Wed, June 30, 2004

Charity taps shut off
Rules handcuff city cops Stampede beer garden
By MIKE D'AMOUR, CALGARY SUN


A beer garden that would have raised $100,000 to help missing children has been halted by local businesses and the Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission. "We feel the Calgary Stampede and the downtown stakeholders have been given monopoly on events in Calgary during Stampede week," said Rhonda Morgan of the Missing Children Society of Canada.

"The people who suffer are the public ... and charities like our's that stand to benefit from holding events during this prime time."

The furor centres on the Rock 'n' Country event that, for the past two years, has been hosted on the Calgary Police Association's downtown lot near the Cuff and Billy bar

While brass and some street cops were against the police union's involvement in the event, it attracted about 60,000 people and raised more than $60,000 for the MCSC.

However, the same year the CPA put on the first event, Alberta Gaming and Liquor officials -- bowing to pressure from Calgary hoteliers and pub owners -- said it changed the rules making it impossible for the event to continue.

Sole ownership of the event was handed from the CPA to MCSC this year.

"Our association didn't make a single penny from it," said CPA president Sgt. Al Koenig. "It wasn't about us, it was about helping the kids and we did so much so no one could accuse us of cutting corners or receiving special favours."