Lakeside Spirits will be allowed to operate from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on new Year's Eve. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

town council

Lakeside Spirits permitted to operate extended hours on NYE

Dec 19, 2023 | 1:40 PM

By a four to three decision, liquor retail stores in La Ronge will be permitted to operate from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

The decision was made at a special meeting of council on Monday, where La Ronge Mayor Joe Hordyski, along with councillors Matthew Klassen, Ryan Veteri and Terry Hunt, all voted in favour of the extension. Those opposed were councillors Jordan McPhail, Abby Besharah and Viviana Ruiz Arcand.

A request from Lakeside Spirits to extend hours on Dec. 31 failed to move through three readings at a regular meeting last week, necessitating the need for a special meeting. New Year’s Eve happens to land on a Sunday in 2023, which would have reduced 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 has been amended. A notwithstanding clause in the bylaw already permits lounges, taverns, liquor permitted restaurants and special use facilities to open 11 a.m. on New Year’s Eve and close at 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 1.

“Having a business that is away from the downtown area open until 11 p.m. … I don’t see that as significant, and I think it’s about being fair to businesses and leveling the playing field,” Hordyski said.

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Veteri was also in favour of extending the hours, stating alcohol has been normalized in the community and that is not the fault of Lakeside Spirits.

“This has been a really hard one for me because I am in a field where I am working with alcohol,” he said. “I don’t think it’s an unreasonable ask because after talking with Christina and some of the people who support me as well, and having good conversations after people seen how I voted last time.”

Ruiz Arcand explained the welfare of the community should be prioritized, adding the social consequences of allowing Lakeside Spirits to have extended hours on New Year’s Eve are too great.

“I feel by us discouraging the misuse of alcohol through not allowing more availability, I think we are doing a service as well to our first responders and our hospital staff,” she said.

Lakeside Spirits previously released a statement to larongeNOW noting they wish to be awarded the same chance to conduct business as other local businesses on New Year’s Eve. Since opening in May, they claimed to have donated or committed more than $109,000 to purchase medical equipment for the La Ronge Health Centre through its majority owner (Pat Campling).

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com