The City of Vancouver is bracing for an "informal 420 gathering" at Sunset Beach on Easter Sunday.
The city said it is working with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, the Vancouver Police Department, the province, TransLink, and public health partners to "actively monitor the situation and ensure a coordinated response if needed," according to a news release.
The city is implementing several measures to "minimize community impacts and ensure public safety and respectful use of shared spaces."
No parking restrictions will be in place for the streets adjacent to Sunset Beach, Thornton Park, and the Vancouver Art Gallery, from Saturday, April 19, at 8 p.m. through sunset on Sunday, April 20.
Additionally, the Sunset Beach parking lot will be closed from Saturday evening through Sunday. Vehicle access to Sunset Beach will close Saturday evening and re-open on Easter Monday.
Park Rangers, VPD officers, and City Protective Services will be at Sunset Beach Park and Thornton Park on Sunday to support public safety.
VPD Sgt. Steve Addisson told V.I.A. that the department is monitoring the potential for large 420 gatherings and has plans if crowds form or illegal activity occurs.
"We don’t have any additional information to share at this time," he noted.
The city added that "the Sunset Beach washrooms are closed for water line maintenance, but portable toilets are available on site."
The Vancouver Aquatic Centre will remain open this year.
VPD presence may have affected the 2024 gatherings
Police presence at the planned but unsanctioned 420 event in April 2024 at Sunset Beach kept demonstrators away, although other people attended smaller protests across the city.
The city and the Park Board were aware of "three formal 420 gatherings being planned at public locations, with the largest at Sunset Beach" in 2024. This year, staff are only aware of the one "informal" gathering planned for Sunset Beach.
The 2023 event was a source of myriad controversy, partially because of park damages and litter and because vendors felt they were scammed by one of the main organizers, World Cannabis founder Robert Moore. They said he sold space that no one technically owns the rights to since it is an unsanctioned event. They felt misled by him and said he was dismissive when they tried to recoup their money.
Despite Canada's legalization of cannabis in 2018, the city's 420 gatherings draw marijuana enthusiasts from across the Lower Mainland. Many of them say they are protesting Canada's current cannabis regime, which Moore believes suppresses minority users and has several restrictive guidelines.
