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. 

Municipal Alcohol Policy

View the Municipal Alcohol Policy before planning your next event.
List of Designated Facilities (Schedule A)

The following facilities are designated for alcohol use:

  • Arenas (includes satellite arenas and Fort William Gardens; excludes dressing rooms and ice surfaces when ice is in)
  • Boulevard Lake Park
  • Canada Games Complex
  • Centennial Botanical Conservatory (limited sales for events, wedding ceremonies, outside on the grounds or inside if a room can be made private)
  • Central Avenue Ball Park
  • Chapples Park (CP4 Field only)
  • Chippewa Park
  • Community Centres (includes adjacent grounds where approved by the municipal designate from Parks & Open Spaces; excludes Kinsmen Youth Centre)
  • Fort William Curling Club
  • Golf Courses, including the clubhouses and playing surfaces served by the operator of the food & beverage concession for the Golf Services Division
  • Jasper Place and Pioneer Ridge
  • Kinsmen Park
  • Mariner’s Hall
  • Older Adult Centres
  • Prince Arthur’s Landing
  • Stadia
  • Thunder Bay Community Tennis Centre
  • Trowbridge Falls Campground

 

Designated municipal authorities may exclude additional spaces within a designated facility at their discretion (e.g. playing surfaces, dressing rooms).

Non-designated Municipal Facilities, Parks and Open Spaces

Unless included in the list of designated facilities and open spaces above, alcohol is not permitted in all other municipally owned facilities, parks and open spaces, streets and work sites.

Alcohol on Closed Streets

Alcohol is not permitted on streets and boulevards unless approved as part of a street closure by the General Manager-Infrastructure & Operations or designate, or as part of an approved pop up patio operated under an existing restaurant liquor license.
Controls to limit alcohol use at facilities (Schedule B)

View Schedule B here: Controls to Limit Alcohol Consumption at Events 
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:

Additional required signage to be provided by the permit holder:

  • Special Occasion Permit
  • Restricted Areas - "No Alcohol Beyond This Point"
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