Gaps in security at Boonstock filled by Mounties.

RCMP were extremely busy over the past few days considering the BC Day long weekend is historically the busiest of the year, even without a major music festival in town. With the addition of “Boonstock”, the pressure on emergency services was taken to unprecedented levels in the South Okanagan.

The Boonstock Music Festival was expected to bring thousands of people into town and the Penticton RCMP prepared accordingly, bringing in extra resources in order to sufficiently police the event. Unfortunately, the event experienced a major tragedy when a 24-year-old Alberta woman died from an apparent drug overdose on Friday night, causing alarm for the overwhelmed emergency and security operations.

That concern appeared to be warranted based on a large number of attendees experiencing overdose symptoms throughout the weekend.

In order to address increasing concerns and a gap left by private security, the RCMP enhanced their police resources for the final two days in order to bolster security and public safety.

“Though we had a dedicated group of police officers assigned to the event, additional resources were called in to help deal with the demands,” says Superintendent Kevin Hewco, Detachment Commander for the Penticton RCMP. “Public safety was our priority and, by working closely with the BC Ambulance Service and local Health Authority, we were able to create an effective team.”

The total policing costs have not yet been determined but are expected to far exceed the original estimates due to the need for additional resources above and beyond the initial operational plan. A detailed accounting of the policing costs as well as policing statistics is currently underway and not yet available.

Cst. Kris Clark