Item - 2017.CD17.7

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council request the City Manager to direct the appropriate City divisions and/or agencies to undertake a review of the current policies and regulatory regimes related to the operation of private electronic dance music venues, particularly those attracting high-volume crowds, and to report back to the appropriate Committee with a strategy and applicable recommendations to enhance public health and safety.

The Community Development and Recreation Committee:

1.  Directed the Deputy City Manager, Cluster A to review the feasibility of mandating risk management plans for medical coverage for electronic dance music events at venues that attract large crowds to ensure public safety and reduce risk and report back to its April 13, 2017 meeting.

One death is too many.

The tragic overdose death of a 19 year old young woman at an all-ages event occurred at the Rebel Club on Polson Pier on December 16th. Two other young people were also taken to hospital as a result of overdoses occurring that same night at this venue. This is not the first time that Toronto EMS has been called to this venue.

I have now spoken to Toronto Paramedic Services, the Toronto Police Service and Rebel Club management to understand more about this event and particularly the nature of any risk management strategy for this event and other large all ages Electronic Dance Music (EDM) events in private venues.

The risk management strategy on December 16th included medical personnel on-site. However as they were not Toronto EMS, these personnel were unable to transport individuals in need of emergency treatment to the hospital.

In the event of large scale public permitted events, the City across numerous agencies and divisions, undertakes a risk assessment and has an established protocol by which to manage risk, including emergency medical response plans. A similar process does not exist for large scale private events.

A risk management plan that includes the presence of Toronto EMS who are permitted to transport people to hospitals may help save lives.

This is one of a number of issues to review including the consumption of drugs and alcohol at these events and the potential requirement to file and follow a risk management plan to prevent another tragedy.