One of Alberta's last dry communities could soon see pours of alcohol
CBC
About a half-hour's drive from Lethbridge, Alta., is the town of Raymond, a community known for the accomplishments of its high school sports teams, its religious traditions and as the home of the first stampede rodeo in the country.
On a cool, spring evening, locals trickle into the Raymond Senior Centre located just off the town's quiet main street. The crowd has come to debate an issue long-decided in other parts of the country: should restaurants in town be allowed to serve alcohol.
Following an address from the town council, there are warnings of the dangers of imbibing; there's concern for the youth. Some say it's not a big deal — it's the 21st century, after all. Others, like Chonita Sims, want no part of a town that serves its people liquor.
"I feel like if we're going to open this door, we can never close it again."
What's clear is that the discussion goes beyond whether or not to serve booze; it hits at the southern Alberta town's very identity.
Raymond, a close-knit agricultural community about 250 kilometres southeast of Calgary, has been dry since it was founded in 1903. These days, you can drink in town. You just can't purchase alcohol there.
The public engagement session among town council and townsfolk last week was the second of its kind in recent weeks.
It's not the first time the debate on alcohol has come up in the town's history, but it could be the first time it leads to anything changing.
When Alberta's prohibition ended in 1924, some municipalities voted to maintain the ban on liquor stores and other licensed establishments. That included the area around Raymond.
Now, that prohibition could end in the town due to a combination of changes in provincial rules and an appetite among a couple of local restaurants to begin serving alcohol.
The town says it would consider class A liquor licences only, meaning a food-first restaurant where minors are allowed.
Town council wants to hear from the people of Raymond before it votes on whether to amend their land use bylaw to allow for a licensed restaurant.
Raymond's long-time dry status has been rooted in three things: lingering prohibition laws in the area, restrictions attached to land titles in town and deeply held community beliefs.
After the end of prohibition across the province a century ago, municipalities were allowed to weigh in on the topic through what was called local option votes.
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