First-term Kelowna city councillor Ryan Donn has received a lot of invitations to events, tours and speaking engagements since he was elected to council in 2014.

But when he received an invite from the Kelowna RCMP to take a night-time tour of downtown Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 entertainment district, he jumped at the chance to see first-hand the state of Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 nightlife.

香蕉视频直播淚t was fascinating,香蕉视频直播� said Donn, who went on the tour with a staff member from the City of Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 planning department.

香蕉视频直播淧eople are just out there trying to have a good time and it香蕉视频直播檚 our job to make sure there is structure,香蕉视频直播� Donn said.

香蕉视频直播淚 had zero concerns about our youth and young people when it came to the nightlife. It was folks out having a good time. The role we play is a safe ride home.

香蕉视频直播淎re we encouraging the province to look at things like taxi licenses and Uber? We just want people to have a good night and to get a safe ride home,香蕉视频直播� Donn said.

He, and planner Ryan Smith, took to the streets of Kelowna with their RCMP escort to see what happens on a regular weekend night in Kelowna.

From the Cactus Club to BNA to the nightclubs on Leon and Lawrence avenues, Donn and Smith toured close to a dozen establishments.

Donn said it was a positive experience that shined the light on a few issues, both positive and negative.

香蕉视频直播淚t was busy,香蕉视频直播� he said of his four-hour club-hopping trek. 香蕉视频直播淥ver the course of four hours you saw at least a couple thousand people at various establishments.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e all about a vibrant downtown and what that looks like and to see a couple thousand people coming and going, you see there is a lot of people downtown.香蕉视频直播�

Donn said one of his big takeaways from the night was the establishments香蕉视频直播� use of a patron identification system that sees bars and pubs scanning a person香蕉视频直播檚 driver香蕉视频直播檚 license and taking their photo as they enter the bar.

If the person is a trouble-maker a note can be put on their file so that they can香蕉视频直播檛 simply hop to another place and cause more trouble.

The system was put in place by an association of bar owners known as The Standard, which is working together on issues surrounding late night establishments.

Donn said he was told the system has made bars much safer.

香蕉视频直播淚f you go back a few years, if someone gets in a fight at one bar, they just go to another place,香蕉视频直播� said Donn.

香蕉视频直播淣ow the venues are communicating with each other. It has had a dramatic reduction in the fights that have happened.

香蕉视频直播淓ssentially you can identify those that are causing the fights. The system is making it safer.香蕉视频直播�

Having a safe downtown and a vibrant nightlife is key to maintaining and growing Kelowna as a destination for tourists, said Smith, Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 community planning manager. He said the downtown is actually much safer than many residents might think.

香蕉视频直播淲hen people talk about downtown not being safe, downtown gets less safe when less people go there,香蕉视频直播� Smith said.

香蕉视频直播淚f everyday people stay away, that just leaves more space for the druggies and criminals. If more people spent more time in Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 urban centres, we would have less crime. Downtown is probably a much safer place than the average person thinks香蕉视频直播攖he more eyes down there the better.香蕉视频直播�

As far as city planning goes, Smith said it香蕉视频直播檚 important for the city to understand the nightlife situation downtown as the city continues to grow and push for more population density in its downtown core.

He said there is a trend to more establishments offering a variety of entertainment downtown that is making it a more vibrant scene and helping to make Kelowna a place people want to come to.

Smith said the city needs to find a balance between people that live downtown and folks that head downtown for late-night entertainment.

香蕉视频直播淭he planning department needs to be out in front of that if there are going to be more people living down there,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淚 think we香蕉视频直播檙e seeing some very good things happening downtown with the rise of restaurant/pubs like BNA or Curious.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e not focused on getting teenagers boozed up and pushing them out on the streets.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e more focused on the customer experience, serving food later and more of a social environment.香蕉视频直播�

Both Donn and Smith pointed to the need for more options for safe rides home, especially when bars are closing between 2 and 4 a.m.