Here is an article that made my blood boil...

Vancouver prides its self on it's diversity, so what the deal?




Bagpipes ban on Vancouver streets not likely to fly with council, mayor says
By IAN AUSTIN, The Province April 5, 2012 Comment 20 •Story•Photos ( 1 )
Kyle Banta may yet be able to continue playing the bagpipes on Vancouver streets, if city council overrules a policy change by staff as Mayor Gregor Robertson has indicated.Photograph by: Wayne Leidenfrost , The ProvinceAward-winning bagpiper Kyle Banta is all dressed up with nowhere to blow.

The 22-year-old wields a mean pipe -- he’s won contests around North America -- but a change of policy at city hall means Banta won’t be able to share his talent on the streets of Vancouver.

An engineering department review of the city’s busking permits determined that four instruments were responsible for too many noise complaints -- bagpipes, bongos, drums and tambourines.

So the city quietly changed its policy -- no busking permits will be permitted for those four instruments.

So now the kilt-clad Banta can only look the part and parade his pipe proudly through the streets of Vancouver -- as long as he doesn’t blow a single note.

“To listen to someone who’s played for 14 years, who has won the major competitions in North America, should be a treat,” said Banta, who teaches piping and recognizes that the mournful wail of a poor piper is not a sound for sore ears. “Bagpipes aren’t like a guitar or a flute -- bagpipes are already amplified, so there is no way you can turn it down.”

Banta makes the point that Vancouver is a multicultural city, and should embrace music from every culture.

“Vancouver is a very multicultural city and to ban some wonderful instruments completely is no way to address an issue,” Banta wrote The Province, pleading for a little media help to fight the bagpipe ban.

“If there is something that can be done about this, I would be very happy.

“I think the people downtown would also be happy to hear some great music again.”

So The Province sought out Mayor Gregor Robertson, a Scotsman so proud of his heritage that he wore a kilt to his inauguration last December.

“The clans won’t stand for it!” Robertson said in jest when told of the music edict. “I’ve asked city staff to review this issue.

“Buskers play a very important role in making Vancouver’s streets lively and dynamic, particularly in our vibrant downtown.”

The mayor expects council to once again allow the pealing of the pipes.

“Council won’t support an outright ban on specific instruments,” promised the mayor. “My first reaction is that a complete ban on bagpipes and percussion instruments across the city is ridiculous and culturally insensitive.”

The mayor’s words were music to the ears of Banta, who’s once again a happy piper.

“I think it’s fantastic -- to ban them completely is overkill,” said Banta, a university student who plans on becoming an elementary school teacher. “I appreciate the fact that he’s going to look into it.”

Banta hopes to work with the engineering department to minimize complaints.

“I do agree that the noise should be under control,” he said. “I do enjoy playing, and lots of people enjoy hearing it.

“Unfortunately, not everyone wants to hear it -- but that’s not really fair to the people who enjoy listening.”


Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/life/Bagp...#ixzz1rK7aQPFe