We posed a number of questions to the Regional RCMP detachment in Penticton:

Has the $250 thousand policing bill for Boonstock be paid?

S/Sgt. Kurt LOZINSKI says “The organizer has asked for further breakdown / clarity as to the policing costs which are attached to the invoice. This has been sent to Policing Security branch (Government branch) who is the gate keeper of this and monitoring the expenses. We do not deal directly with the stake holders.

Are you meeting with organizers about a 2015 event?

S/Sgt. Kurt LOZINSKI says “We have not been contacted by the organizer to commence discussions for any upcoming event. We do not chase these as it is their event not ours. I would hope that lessons were learnt from the previous year and should this event take place next year that planning commences significantly earlier than last year.

Lozinski also showed concern about the ambulance and hospital costs and thinks the public should be made aware of those costs as well.

“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, Regional Commander-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.”

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.