The Municipal Alcohol Policy (MAP) guides decisions on the use of alcohol at events in City facilities, parks and open spaces. Under the Liquor Licence Act, the City is authorized to recommend to the AGCO permission for applicants to have alcohol at designated City facilities, parks and open spaces.
Revised MAP (2021)
Revisions to the MAP were approved in April 2021. These revisions reflect changes in legislation, designated facilities for alcohol use, public health recommendations and new/emerging types of events requesting alcohol use on City property. Be sure to review the revised Policy, List of Designated Facilities, and Controls for Limiting the Use of Alcohol at Events prior to planning your event:
- Municipal Alcohol Policy
- List of Designated Facilities (Schedule A)
- Controls to Limit Alcohol Consumption at Events (Schedule B)
Special Occasion Permits
Special Occasion Permits (SOPs) allow the sale and service of alcohol for special occasions and are administered by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. The City must recommend permission for an event organizer to host an event with alcohol on City property prior to an SOP being issued.
For outdoor public events, applicants requesting an SOP must provide the following notification to both the City and AGCO:
- 30 days notice, if fewer than 5,000 attendance
- 60 days notice, if greater than 5,000 attendance
Required Signage
Please download and display the following signage at your event in all ticket sale areas and bar areas:
- Alcohol Policies (must include details in the blank/fillable sections prior to printing or fill in manually)
- Sandy's Law - visit the AGCO website for details on how to display this sign under the Liquor Licence Act
Additional required signage to be provided by the permit holder:
- Special Occasion Permit
- Restricted Areas - "No Alcohol Beyond This Point"
Helpful links
- Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario - apply for a Special Occasion Permit
- Canada's Low Risk Drinking Guidelines
- Managing Alcohol at Events on Municipal Property - Ontario Public Health Association
- Thunder Bay District Health Unit
- Thunder Bay Drug Strategy
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