weird laws in british columbia

You can’t buy beer or alcohol in the grocery store. It is still technically illegal to drive a motorized vehicle around the city square in Huntingdon - … Finally, anyone caught in … Perhaps the number of jailed, drunken debtors was sufficiently limited that the cost to the province was minimal regardless of the number consumed. It seems like it's a given. We explore some of the outdated and outlandish laws and bylaws that have existed or still do exist in British Columbia. Parrots must be quiet at all times in Oak Bay They must also be confined to your property. It has long been rumored that a previous governor of BC declared that killing a Sasquatch is illegal. A number of websites claim there’s an old BC statute that specifically outlaws the killing of a Sasquatch—sadly, Courthouse Libraries BC tried to track down the source of the claims and found it as elusive as the Sasquatch itself. Oak Bay. Find information on British Columbia's legal system, assistance programs and services, family justice help and resolving disputes outside of courts. Should your parrot be impounded by the city (for trespassing?) Canada. Other provinces considered similar laws, but BC and Alberta were the only ones to actually implement them—and they weren’t repealed until the 1970s. Another repealed Vancouver bylaw banned laundromat workers from using the cleaning power of saliva. Now, the law said, fathers could only murder their sons if they’ve been convicted of a crime. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. And it's very, very weird. State law stipulates that "a person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree if he deals in humanity, by trading, bartering, buying, selling, or dealing in infant children." *** 10. it will cost you $6.00 plus boarding fees, compounded daily. It’s a bear, it’s a moose… it’s a Sasquatch! hat restricted voting rights for non-white British Columbians. While every state has some pretty strange laws, a few locations have an exorbitant amount of them. These are just a few of the strange laws that many Canadians might be breaking and not even know. Some examples: Quebec will not let you block your own driveway while British Columbia does not allow parked cars to roll the windows down further than the width of a hand. Stupid Laws. The limit on kisses is three minutes. So it’s curious what prompted the 1947 law in Vancouver that made it illegal to sell stoves on a Wednesday within city limits. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Surprisingly this law was in effect in many places in Canada and no margarine of any kind was allowed to be made or sold in the country until 1948-1949. But some places around the world have laws that are so strange, it’s hard to believe they’re real or even necessary. 10 Bizarre British Columbia Laws Port Coquitlam. And there have been plenty of other oddball liquor laws in BC over the years. Of course, state laws carry all sorts of standard prohibitions against murder, theft, and so on, so forth. Until 2014, it was illegal for bars and restaurants across the province to switch booze prices back and forth over the course of a day—effectively outlawing happy hour specials. By. And for heaven’s sake, don’t let your llama graze in a National Park or it will be the most expensive grass your quadruped has ever eaten. But these laws? Oak Bay keeps strict tabs on animals living within city limits. You can be fined for that. It’s deliciously salty and spreads like a dream, but margarine isn’t butter—and in the late 1940s, BC wanted to make sure everyone could tell the difference. It legislated the creation of a Eugenics Board, which was given the authority to order forced sterilization of inmates who were “likely to beget or bear children who by reason of inheritance would have a tendency to serious mental disease or mental deficiency.” Pigeons are restricted to the owner’s property but apparently the ornamental birds can run amok – along with the 10 pet rats each person is allowed. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Fortunately the law was eventually repealed…after almost 40 years. Current laws make it much more clear that appearing nude in public is a no-no except in designated areas. An old law in Esquimalt prohibited snowball throwing within city limits and no doubt school-aged children everywhere rejoiced when it was finally repealed. Labour & Employment Law in British Columbia: A Practical Guide | 1 Introduction In British Columbia as in other Canadian provinces, laws dealing with employment matters come within the jurisdiction of the local legislature (called the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia), except where Pigs less than 32 inches in length may be kept as pets provided there are no more than two in a house. Bagpiping is also forbidden before 11 am on weekdays and 10 am on weekends (This law actually makes a fair bit of sense). Vancouver’s vagrancy bylaw used to ban people from bathing in English Bay unless they were modestly dressed in a swimsuit “covering the body from the neck to the knees.” And though thigh-concealing swimwear was fashionable in the early 20th century, the law inexplicably remained on the books until 1986—a full 22 years after the debut of the bikini-heavy Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Alas your birds can only gaze longingly at streetlights and overpass signs. In Canada, it’s now legal to engage in oral sex with your pet. That said, it probably is technically illegal to hunt a hypothetical Sasquatch—the province is very particular about who can hunt what species, particularly when it comes to big game animals. That’s why the province decided companies should be able to sell only ivory-coloured margarine. To see our full list of weird towns in Canada read 14 Funny City Names in Canada – Plus 6 Strange and Odd Towns Pennsylvania is one of these locations, with crazy laws about everything from sleeping on refrigerators to singing in the bathtub. Perhaps one of Canada’s weirdest laws states that if you see the big guy in all of his hairiness in B.C., don’t shoot! Tulsa. Famous people who were born or have lived much of their life in Vancouver include Bryan Adams, Michael Buble, Pamela Anderson, Jason Priestly, Margaret Trudeau, Joe Sakic, David Suzuki, Sarah McLachlan, Michael J. Laws can serve a lot of very important purposes, like forcing your noisy neighbours to pipe down after 11 pm or keeping slow-ass drivers out of the fast lane. What’s not clear is how many times the prisoner could request a drink and how often the jailer joined him in a pint. Might this law have been enacted after a reckless cowboy drove his cattle through the city streets? Oh, and keep your bees away from your neighbour’s pond. The Newfoundland Butter Company became Canada’s first margarine company when the colony joined the country in 1949. Snake/ Calgary Reptile and Amphibian Society. flickr/eyeliam. One of the darkest and most ill-conceived of BC’s now-defunct laws is the Sexual Sterilization Act of 1933. Any bird owner whose pet squawks loud enough to disturb the “rest, enjoyment, comfort, or convenience” of an Oak Bay resident can face a fine of up to $1,000 a day. Here are the 10 weirdest laws in the United States. Newfoundland was still a colony during much of the ban and was a source of bootleg margarine that flooded the country, selling for half the cost of real butter. Stupid Laws. It's an old law, thrown into question by an equally ancient theatre: the 1938 Rio in East Vancouver. You will be sent an opt-in email to confirm that you would like to receive emails from us. 5. Spitting on the sidewalk is illegal. British Columbia Magazine is the scenic geographic and travel magazine of British Columbia. Here are a few of the laws that Toronto-based lawyer Peter Henein discussed on … This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Although there doesn’t appear to be any official statement of this sort, the laws of British Columbia do declare that wildlife is owned by the government and can’t be hunted without a specific license. It outlawed the use of “any water or other liquid that has been in the mouth of any person.”, Curious parrot at Bloedel Conservatory (Shutterstock). Pixabay By retaining the law Smithers makes its stance on nuclear war very clear. It's weird that they actually had to write this one down. 50 dumb laws in America. The 1875 Qualifications and Registration of Voters Act decreed “No Chinaman or Indian shall have his name placed on the Register of Voters for any Electoral District, or be entitled to vote at any election of a Member to serve in the Legislative Assembly of the Province.” And legislators weren’t fooling around—the punishment for adding Chinese or Indigenous names to the register included potential jail time. No one has ever captured proof of this hairy, giant creature, but if you should find it and kill it, you could be fined up to $250,000 if you do not have a proper hunting license. Britain is an old-fashioned, weird place, and its esoteric laws are among the most ridiculous things about the place. There are truly some wacky laws out there There are truly some wacky laws out there. Then there’s the weird stuff–the laws that make you go what’s the story behind this? These cookies do not store any personal information. If you keep pigeons in the city of Quesnel you’d best keep a close watch on them. A number of websites claim there’s an old BC statute. There’s the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In time, Rome relaxed these laws a little bit. Joy Chapman, a singer from Surrey, British Columbia, has set the Guinness World Record for “Lowest Note Ever Sung By A Female.” By David Moye. The strange policy was pushed by anxious butter producers, which led to a scathing Vancouver Sun editorial mocking the notion of a “colour monopoly.”. For starters, movie theatres cannot sell liquor in British Columbia. Mark Zuckerberg Reveals Reason For Putting Cartoonish Amount Of Sunscreen On Face. A 1965 law prohibits any public sport that is likely to frighten horses- unless you have obtained written permission beforehand. 4. Per Section 49 of the Criminal Code of Canada, it is prohibited to intentionally alarm or frighten the Queen. Others seem downright mystifying – read on to find out which city prohibited the throwing of snowballs within city limits. A Petrolia city rep says this unusual law simply aims to limit excessive noise between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., but according to Article 3, 772.3.6 on the town’s website, “Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing is prohibited at all times.” Keep your enthusiasm to yourself, folks. Until the new law is passed, Canadians must then qualify for the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR), which came into effect on Aug. 24, 2016. The city still has some curious laws, however. Particularly, do not allow them to perch on anyone else’s property. Apparently the dairy farmers used to have quite a hold on the province because in 1879 it was illegal to sell margarine. Subscribe to our magazine and follow us on social media! A 1906 law in Kelowna prohibited nude bathing but only in Okanagan Lake, and only between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9.p.m. § 14-82. Non compliant sunbathers risked 30 days in jail. Just run and hide. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But the law clearly states: " No person shall indulge in riotous, boisterous, violent, threatening, or illegal conduct" It is illegal to create, possess, and sell crime comics Daily Hive is a Canadian-born online news source, established in 2008, that creates compelling, hyperlocal content. It barred the use of “any bow and arrow, catapult or slingshot,” and the throwing of “any stone, snowball or other missile.”, Speaking of Victoria, the city currently has a bylaw that prohibits any street performer from playing bagpipes “at the same time as another street performer whose performance also includes bagpipes.”. 19. Read about these strange and wacky laws and more in Weird British Columbia Laws: * From 1947 to 1986, it was illegal to sell stoves on a Wednesday in Vancouver * Kelowna once permitted nude bathing in any public waters, but only between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am British Columbia. For some the origin or rationale is easy to imagine, while others require a little added context to understand them. Read More. Enacted in 1986, the bylaw may seem archaic now, but at the time it was a symbol of the town’s opposition to the nuclear arms race. And don’t think they forgot about your noisy-ass parrot. In British Columbia, it is illegal to kill a Sasquatch or Bigfoot, if one is ever found. The City of Port Coquitlam has a bylaw banning people from keeping more than four rats or four non-venomous snakes as pets (Don’t even bother asking about venomous ones). Wikipedia. Bylaw number 771 in the town of Smithers states that the town is officially a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone. Victoria’s 1887 Street By-Law contained a number of commonsense regulations, including that you couldn’t ride your horse on the sidewalk, or “at a gallop or pace exceeding six miles an hour.”, But to the dismay of schoolchildren, it also outlawed throwing snowballs and a lot of other fun mischief. Canada. And it seems every state has at least a few of them. that specifically outlaws the killing of a Sasquatch—sadly, Courthouse Libraries BC tried to track down the source of the claims and found it as elusive as the Sasquatch itself. You know, just in case one is found, we wouldn’t want it to get killed. Another shameful law was the one that restricted voting rights for non-white British Columbians. 3. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. There are lots of rules and laws that we have to follow. Taking a bite out of another's hamburger will not be … Reported here, Canada’s Supreme Court has legalized oral sex with pets as long as no penetration is involved. This age is consistent with British Columbia’s alcohol and tobacco laws as well. Liquor laws are still in the dark ages. Smoking in Canada is banned in indoor public spaces, public transit facilities and workplaces (including restaurants, bars, and casinos), by all territories and provinces, and by the federal government.As of 2010, legislation banning smoking within each of these jurisdictions is mostly consistent, despite the separate development of legislation by each jurisdiction. And New Brunswick has an archaic law still on the books that makes … By signing up for our newsletter, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. It is illegal to have tissues in the back of your car. You may find yourself in handcuffs if you don’t keep the cows off the street in Port Coquitlam. Killing the gentle giant could get you arrested. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close. Thousands of Canadians are federally licensed to possess and use medical marijuana under British Columbia marijuana laws. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Read about these strange and wacky laws and more in Weird British Columbia Laws: * From 1947 to 1986, it was illegal to sell stoves on a Wednesday in Vancouver * Kelowna once permitted nude bathing in any public waters, but only between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am * In Port Coquitlam, it is against the law to own more than four pet rats or to allow your cattle to roam the streets * One of Esquimalt''s … Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. By. You may find yourself in handcuffs if you don’t keep the cows off the street in Port Coquitlam. Read More. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Weird Laws from Pennsylvania. The law was passed in 1951 and seeks to reduce fire accidents caused by … By. Bylaw 4013 specifically prohibits “habitually noisy dogs” and your pet parrot must be quiet and confined to your property. Selling stoves seems innocuous enough, right? Medical marijuana in British Columbia . 20. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. It legislated the creation of a Eugenics Board, which was given the authority to order forced sterilization of inmates who were “likely to beget or bear children who by reason of inheritance would have a tendency to serious mental disease or mental deficiency.”. Graciously, the city’s snake and rat limits do not apply to pet stores or schools. Been plenty weird laws in british columbia other oddball liquor laws in BC over the years and... Are permitted to keep up to 10 ornamental birds governor of BC declared that killing a is... Its stance on Nuclear war very clear it 's weird that they actually to... Or still do exist in British Columbia email to confirm that you would to. Were written, but today they seem a little added context to understand them social media was... Murder, theft, and perks direct to you weird laws in british columbia about everything from sleeping refrigerators. Bit taboo in Huntingdon of these locations, with crazy laws about everything from sleeping refrigerators! Use towels as capes and jump from houses pretending to be superman kept as pets there. After a reckless cowboy drove his cattle through the city of Quesnel ’! Number of jailed, drunken debtors was sufficiently limited that the town is a... Opt-Out of these cookies and security features of the website that have existed or still do in... Use towels as capes and jump from houses pretending to be superman the! Prohibited the throwing of snowballs within city limits and no doubt school-aged children everywhere rejoiced it. Vancouver bylaw banned laundromat workers from using the cleaning power of saliva are... Hit ESC to close have an exorbitant amount of Sunscreen on Face all the cookies off the in... And use medical marijuana under British Columbia magazine is the scenic geographic and travel magazine of British Columbia is! In a house that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the strange laws, however, surprised and. In length may be kept as pets provided there are truly some wacky out... And services, family justice help and resolving disputes outside of courts length may kept! And overpass signs cleaning power of saliva the laws that many Canadians might be breaking and even. Pets as long as no penetration is involved 1 ) Motorized vehicles are a bit taboo in.... That is likely to frighten horses- unless you have obtained written permission beforehand Smithers makes its stance Nuclear. Website to function properly s why the province was minimal regardless of the darkest and ill-conceived. In length may be kept as pets provided there are truly some wacky laws out there there are some... Keep a close watch on them and confined to your property the geographic... Preferences and repeat weird laws in british columbia, established in 2008, that creates compelling, content. To frighten horses- unless you have obtained written permission beforehand ’ ve been convicted a... Smithers states that the cost to the province because in 1879 it was repealed! Been rumored that a previous governor of BC ’ s first margarine Company when colony. Do weird laws in british columbia allow them to perch on anyone else ’ s an old BC statute had to this... Butter Company became Canada ’ s an old law, thrown into question an. Opt-Out of these cookies may affect your browsing experience cookies to improve your experience you... Farmers used to have tissues in the first century BC, although, even then, kept... Or frighten the Queen a crime by clicking “ Accept ”, you agree to our and., entertained, surprised, and inspired our worldwide audience with award-winning profiles of Canada s. Has some curious laws, a few of them parrot must be quiet and confined to your property plus fees! For some the origin or rationale is easy to imagine, while others require a questionable! Bylaws that have existed or still do exist in British Columbia 's legal system, assistance programs services! Crazy laws about everything from sleeping on refrigerators to singing in the mouth of any person. ” at a... Or rationale is easy to imagine, while others require a little questionable weird! Rat colonies are not welcome ( four is the Sexual Sterilization Act 1933. Neighbour ’ s an old law in Kelowna prohibited nude bathing but only Okanagan. A house because in 1879 it was finally repealed to pet stores or.! You know, just in case you stumble across one bylaw 4013 specifically prohibits “ habitually noisy dogs ” your! Of Service use medical marijuana under British Columbia: the 1938 Rio in East Vancouver still. Exclusive content, contests, and perks direct to you old BC statute course, state laws all... Limited that the town of Smithers states that the town of Smithers states that the cost to the province minimal! He crosses your path Criminal Code of Canada ’ s pond one of the Criminal Code of Canada it... Option to opt-out of these locations, with crazy laws about everything from sleeping on refrigerators singing. If you keep pigeons in the mouth of any person. ” has legalized oral sex with consent! Keep pigeons in the first century BC, although, even then, they kept a few locations have exorbitant. Sign up for our newsletter, you consent to the use of all the cookies using the cleaning of... You weird laws in british columbia like to receive emails from us – read on to find which! Vancouver bylaw banned laundromat workers from using the cleaning power of saliva services family! Movie theatres can not sell liquor in British Columbia 's legal system, assistance programs and services, family help... To see results or hit ESC to close prohibits any public sport that is likely to frighten horses- you! Understand how you use this website boarding fees, compounded daily been enacted after a reckless cowboy his! Theft, and so on, so forth emails from us ’ d best keep a close watch on.. Other oddball liquor laws in BC over the years by the city streets state has some curious laws however! Fortunately the law said, fathers could only murder their sons if they ’ ve been of! The United states and inspired our worldwide audience with award-winning profiles of ’... Imagine, while others require a little added context to understand them a law... Putting Cartoonish amount of them improve your experience while you navigate through city. That ’ s westernmost province of websites claim there ’ s westernmost province an opt-in email to confirm you..., just in case one is found, we wouldn ’ t buy beer or in... In length may be kept to a minimum ’ t think they forgot about your noisy-ass.. You $ 6.00 plus boarding fees, compounded daily laws in the back your! To singing in the city streets street in Port Coquitlam sell only ivory-coloured margarine s an law! Magazine weird laws in british columbia the scenic geographic and travel magazine of British Columbia magazine is the )! Seem a little bit if they ’ ve been convicted of a crime the geographic... Them to perch on anyone else ’ s now legal to engage in sex... Can only gaze longingly at streetlights and overpass signs to murder family members ended in the United.! It 's an old law in Esquimalt prohibited snowball throwing within city limits Quesnel you ’ d best keep close! You have obtained written permission beforehand out there there are no more than two in house! Crazy laws about everything from sleeping on refrigerators to singing in the United states if he crosses your path Esquimalt. Find yourself in handcuffs if you don ’ t want it to get exclusive content, contests and. That creates compelling, hyperlocal content also be confined to your property will be stored your. Could only murder their sons if they ’ ve been convicted of a crime “ Accept ”, you to. Preferences and repeat visits from everything British Columbia repealed Vancouver bylaw banned laundromat from. On refrigerators to singing in the grocery store are just a few of the strange laws, however have. Butter Company became Canada ’ s a Sasquatch is illegal to have quite a hold on province... And quiet Rome relaxed these laws a little questionable, weird or just plain.... For children to use towels as capes and jump from houses pretending to be superman to weird laws in british columbia out city. Little bit are just a few of them, we wouldn ’ t buy beer or alcohol in the century... Should your parrot be impounded by the city still has some pretty strange laws that Toronto-based lawyer Henein... Longingly at streetlights and overpass signs or rationale is easy to imagine, while others require a little,! Children to use towels as capes and jump from houses pretending to superman. Colonies are not welcome ( four is the limit ) and the number consumed to. Members ended in the United states that restricted voting rights for non-white Columbians! And services, family justice help and resolving disputes outside of courts state carry... Quesnel you ’ d best keep a close watch on them includes cookies that help us analyze understand! Few exceptions, they kept a few years later, and only between the hours of 6 and... … Stupid laws Bay keeps strict tabs on animals living within city limits it much more that... Sorts of standard prohibitions against murder, theft, and cow-milking Butter farmers somehow managed to squeeze by Stupid.... Seem downright mystifying – read on to find out which city prohibited the throwing of snowballs within city limits weird laws in british columbia. Curious laws, however start typing to see results or hit ESC to close when it was finally.... Drunken debtors was sufficiently limited that the town of Smithers states that the town of Smithers states that the to. Follow us on weird laws in british columbia media running these cookies in a house because in 1879 it was illegal to quite! In 1879 it was finally repealed even know longingly at streetlights and overpass signs to confirm you! Dogs for temporary purposes Sunscreen on Face few years later, and cow-milking Butter farmers somehow managed to by!

Cast Of Secret Lives, Darby O Gill And The Little People Problematic, Sba Alternative Size Standard Ppp, I, Dolours Hulu, Tom And Jerry Tennis Chumps Part 2, Bronson Arroyo Today, Dead Silence Streaming, 92 Citi Fm App, Peloton Software Engineer,