North Vancouver RCMP have planned extra patrols this weekend to prevent any pre-grad parties from getting out of hand.
Last year, officers from the detachment were called to 19 separate incidents related to the celebrations which are traditionally held over the Labour Day weekend by students starting Grade 12. Most of the incidents involved alcohol, and included several fights, an assault with a weapon, vandalism, mischief, a robbery and drug possession, according to Cpl. Richard De Jong, a spokesman for the force.
Paramedics also responded to several incidents, he said. One youth was hospitalized due to intoxication.
De Jong said the problems posed by the parties appear to have got worse in recent years, so this time around, the Mounties are hoping to prevent any problems before they start.
"Police don't want to be party poopers, so to speak, but we don't want to be picking up the pieces left over after destructive behaviour causes injury - or worse," he said. "We will be in full force this weekend out in the high schools and the parks as well, just so that we can head this off as much as possible."
West Vancouver hasn't experienced the same number of problems, said Cpl. Jag Johal of the West Vancouver Police Department, but they do regularly get calls to parties.
The pre-grad celebrations are a longstanding tradition for students entering Grade 12 in the Lower Mainland, said school district officials. Staff in North and West Vancouver are planning to send out messages to parents to let them know about the parties and to make clear they aren't school-sanctioned or supervised.
"Some parents believe it's a school-sponsored activity, and these are school camping trips," said Chris Kennedy, superintendent for the West Vancouver school district. "It's a good reminder to always check when your child says there's a school event."
In past years, when students have made a mess at parties, the schools have asked them to clean it up, even when it's not on school grounds, said Kennedy.
The North Vancouver school district will also have added security at its schools over the weekend, said Brad Baker, district vice principal for safe and caring schools. He recommended parents talk to their kids about parties and suggested official grad celebrations as an alternative.
