Whistler police cracked down on a handful of gatherings leading up to the New Year, issuing more than $9,000 in fines for contravening COVID-19 health orders, according to a Jan. 5 release.
The first fine was issued the evening of Dec. 29 after Mounties received a complaint of a house party in the 1500 block of Spring Creek Drive. Attending officers observed a gathering in the driveway of about 15 adults, who police said were not physically distanced or wearing facemasks. A “pop-up” tent was also set up in the driveway, the release went on.
A $2,300 violation ticket was issued to the homeowner.
Then, at about 11:15 p.m. the same night, officers attended a residence in the 3200 block of Blueberry Drive after a complaint of a loud house party. Investigators learned the unit’s occupants were in Whistler on vacation, and also were not a part of the same household, police said.
Another $2,300 fine was issued.
Then, at about 3:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, police responded to “a group of people throwing beer cans from a unit down onto patrons in the village,” the release said. Officers attended the unit in the 4000 block of Golfers Approach and issued another $2,300 fine in contravention of the order limiting large gatherings.
Later that night, at around 12 a.m., police observed a gathering of approximately 100 people at the base of Whistler Mountain. Officers intervened, “as an individual had brought a speaker and started playing music,” police said.
The individual was fined $2,300 and the crowd was dispersed.
Whistler RCMP said a total of 105 files were started between Dec. 29 and Jan. 1, including seven for causing a disturbance and two mental-health calls.
