The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch No. 140 in Sechelt, has applied to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) to increase its seating capacity from 60 to 100.
As part of that process, the LCRB requires local governments to consult with residents and consider required criteria in order to evaluate some liquor licence applications or amendments. The District of Sechelt supported the Legion’s proposal at its regular meeting of council, Feb. 5.
To gather residents’ views on the application, an advertisement was published in the Jan. 17, 2025 issue of Coast Reporter, it was posted to the district’s social media, and notification letters were mailed to neighbours within 100 metres. No comments were received on the application proposal.
The application was also referred to the Sunshine Coast RCMP Detachment and the district’s building department, neither of which had any concerns. As well, the Sechelt Downtown Business Association supported the application.
As reported in Coast Reporter, last July the Legion celebrated its grand reopening in a new location, a culmination of five years of effort to complete renovations of the new building at 5546 Inlet Avenue –– and an introduction to a new sustainable business model.
While the Sechelt Legion will always maintain its core goals of supporting veterans and their families, promoting remembrance and supporting the community through charity, its new liquor licence means anyone 19 and older is welcome to attend with or without a membership. Also new — the Legion now allows minors if accompanied by an adult.
Prior to giving its approval for the application, council had questions regarding washrooms and fire regulations.
District chief building official James Nyhus explained the building code changed in 2024, making it “much more liberal in the washroom count.”
“And changed how we assigned washrooms based on accessibility and as a result of that, we were able to approve 100 as the occupant load based on their washroom count as applied through the 2024 BC Building Code.”
As for fire regulations, Nyhus added there's a “very simple rule of thumb,” when it comes to exiting requirements.
“It’s a 60-person rule and as soon as you have more than 60 persons, you require two exits, which they have.”
According to a staff report, the hours of liquor service comply with the district’s business licence bylaw and no changes are proposed. The report noted, the amendment only proposes an internal increase in capacity, noise has not been a source of bylaw complaints, and additional impact is not expected to be an issue with the increase.
The report added, the general impact on the community if the application is approved, is expected to be positive and supportive to business in the downtown core and another way to help “develop a more vibrant Sechelt for residents and visitors.”
