City council debates beer garden

DENISE RIDEOUT

A request from the Iqaluit baseball association to host a “beer garden” event sparked some heated debate during Tuesday’s city council meeting.

The baseball association wants to sell beer for five days this summer to raise money to build another baseball diamond in Iqaluit and send players to a national tournament next year.

The beer garden would be open June 22 and 23 and again on June 29, June 30 and July 1.

Erle Deschene, president of the Iqaluit baseball association, asked city council to grant the group permission for the project.

“We have about 350 players, 12 teams and one field is just not enough,” Deschene said at the June 11 council meeting.

But many councillors were hesitant to lend their support. Deputy mayor Kirt Ejetsiak said he didn’t like the idea of council backing an outdoor drinking fest.

“We’re talking about a two-day drinking binge on the 22nd and 23rd and a three-day, 12-hour-a-day binge for the second event,” Ejetsiak said.

Councillor Lynda Gunn was concerned people might drink too much at the event and then drive home. She was also critical of the beer garden opening at 11 a.m. each day and selling beer until 11 p.m.

“I just don’t see the merit to issue these permits to start serving [beer] so early in the day,” Gunn said. She suggested council approve Deschene’s request only if the drinking time was limited from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.

After more discussions, council voted to give the baseball association permission to run the beer garden on June 22 and 23. If that event runs smoothly, council will then allow the second beer garden to go ahead.