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Outdoor Nova Scotia: "The Best Way to be Informed."
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Kids Fight Back! April 20th, 1998 Liverpool, N. S. - It was standing room only today at municipal council chambers, as dozens of Queens County kids and parents protested a regional by-law prohibiting the use of skateboards, rollerblades and rollerskates on municipal property in the county. It is believed the Region of Queens is the only municipal unit in Nova Scotia to ban the use of the equipment outright. Andrew Malcolm, a 13 year-old junior high school student from Liverpool, told council that the law "places restrictions on the recreational activities of every child, teenager and adult in Queens County....This law has strangled the joy and sense of accomplishment experienced by a five-year-old learning to rollerblade on the sidewalk...and has intimidated every skateboard owner trying to improve skills, and enjoy the company of friends, with the threat of fines and ultimately imprisonment." Mr. Malcolm pointed out that the potential impact of the law on rollerblading enthusiasts was significant. He explained that his Grade 8 class had surveyed "every child between primary and Grade12" in Queens County, and found that 740 students owned rollerblades and 283 owned skateboards. Co-presenter, Amber Hirtle of Milton, Nova Scotia outlined the health benefits of skateboarding and rollerblading, and revealed the results of a student business survey. Ms. Hirtle noted that of the 31 busniesses in the downtown core of Liverpool, only 6 expressed dissatisfaction with the presence of skateboarders and rollerbladers. The regional council was also presented with a petition containing over 400 signatures of local residents suggesting the Region of Queens Municipality refrain from enforcing the skateboarding and rollerblading by-law. Regional Mayor, Christopher Clarke suggested it was his duty to act on behalf of all residents of Queens, including senior citizens and others who had complained about the activities of rollerbladers and skateboarders near the downtown core. Mayor Clarke said that it was " a question of reaching a balance" between competing interests, and suggested skaters in the county form " a smaller group" to meet and laison with the regional council. Mayor Clarke questioned however, whether a compromise could be reached by summer.
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