DAN ILIKA
IN FOCUS REPORTER

Facing delays in getting its full liquor licence, LinX has used special occasion permits to host pub events at Humber’s North campus, said Terry Kyritsis, director of campus services.

“We have been trying to offer some special events for the benefit of our students… until we have the regular liquor licence,” said Kyritsis.

Humber Et Cetera found out a sale permit, which is a type of special occasion permit, was approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) to host a ‘reception event’.

The special occasion permit states that a sale permit applies to events where money is collected for admission, liquor tickets or for purchase of alcohol before the event.

Kyritsis said the manager of purchasing services and sustainability, Emily Eyre, applied for the special occasion permit used on Oct. 22 on behalf of the pub.

“She’s the one that applies for any special permits, not just the pub, through the AGCO,” said Kyritsis.

LinX manager, Christopher Shimoji, was asked to comment on the special occasion permit issued to the pub, but directed all questions to Kyritsis.

The AGCO’s outline of a special occasion permit states that reception events are limited to invited guests only.

Kyritsis said all Humber students are guests of the special events held at LinX.

“Humber has 20,000 students, full-time students, and about 50,000 part-time students. Those are our guests. Those students are always our guests,” he said.

However, Ab Campion, media relations representative for the AGCO, said, “Opening the event to the entire student body would not be our interpretation of invited guests.”

The special occasion permit guidelines also said advertising is limited to the invited guests only.

“Flyers are not an acceptable form of inviting guests,” said Campion. “Basically you are running an illegal event if you are letting people in that aren’t on the guest list.”

Still, Kyritsis maintained that Humber did nothing wrong in obtaining the special occasion permit.

“We did nothing illegal,” said Kyritsis. “We went according to the books and what we were told was the right thing to do. It’s a special permit for Humber to operate an event on that evening. It was properly done.”

The permit said any liquor not served at the event must be removed from the venue after the event is over.

“There’s no expectation that if you’re not going to use it all that night you’re going to return it,” Kyritsis said. “You could if you wanted to but there’s nothing illegal about you holding onto it.”

“We feel that we did everything according to the law that we’re expected to do,” continued Kyritsis. “We have not been trying to do anything underhanded. We are not a fly-by-night operation that is not responsible.”

As of Nov. 10, the beer fridge was fully stocked but padlocked shut. When asked if the Et Cetera could take photos of the locked beer fridge, Kyritsis refused.

“It projects an image that we are closed for business,” said Kyritsis. “I think it’s a very negative image.”

According to Campion, LinX has still not received its liquor licence because the AGCO is awaiting a compliance letter from the Toronto Building Department.