lounges in craft breweries. We fully intend on supporting the craft beer community by attending and advocating on behalf of the area, and showcasing the economic, cultural and extended small business growth that comes by allowing breweries to open and operate in our cities.  More information can be found here

Coquitlam:  The City will be scheduling a new public hearing – after seven months of deliberating on the matter, though a date is still to be determined. Expect CAMRA BC to attend in order to debunk common misconceptions and concerns that typically stand as obstacles to getting municipal approval for breweries to permit. Port Moody has been a tremendous example of how a community thrives by the inclusion of craft manufacturing of alcohol products, and we believe Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam can and should enjoy the same success and economic growth by adopting the same position.

We will update members further as new information is gathered and events proceed. In the meantime, please consider attending the above gatherings and contributing by making yourself seen and heard.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Noonan
President,
CAMRA BC

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South Fraser AGM Information

Earlier this week, we announced the Call for Nominations and AGM event information for the CAMRA BC – South Fraser branch. This is the product of a massive effort to get everything in place to ensure a successful rebuild. The South Fraser region represents an enormous swath of the Lower Mainland, and it is paramount that we equip the branch – and its’ future Executive team – with the support and resources it needs to properly support its’ community.

Our BC Vice President Janna Gabrek has gone above and beyond to organize this – please take a moment when you see her next to thank her for championing this project!

The AGM will take place on Saturday, April 30, from 2pm-4pm at Central City Brewing in Surrey. Nominations for all board positions are open, and can be sent to Janna at vp@www.camrabc.ca  . Note that nominations will be accepted until midnight on Wednesday, April 27, 2016. You must hold an active membership in order to be able to vote.

Many CAMRA Executive members will be present to speak with members, answer questions and help get the new SF Executive setup in their roles. I encourage you to approach any of us, introduce yourself and have your comments and questions heard!
A few establishments south of the river have asked for media that they can share, print and post in their businesses to promote the AGM and help cultivate interest. Our Vancouver Communications Director Ashleigh Begg has created a poster for this very purpose, which you can share on social media, print copies of and put up around town (we ask that you obtain permission from establishments before putting these up in their places of business).

CAMRA-South-Fraser-AGM-Poster-2016
Your input and support are invaluable, and I highly encourage you to attend. This is your South Fraser branch, and your community.

See you there!
Jeremy Noonan
President,
CAMRA BC

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2016 Presidential Update #1

Dear CAMRA BC members, craft beer-loving public et al:

My name is Jeremy Noonan, and I have the great pleasure of serving as President of CAMRA BC for the 2016-2017 calendar year.  Thank you for nominating me and supporting my effort to drive the organization for the coming year!

Our Provincial AGM was held in Victoria on March 19, where this years’ Executive was installed and many of our greatest supporters turned out to be heard. We are thrilled at the efforts many of you went to to be there, and hope to see even more of you next year!
You can find copies of the financial reports and minutes below:

CAMRA BC 2016 AGM Minutes
CAMRA BC 2015 Balance Sheet
CAMRA BC 2015 Income Statement

That said, there is so very much to do, and both the BC and Branch Executive teams have our work cut out for us. In 2015, there were many changes to liquor laws impacting all British Columbians in addition to a great deal of activity on a municipal level in many BC communities. This year, I expect there will be even more to contend with. Admittedly, not all of it is bad: we’ve seen some positive changes to some laws, and a number of cities approving breweries with less resistance than in the past.

Not everything is aligned as we feel it should be, however. We are still reeling from a startlingly imbalanced wholesale pricing on craft beer in BC – this affects us directly as consumers making purchases in stores, as well as brewers and distributors who are losing shelf space because increased and arbitrarily skewed prices of their products are selling less and sitting on shelves longer. We have antiquated rules about growler sales outside of breweries. Bizarre perceptions that allowing breweries to open will bring increased crime and alcohol-related violence along with it. Taxation of high-ABV beer that makes it cost-prohibitive to produce – and purchase – these products. The list goes on.

Despite the challenges ahead, let me be very clear when I say that these aren’t grandiose aspirations. You can find successful implementations of many of these things in places like Alberta, as well as an enormous swath of the United States (to say nothing of elsewhere in the world). Make no mistake: this is a true, blue growth industry: as viable and legitimate as forestry, fisheries, agriculture and others. Craft beer isn’t doing irreparable damage to ecosystems or the environment, and it is absolutely sustainable. It is an economic juggernaut that, if harnessed and cultivated in an intelligent and responsible way, could inject a tremendous amount of no-strings-attached revenue into the province of British Columbia.

2016 is a pivotal year in advocating for these things to happen. And advocate, we shall.

  • Each community has its’ own roadblocks when it comes to things like having breweries and tasting rooms in their cities. CAMRA BC branches will be working this year to identify these obstacles in their communities. Do you live in a city where breweries have been refused approval to open? We want to know about it – and we’ll work with you to organize and be represented at public hearings on these matters. One of the biggest reasons why municipalities refuse approval for breweries is because they simply don’t know enough about the craft beer ecosystem, how it differs from night clubs and the like – and the hugely positive impact on economy and nearby small business growth/sustainability. Let’s change that perception, and let’s do it together.
  • Provincial liquor law reforms are a mixed bag. Some of the changes have been to our benefit. Many have not. We intend to continue pushing hard to on efforts to have these laws tuned in a way that provides economic benefit to the province, but with balance that keeps the market fair for the consumer. This topic is substantial enough to be a post of its’ own, so stay tuned for more on that.

There are other initiatives we intend on pursuing this year, and more information about these will be explored in the coming months. What I will say, is this:
It’s no secret that we lost a lot of member interest in the last two years – largely due to the perception that we’d become more of a “beer club”, and no longer a group that advocates. It pains me to say it, but I completely agree.

We haven’t been the champion of craft beer advocacy in BC for some time.
We have fallen short of the mission that many members had joined us in support of.
We simply. Have. Not. Served you adequately.

That ends right now.

More of your membership money is being directed at advocacy initiatives.
Branches are redoubling their efforts to pursue the interests of their communities.
We are unifying our organization to repair fragmentation.
We are not a beer club that occasionally speaks out.
We are an advocacy group that enjoys a robust community of craft beer consumers.
Proactive first, reactive second. Not the other way around.

I invite you to contact your branch representatives – or the BC Executive team with questions, concerns or with information you feel may be helpful in supporting your communities. Your opinions absolutely matter, and we are incredibly grateful for your support.

 

Sincerely,

Jeremy Noonan
President,
CAMRA BC
president@camrabc.ca

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