Abbotsford - Cancellation of Taboo Naughty but Nice Show

[Guest W***ledi*Time]

Rochelle Baker reports for the Abbotsford Times, 10 Feb 2012:

 

http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/news/Abbotsford+Taboo+show+cancelled+Christian+opposition+tight+liquor/6134889/story.html

 

Abbotsford's Taboo sex show cancelled due to Christian opposition and tight liquor rules

 

The Taboo Naughty but Nice Show is being cancelled in Abbotsford due to restrictive liquor laws and flack from the fundamentalist Christian community, the event producer announced on Friday.

 

The successful Taboo sex show was scheduled to take place at Tradex in Abbotsford starting March 29 but was pulled by Canwest Production on Thursday morning.

 

It would have been the fifth year the adult-only event had come to Abbotsford, often described as the Lower Mainland's Bible belt.

 

Canwest has been unable to get the event a roaming liquor licence, which allows patrons to move about the sex show with a drink in hand as they do at the event in seven other Canadian cities

, said Sean Libin, Canwest marketing vice president.

 

The Taboo sex show also been subject to "push-back" from an increasingly vocal group of Christian fundamentalist's, led in large part by former Abbotsford mayoral candidate Gerda Peachey, said Libin.

 

Canwest president Peter Kiddell said the Taboo show has been accused of harming the community's family values and that it could lead to an increase in crime.

 

Canwest had a responsibility to be a good community partner and Taboo was just one of the shows it produces.

 

"But we also have an obligation to provide the best and most entertaining and educational experience for our guests and most positive business experience for our hundreds of exhibitors."

 

Peachey's most recent call to the city to cancel the show took place at the council meeting on Monday.

 

She noted the city has made moral decisions in the past, such denying additional slot machine to Chances Community Gaming Centre, and should vet events at Tradex based on "standards of decency."

 

Abbotsford city manager Frank Pizzuto said council has empowered the operators of Tradex and the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre to make the decisions about what events are booked at the venues.

 

"Tradex is an independent facility with its own board, and they make decisions about what shows they want to bring in," said Pizzuto.

 

"We believe these facilities can be run independently and they should be. "If you believe you've got good governing bodies in place to run these facilities, you should not intervene."

 

Dan Stefanson, executive director of Tourism Abbotsford which runs Tradex, said the show's cancellation will cost the venue $38,000 in lost revenue and generate a significant financial hole.

 

The cancellation of the show will also mean lost employment and revenue spent at area businesses.

 

"There will be a gap in our budget now by all accounts," said Stefanson, adding Canwest gave no reasons for why it was cancelling the show.

 

"The minute they pulled the contract we immediately started selling those dates but it's a very short period of time to replace such a high yield show."

 

He hadn't been aware of Canwest's concerns regarding the liquor restrictions and community opposition.

 

"It appeared to be something internal with the show and it doesn't appear to be a criticism of our venue."

 

According to Canwest, Tradex has repeatedly asked for a roaming liquor licence from the City of Abbotsford but has been refused.

 

Stefanson said Tradex has been working on some modifications to its liquor licences but hadn't yet made any requests to the city.

 

The sex show's producer will forfeit its deposit but the cancellation fell within the contract's permitted timeframe, he said.

 

Canwest plans to work with city council and Peachey to address concerns and address the feasibility of bringing the Taboo show back in the future, said Kiddell.

 

"If we can find a way to address their concerns without compromising the experience of our guests, exhibitors and performers, we would certainly consider coming back."

[Guest W***ledi*Time]

Christina Toth reports for the Abbotsford Times, 2 Mar 2012:

 

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/show+returns+Abbotsford/6242352/story.html

 

Sex show returns to Abbotsford, B.C.

 

Spurred by hundreds of requests from the public, the principals behind the annual Taboo Naughty but Nice Show will bring the recently cancelled show back to Abbotsford's Tradex from May 11 to 13

, Canwest Productions vice-president Sean Libin confirmed.

 

Libin said Thursday that after his Feb. 10 announcement that he's cancelling the show's March dates, the company was inundated with feedback from supporters.

 

"The community has spoken, (and) we've listened," said Libin. "We've heard from both sides of this issue and it's clear to us, and it should be clear to everyone in the Fraser Valley, that there are more people who welcome our show into the community than those who oppose it."

 

At the time of the cancellation, Libin cited two reasons: a small vocal minority who viewed the Taboo show as "immoral perversion" and Tradex's lack of a liquor primary licence that would allow attendees to have liquor outside designated areas.

 

But within days, "we had over 100 emails, the Twitterverse began to buzz and people spoke out on Facebook. We received countless calls to our office," he said.

 

Canwest heard from people in the Fraser Valley who "welcomed us with open arms," he said, and even from others who had no intention of going to the event but who "recognized the rights of those who did want to go."

 

Libin noted that cancelling the show would cost Tradex $40,000 in losses and 175 workers shifts, as well as revenues to the 80 or more exhibitors at the show.

 

The liquor licence issue is still unresolved but Libin said that won't impact the return of the show.

 

The supporters at the news conference said the Taboo show, which draws up to 15,000 visitors over a weekend, can help people communicate with their partners and to keep the romantic fires alive.

 

One of those, Dr. Lyne Piche, is a forensic psychologist who counsels couples and gives seminars at the Taboo shows. She encourages people to make their relationships a priority.

 

"I talk more about sexual health. I really enjoy talking to people about how to address their conflicts and concerns, about how they can improve their relationships," she said.

 

Tori Harper, an Abbotsford mother of two, said the Taboo show helps her and her husband stoke their romantic spark.

 

"I think part of a happy marriage is having a fun sex life," but raising children and daily stresses can put a damper on that, she said. "You still want to be in love. It's nice to be able to close the door and not have to be a mom."