Like children in a schoolyard, we are quick to jump on failings.
Failings are easy. They’re like a big win in the Stanley Cup final — they have the ability to link neighbour with neighbour, giving people from different walks something to talk about. And the larger the event, issue or person’s fame being targeted, the more power the failing has.
In the Sea to Sky Corridor, we have some favourites — organized events. Whether it’s traffic jams caused by the GranFondo or noise complaints surrounding the Squamish Valley Music Festival, these activities roll into our communities like a mushy strawberry into a wasps’ hive.
Last weekend the clay pigeon was the Pemberton Music Festival. There’s no doubt the extravaganza was marred by tragedy. On Friday (July 18), 21-year-old Nick Phongsavath was found dead on the festival’s campground. But before an autopsy was completed, before the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) had shared any findings, the word “murder” was being touted among the public and in the media.
That’s a serious word. It jumps far beyond a “suspicious death” or “possible foul play.” It’s a word usually reserved for incidents with a wealth of evidence to back them up, a word the media usually steers clear of until they either have the nod from police or undeniable proof to go with the headline. Yet when it came to the music festival, it appears our carnal instinct to rip the event apart took over.
By accounts of festival-goers, the event was a success. Of the more than 20,000 people at the event, police only made seven arrests relating to public intoxication and disturbance. Local police told media that the event ran smoothly with traffic under control. Festival organizers were also praised for the way they handled the tragic and difficult situation of conducting an investigation during the series of concerts.
The Squamish Valley Music Festival is the next in line. It’s a big one, with the event’s head count anticipated to more than double the community’s population. Organizers are well aware that any failing, no matter how small, could fester like mould and taint next year’s event. The pressure is on to make it blemish-free.
But let’s be real. For any affair of this size to go ahead without even the slightest hitch is as unlikely as visiting a seniors home in your 30s and single and not being asked if and when you’re getting married.
The community should ready itself for complications; busy streets, 20-somethings who rule the world and dusty campers. While officials need to examine the festival’s failings to improve future events, let’s balance that with the achievements. Wasps would be better received without the sting.
