Lakeside Spirits wants longer operating hours on New Year's Eve. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

special occasions

Special meeting called in La Ronge to potentially extend NYE alcohol retail hours

Dec 13, 2023 | 2:19 PM

A special meeting of town council will be held Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. in regards to extending liquor store hours in La Ronge on New Year’s Day.

A request from Lakeside Spirits to extend hours on Dec. 31 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. failed to move through three readings at a regular meeting on Tuesday. New Year’s Eve happens to land on a Sunday in 2023, reducing liquor store hours to 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on a day known for parties, get-togethers and other festivities.

Extending hours on that day means the Sale, Distribution, and Consumption of Beverage Alcohol and Cannabis Bylaw would need to be amended. As it currently stands, liquor retail store hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays and statutory holidays.

La Ronge Coun. Abby Besharah made it known she was against the extension of hours on New Year’s Eve, telling fellow councillors they have already been provided evidence from multiple parties about the effects of alcohol in the tri-communities.

“I’ll call those who are bringing this to the table again out for forcing us to be reactive and forsaking our responsibility and thoughtful, pragmatic decision making,” she said. “This one is a no for me.”

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This marks the second occasion Lakeside Spirits, La Ronge’s newest liquor store which won the provincial permit in an auction earlier this year, has made such a request to extend hours. Back in May, a request to change the hours to 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days per week failed to pass all readings. The request generated strong opposition from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and Prince Albert Grand Council.

The meeting on Dec. 18 will be the final chance for Lakeside Spirits’ latest request. Those would voted not to proceed with all three readings on Tuesday were councillors Besharah, Jordan McPhail and Viviana Arcand Ruiz.

“Lakeside Spirits is grateful for the opportunity to serve the tri-community and wishes to be awarded the same chance to do so as other local businesses on New Year’s Eve,” a statement from the company to larongeNOW explained.

“Lakeside is proud to bring our majority owner’s (Pat Campling) revenues back into the community by donating to the La Ronge hospital. Since opening our doors in May, over $109,000 has been donated or committed to be donated by our majority owner through medical equipment to support neighbours, friends and family in our home community and the surrounding communities. Serving the tri-community on New Year’s Eve will support these efforts.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com