This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/12/canada-artisan-gardens-vancouver-island-war-on-fun
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Canadian neighbourhood declares 'war on fun' with ban on outdoor play | Canadian neighbourhood declares 'war on fun' with ban on outdoor play |
| (5 months later) | |
| A neighbourhood in western Canada has been accused of declaring a “war on fun” after it passed a bylaw banning all outside play from the street, prohibiting children from activities such as chalk drawing, bike riding and hockey. | A neighbourhood in western Canada has been accused of declaring a “war on fun” after it passed a bylaw banning all outside play from the street, prohibiting children from activities such as chalk drawing, bike riding and hockey. |
| 'Friendly' complaint sparks fierce debate over children's noise levels in Toronto | |
| Homeowners at Artisan Gardens, a small housing development in the municipality of Chemainus on Vancouver Island, manage the shared roadways into their quiet cul-de-sac through a council. | Homeowners at Artisan Gardens, a small housing development in the municipality of Chemainus on Vancouver Island, manage the shared roadways into their quiet cul-de-sac through a council. |
| Last month, the council voted 15-4 to ban the use of the roadways for anything other than access to and from the community, for safety reasons. | Last month, the council voted 15-4 to ban the use of the roadways for anything other than access to and from the community, for safety reasons. |
| “A roadway may not be used for play, including hockey, baseball, basketball, skateboarding, chalk artistry, bicycling or other sports and recreational activities,” the bylaw reads. | “A roadway may not be used for play, including hockey, baseball, basketball, skateboarding, chalk artistry, bicycling or other sports and recreational activities,” the bylaw reads. |
| News of the restriction catapulted the small housing development – made up mostly of retirees and a handful of young families – into national headlines, with one accusing the neighbourhood of declaring a “war on fun”. | News of the restriction catapulted the small housing development – made up mostly of retirees and a handful of young families – into national headlines, with one accusing the neighbourhood of declaring a “war on fun”. |
| Parents in the community voiced their anger and shock at the decision. “We’re being told to get our children outside and be active, and now we’re being told we can’t do that outside our own homes,” said Christa Howard. | Parents in the community voiced their anger and shock at the decision. “We’re being told to get our children outside and be active, and now we’re being told we can’t do that outside our own homes,” said Christa Howard. |
| Her three-year-old daughter, who has been learning to ride her bicycle on the road in front of the family home, is never out without parental supervision, she said. “The kids are road smart and know when a car is coming to yell ‘car’ and everyone clears to the sides.” | Her three-year-old daughter, who has been learning to ride her bicycle on the road in front of the family home, is never out without parental supervision, she said. “The kids are road smart and know when a car is coming to yell ‘car’ and everyone clears to the sides.” |
| Game off! Why the decline of street hockey is a crisis for Canada's cities | |
| Pointing to the tight cluster of homes in the neighbourhood and the vehicles often parked alongside the road, Howard said she understood the push to bar sports like ball hockey or baseball. But she would love to see the children be able to ride their bikes or play with sidewalk chalk, she said. | Pointing to the tight cluster of homes in the neighbourhood and the vehicles often parked alongside the road, Howard said she understood the push to bar sports like ball hockey or baseball. But she would love to see the children be able to ride their bikes or play with sidewalk chalk, she said. |
| Vandy Noble, the council’s vice-president, said the bylaw was rooted in safety. “There is a blind corner here, and so there had been a few near misses with cars with the kids riding their bikes,” she told the Vancouver Sun. | Vandy Noble, the council’s vice-president, said the bylaw was rooted in safety. “There is a blind corner here, and so there had been a few near misses with cars with the kids riding their bikes,” she told the Vancouver Sun. |
| “But the bylaw is a bit harsh,” she acknowledged. “We’re trying to calm down the situation and reach a compromise.” | “But the bylaw is a bit harsh,” she acknowledged. “We’re trying to calm down the situation and reach a compromise.” |
| Canada | Canada |
| Americas | Americas |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |