UPDATED 06/23/2009 – COMMENTS RECEIVED By Mike Archer.
Tim Felger and the City of Abbotsford are at it again. Abbotsford’s best known marijuana activist applied for a permit to ride in this year’s Canada Day parade and was denied permission. Now he’s taking the City to court.
Some will remember Felger drove a mini bike in the parade two year’s ago and says he was charged with driving while prohibited and threatened with 37 months in jail.
In last year’s Canada Day parade he finished the parade but offended many toting one of his most infamous signs saying, “Your mom called, she said to bring home a 20 bag.”
The other sign he wants to carry this year is another well known sign; “9-11 Was An Inside Job. Legalize Marijuana.”
Your proposed parade signs are not in keeping with the liability and waiver agreements that you agreed to below and will not be permitted in the Canada Day parade – Tracey Klassen
This year Felger filled out the appropriate forms and signed the required waiver and had his $250 fee ready when he received word he application was denied.
Tracy Klassen (right) with Parm Sidhu, Manager of Terminal Operations, Abbotsford International Airport at a Travel Trade Show In Jan. 2008
Felger replied asking, “Can you be more specific in writing as to what you disagree with or what is in violation of the liability and waver agreement,” to which he received a reply from Klassen on June 18 saying, “You indicated that you were bringing the same signage as last year, and that sign is deemed as not complying with the waiver below.”
The waiver in the application form states:
“I will not demonstrate, display or exhort unlawful behavior while participating in the Parade.”
“I understand that Abbotsford’s Canada Day Parade is a family-centred event and I agree that it is not a suitable forum for display, demonstration or conduct that could frighten, disturb or offend others, that condones or promotes unlawful action or activities, or that is in itself unlawful.”
“I acknowledge that official permission to participate may be revoked if the Parade Committee is of the view that my conduct or display is of such a nature, and I agree to abide by a decision by the Committee to revoke its permission on that basis.”
Your mom called, she said to bring home a 20 bag – Tim Felger
Nonetheless Felger says he is petitioning the court for permission to ride in the parade saying he will represent himself as he can no longer afford the extensive legal bills that are mounting due to, what he considers to be harassment.
Felger is scheduled to go before a close-door meeting at city hall, which he has managed to have put off another 30 days, to make arguments as to why he should keep his business licence after being charged, but not yet having been tried, on charges of selling marijuana to minors.
He was arrested at his Da Kine store on Essendene Ave. just days after the provincial election last month in which he ran as an independent candidate.
Felger also had one of his signs taken down by the bylaw department before the election on the grounds that it was illegally situated. Felger argued at the time, and maintains to this day, that his sign was taken down for political reasons.
Tim Felger outside his Da Kine store in Abbotsford
Felger offended many in the recent provincial election with a prominent sign in Downtown Abbotsford saying, you guessed it, “Your mom called, she said to bring home a 20 bag.”
Felger maintains he was trying to bring attention to the fact that most of the people buying marijuana are not teenagers and hardened criminals but middle and working class adults with children.
Abbotsford, CANADA
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:02 pm
I do not support Mariguana use and I found Tim Felger’s sign “Your mom
called, she said, bring home a $20 bag concerning and inappropriate
for our children in our community.
The fact is, however, Fleger has had these signs up for several events and
political elections. I can guarantee, almost, every citizen has seen these
signs.So, now, after Abbotsford citizen’s have seen these signs over and over and
over, again, now they are suddenly concerned about the inappropriateness of the signs.
What a joke!!
I would think the city would want to direct their energies toward reviewing
several businesses in the city, which are involved in negative business
practises and who,encourage gang and other crime related activity.
Last week, the Abbotsford Police and the Integrated Emergency response team
executed a search warrant on a property on Downes Road and the owner and
associates, as confirmed by the Police are linked to the Mango Tree
Restaurant and the United Nations Gang.
Yesterday, on the “Real Scoop” blog site, there is, also, mention of
negative activity at businesses in the Cedar Park Mall, supposedly,
frequented by the United Nations Gang members and associates.
In 2008, The Police Gang Task Force made it’s first visit to the
“Bink Mink Cafe” in Cedar Park Mall. it, now, goes under a new name.
In 2008, Todd Krantz, Independant Soldier gang member, was shot to death in the
stairway of his business.”Ultimate Fighting Gym”
City Hall neglected to deal with the Felger sign problem, when
he first, began his Marijuana advocacy, via the signage.
They have, also, neglected to review negative business practises,
which may be linked to criminal activity.