Large gathering of youth in Nanaimo ends with fines all around

Several Nanaimo teenagers were fined for ignoring COVID-19 protocols this past weekend.

A large group of teens who failed to follow COVID-19 restrictions, and ignored earlier warnings to disperse, found themselves facing $230 fines, Saturday, Dec. 19, in the parking lot of Dover Bay High School in Nanaimo.

Patrol officers noticed the large group of youths as well as a number of vehicles gathering in the high school parking lot, according to an RCMP media release. An officer engaged the youth in discussion and pointed out risks associated with the behaviour before telling them to disperse.

Upon returning to the scene later, the officer found more youth and more vehicles.

Many of the participants walked around without masks while going back and forth between vehicles to speak with their friends.

"Given their lack of regard after being told to disperse, the officer elected to issue each with a violation ticket in hopes that the behaviour would not continue throughout the Holiday Season,” Nanaimo RCMP officer Const. Gary O’Brien said in the release.

Throughout the interaction, the youth remained respectful, apologetic and understanding about why they were receiving a ticket.

O’Brien said a total of 11 youths received a $230 fine under Section 4 of the COVID Related Measures Act.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to tips@infonews.ca and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

Steve Arstad's Stories

More Articles