Allie Webster would like to hear from the owner of Dog River Golf Links about the New Year's Eve party at the club that Webster's 18-year-old son Kyle Bambrick never came home from.
Webster told The Guardian Monday he was upset with Ozzie MacEachern's decision to appeal the one-year licence suspension handed down by the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission.
The lengthy suspension of the course's special premise liquor licence followed an investigation that determined no less than 15 violations of the Liquor Control Act had been committed during the New Year's Eve party at MacEachern's establishment - a clubhouse on his golf course in Clyde River.
The violations included selling or supplying alcohol to minors, not serving in a responsible manner, disorderly conduct and consumption of alcohol after hours.
While Webster was aware that his son was attending a party New Year's Eve in the clubhouse, he expected a safer environment than the one that appeared to have existed that night.
"It was supposed to be a controlled environment, which it wasn't,'' said Webster.
"There is no supervision or nothing . . . Like you wouldn't go down to Cornwall and go into the bar and expect to have a bunch of young teenagers there drinking.''
Webster said a one-year suspension does not seem harsh in light of the number of violations that took place. He notes the suspension only impacts the establishment during the golf season, which typically operates for six or seven months a year.
He said MacEachern should take his medicine and accept the suspension.
"Like I said before, I'm not trying to place blame or nothing like that but he (MacEachern) should take responsibility for serving liquor and that part of the situation,'' he said. "Like it was his establishment and he has got a (reputation to protect).''
MacEachern did not return calls from The Guardian.
A statement issued by the commission Saturday said the licence holder (MacEachern) has filed a notice of appeal with the commission requesting a hearing before an adjudicator.
Webster said MacEachern has not even offered his condolences over Kyle Bambrick's untimely death.
"All I know if the tables were turned the other way and something like that happened to me, I know the parents probably wouldn't be comfortable having me around but I would at least, I think, offer my condolences and see if there was anything I could do to help out,'' he said.
The RCMP determined there was no foul play and that there were no grounds for criminal charges.
Webster did not want to comment on whether he or the teenager's mother, Brenda Bambrick, might be considering legal action against MacEachern.
"No matter what we do, it is not going to bring Kyle back, that is for sure,'' he said.
Webster would still like to know more about the circumstances that led to his son's death but doubts he will ever know the full story.
He has heard a number of different stories as to what may have led to his son leaving the party in a blizzard, only to be found dead three days later along the shore of the Clyde River.
"That is the worst part about it, is closure - what happened?'' said Webster.
"Whether he was chased down there, whether there was a brawl. Like there were rumours that there were people in the parking lot waiting for him, a couple of people in a car . . . There are so many stories out there, I don't know what to do.''
Webster said he tries to cope with his great loss by remembering all the good times he had with his son. He says his three-year-old daughter and his seven-year-old son dearly miss their big stepbrother.
"The worst of it is we (he and wife Ruth) have two little kids at home and they are always asking about him, talking about him different times,'' he said.
"They take their little sad spells.''
Bambrick's father wants answers
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Comments
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- nita
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:42:49
I think the Club should of lost there Liquor Licences for Good with so many Kids Under Age in there If they were doing there Jobs and ckecking up on Places that sell Liquor They may have closed the Place early in the evening There is lotas of Teenagers that go to Bars all over PEI and are served with not a Problem Better Step up A Step or 2 And get to those Places.To Later to save Kyle but maybe you can save someone else if you do your Job Right..
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- Think First
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:42:44
Judy from Washington, DC...Simply put... take your head out of the snow bank! The laws seem to be primitive, are you kidding me? You live in an area that has the highest crime rate in North America. Don't send the message that kids are not underage drinking in Washington, in fear that all parents are going to jail. You describe one isolated case and present it as the norm. Now come on! Do kids on PEI underage drink? Of course...but life on PEI offers a much more safe life experience than in Washington. I can promise you that! I lived in America for 10 years. I worry about my kids out drinking in any city, but that's were the comparison ends. We all do are best as parents. Do you think that you are a better parent than these folks. Do you have kids? If so, you are telling me that they never have had a drink before their legal age? Now I know your head is really in a snow bank! This is NOT a parenting issue. At the end of the day, many laws were broken and someone should be held accountable. However, if it were not for the blizzard this young man's unfortunate death would have been avoided. But don't make this into a parenting issue or a reflection of life on PEI. Please help us, when people living in Washington,DC are suggesting how to raise children and provide a safe community.
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- Red
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:41:27
Im 50/50 on this one.
People should take the emotion, out of their thoughts, and see when they then have... -
- just an opinion
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:38:56
I agree, it seems mistakes were made at this party by the host, If I was a member of Kyle's family I would be very upset and want justice, but... folks these partys happen all the time, the same way as this happened at the golf course. it was a terrible, terrible accident. When you drink you take risks, this young man new where he was going that night and according to the article, so did his dad. This could have happened just as easy from any down town pub, and IT HAS! I surely do feel for this family and wish them all the best while they suffer there loss but Kyle made the choice to go, drink at and leave the party (that is what I understand, I may be wrong) If there were major problems with the party and the service at it, why was anyone there and why were any of the party goes drinking. Again, I totally feel for and respect this family! I have no disrespect for this family with my post but I truly believe this is a case of that old saying, don't hate the player, hate the game... in this case the game is drinking. This horrible accident could have happened anywhere, not just this golf course.
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- p
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:37:49
Noone is disputing that this happens on aregular basis the hurt is over his appealing the desion set force.
The difference however Kyles mother dropped him off at an establishment NOT A HOUSE PARTY where yes it would be very possible for your child to be unsupervised .
In a licenced establishment there ARE rules Hello there are rules there is someone trusted by the government as well as the people to ensure minors are not served and again noone forced him to drink but it realy should have been supervised and it wasen't and there were 15 violations. I think everyone is just so upset how heartless it is to have this happen as a direct result of wrong doing and to appeal the decision handed down. SO HEARTLESS! -
- wrong
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:35:45
well mr maceachern,it`s about money for you.....shame on you........I nore my friends,family,or neighbours will ever go there...your busness broke the law,and you think there is no wrong.....how will this family heal with you dragging this on,I could never go to this golf coarse knowing what happen to that young man.........it breaks my heart,I shed tears just thinking about what,and who let him down.
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- well
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:34:17
it is time to stop blaming others ... he was an adult & he made the decision to leave in the storm .allie you are blaming mr.mac Eachern for the death of your son ....... his mother dropped him off @the party that night .... ARE YOU BLAMING HER TOO ....?TOO MANY FINGERS BEING POINTED!!!!!!!!PLEASE LOCAL NEWS ....CHANGE THE SUBJECT .......!!!!
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- Elizabeth
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:32:09
Mr MacEachern , I am sure you did not pour the liquor down the throats of the young people in attendance at the party on New Years Eve. You did however provide the environment for this to occur, resulting in the death of a young man. If you chose to have such a party you should have also had responsible staff there to insure the safety of those attending. The very least you could have done to show you are a respectable human being is offer your condolences to Kyles family after their tremendous loss. Can you imagine how much more this whole situation pains the family to know that you havn't even offered condolences for their loss? Shame on you.
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- Another Opinion
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:28:48
My heatfelt sympathy and prayers go out to the Webster and Bambrick families. I hope they can find answers, peace and closure soon.
To those who suggest this can happen at a Private home, another Bar, it didn't. It happened at a Golf Club who chose to cast LCC Regulations aside, offer their Club for a party and allow minors to consume alcohol whilst committing 15 Violations! The owner had to give permission for the party. He had to know there wasn't any Certified Servers which is the first offense. Those attending stated many people served themselves with free access to the bar! Who would expect any business owner to allow such violations in a licensed establishment?
Mr. Kyle according to reports left the Club at 3 AM! Every licensed club by law must close at 2AM and all patrons are to be out by 2:30 Am. And I doubt that a Bar Tender or Security at any Bar in the City would have allowed a patron to leave that night in a Raging Blizzard without inquiring how far he was travelling or persuading him to stay put.
I am not blaming anyone but I have say that the Owner certainly didn't follow regulations or try to provide any level of safety for his patrons that provided his revenue that night. He should be grateful he didn't receive a longer suspension instead of appealing. -
- C
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:25:45
I'm on your side Mr. Webster. You deserve answers. Mr. MacEachern, I think they are being lenient with you. With 15 violations and the death of this young man, be thankful that you will ever get your licence back. I think you would be wise to take your punishment and run.
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- allies friend
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:25:21
I have known the family for many many years.I have to agree I think the club should take there fine and walk away happy thats all there getting.I fell so bad for all the family and im sure its still very hard on them not knowing what really happen that night.All the people who golf there I think they should pick another place to go this summer as I wouldnt darken the door.maybe we should all get a page going on facebook warning people just how cold hearted the owner of this golf club really is.Also if there is anyone out there with any answers allie would love to have them so people keep digging up information every little bit helps
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- Anne
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:20:45
Good for you Allie,
I would be requesting the same information if it was my child as well. I would want answers just to get the closure on things. It must be difficult though for you and your family to get through this difficult time and put things at a closure considering everytime you turn around it is being brought up on the news or somewhere.
I wish you and your family all the best of luck and may there soon be closure to this issue for you and your family.
A parent. -
- Warner
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:20:32
This is the least the owner should do. To appeal a decision like this, by the Liquor Board, certainly shows me where I or my friends and family will not be playing golf. Given the consequences of this drunken out of control party, a one year suspension is pretty darn light. I would have thought the suspension would have been permanent. This decision about the appeal by Mr. Mac Eachern says a lot about the character of the man. Allowing this type of 'illigal drinking' activity on his business to take place, with such over the top disregard of the law, led directly to the death of a young man. Take way his license so that he finally gets the message. The minister responsible is certainly going to get my support for a full suspension of this watering holes privilege to sell alcohol.
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- just wondering
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:20:02
I was just wondering if he was stone cold sober before going to this party or was he given his first drink there ? I am just wondering not trying to stir up anything or place blame on anybody. There are a lot of facts we don't have that people are making judgments on . We seem to live in a whose to blame society . Without a doubt in my mind Dog Links golf course was likely a huge contributor in the outcome but was it the only contributor ? It's such a tragedy!!
To Kyles family I am so very sorry for your loss I pray that the Lord will heal your pain and one day you will be able to look back on all the fond memories you have of your son, brother, and friend. -
- P
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:19:59
Appealing this verdict was nothing but a mere slap in the face to these families
With this many violations and a death you would think a permanent liquor loss would be suffice instead of this slap in the hand! Remember he is not open all year. -
- Me
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:16:34
I agree this should not have happened, but we have all been there, those of us who have brought up children.
Does anyone realize if this party had been held at a private home, regardless of the parents knowledge, they also could have been held responsible for this young man's death.
The bar was operating under false pretenses plain and simple, violations were made and the owner is facing charges. Any establishment here in Charlottetown that committed those same violations would be charged just the same, and it is their right to appeal. Maybe this man is appealing some of the charges but not all of them, who knows.
I am just trying to see this from all points of view. Regardless of who is to blame, what happened or why it happened.
This young man lost his life and for that, nothing anyone does, says or conjures is going to bring him back to his loving family. It is a sad, sad accident and I feel for the family the most, they have my sympathies. The business owner will go on, the families involved will be forever reminded of the young man they lost. -
- Judy
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:16:06
Simply put, why were underage teens allowed to attend a party where alcohol was available.
People would go to jail here for it. In fact, parents go to jail if they knowingly allow underage teens to drink in their own home. It is reckless child abuse.
A recent case of teens celebrating their highschool graduation saw a mom go to jail for several months for knowing allowing a party where alcohol was knowingly consumed by them
. The very presence of alcohol prohibits the presence of underage children, and that includes one day under age! Who was checking IDs???
The laws of the Island seem primitive indeed. And why no security guard or police to assure compliance, or are there any drinking laws on the Island. What is the rate of alcoholism if teens can drink as adults. Shame!
Every state or province has problems with teen drinking, but that does not mean it has to be condoned. -
- confused
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:06:27
To PJ, please read your last comment about the fact that Kyle's mom dropped him at the establishment and not an unsupervised house party. Are you seriously saying that since his mom dropped him at a licensed establishment , knowing that he was underage, that the establishment was then responsible for making sure that he did not consume any alcohol. Just to clarify, I am not saying that his mom should not have dropped him off or that she is any way responsible, but I am a parent of an 18 year old and I am not naive enough to think that if they are being dropped off at a licensed establishment that they will refrain from drinking because they are underage. Yes, there are laws in place to try and prevent underage drinking from happening, but shouldn't the underage drinkers also be responsible in some way for deceiving the servers by not revealing that they are underage!!! No matter how many comments are made for or against the Dog River Golf Club, the fact remains that a young man has lost his life, it is tragic, but in all honesty if this had just been a party where underage drinking had happened and no tragedy had happened, would people be so up in arms and ready to close this business down for good and hang Mr MacEachern out to dry...I think not.
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- outraged
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:05:55
I for one will be not attending the course ever again, it really would not bother me to see the place closed down, when you apply to be a bartender you *need* a responsible servers card, as far as im concerned if they can not run a simple party for new years it really makes you think how they can maintain a golf course, Mr. Mac Eachern knows he is in the wrong, the appeal is even more annoying to me, they should be a boycott put in place on the establisment in memory of Kyle, if it was my son that died in this tragedy id be outraged beyond belief
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- tp
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:03:47
wow - there's a lot of judges, juries and executioners here.
There's so much about this story we don't know. Even Mr. Bambrick's father has heard multiple versions of events. Do we know the nature of MacEachern's appeal? People seem so ready to hang him, but the police didn't file any criminal charges. Why not? Perhaps some of this anger should be directed there. -
- justanislander
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:02:51
Mr. Webster, my sincere condolences to you and all your family. Thank you for publically stating that you want answers. You deserve answers. Your son's death deserves answers! All the liquor infractions I think we all understand, and all feel that Mr. MacEachern got off very, very lucky with the ruling. To then have him appeal this lame ruling, is insulting and extremely insensitive, as many others have stated.
The one part of this however, that a lot of people don't understand, is the extreme weather conditions that night. This was a raging blizzard with no vehicles on the road. Anyone who was having a party or going out that night, would know to be prepared to keep all guests all night. There was no way of going home!!! Now.....did Kyle leave willingly, or was he asked/forced to leave? That is the crucial question. If he left willingly, he should have been prevented from doing so. If he was asked or forced to leave.......then this is manslaughter. No human being would have put an animal outside that night during the blizzard. If someone put a person in that position, there should be criminal charges. If only someone at this party would tell the truth! Surely not everyone's memory was severely impaired. -
- Concerned
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:02:44
We all know teens will drink and there is not much we can do about that. However, a licensed establishment must follow the laws set forth. It is obvious that Mr. MacEachern did not follow these rules. He is lucky this suspension is all that he has received as there should have been some criminal charges that could be laid as a result of his infractions.
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- allies friend
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:59:57
to (well well from ch/town) you mush have shared in the golf course do ya as what your writing is not nice he isnt blaming anyone for kyles death all he is asking for is closure on all of this and if it was your child you would do the same thing so if you dont like to read about it MOVE ON
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- Old Tory
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:57:54
This is a very unfortunate situation but there is no way that the owner of the golf course had anything whatsoever to do with Kyle's death. Who did Kyle go to the New Years eve party with and where were they when he wandered off in a blizzard. All of you people, who have never owned a bar, do not realize that these crazy trumped up charges by the liquor inspector are abject foolishness. I know, I have been in the bar business. These people are idiots, pure and simple and , incidentally, not a dime of their money is invested in the business. Bottom line, teenagers get drunk (nobodys fault) and accidents happen. Parents can't babysit their kids all their lives and you can't blame other people for your childrens behaviour.
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- Whatever
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:56:33
It's not the establishment's fault that Kyle died. Kyle died because Kyle left the club in a snow storm and froze to death. If they were serving alcohol to minors, they were NOT committing murder, they were committing another crime. Not abiding by the liquor law. Yes it is very sad and unfortunate that Kyle passed away. I feel bad for friends and family, but don't blame the club for it. Blame the club for not following the liqor laws, NOT causing Kyle's death. C'mon now. Another point-one of a bar's main responsibilities is to make sure no one drinks and drives. Was Kyle driving-no. Was he walking-yes. Still though-very tragic ending to the night, sorry for your loss.
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- To the point
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:56:08
OK they have found the bar(owners) guilty of certain PEI liquor offences including negligence, why not now charges by the police or whomever of criminal negligence to those deserving ?
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- Scapegoat
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:55:03
To Mel:
I think so. Most bars in Ch'town are required to follow the LCC Regulations, all must have servers who received training and have certificates to prove the same for valid reasons, no bars I know of allow patrons behind the bar to serve themselves, all require all alcohol sold to be accounted for per $'s, all have security personnel to ensure rowdiness is not tolerated and those over indulging are sent home in a cab, no patron would leave a bar in the city in a bliding blizzard without a security officer asking if they had transportation and all bars caught serving alcohol to minors would face penalties. How many do know that left a bar in the city and wasn't found untill three days later on the premises ? -
- JP
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:53:05
Some common sense here folks.
First of all, we don't know the extent or reasons for the appeal. It may not be that Mr. MacEachern is not accepting that there were some violations.
Also, I doubt that Mr. MacEachern was not there on New Year's Eve pouring alcohol down Mr. Bambrick's throat and then forcing him out in the cold. If he was then he'd be facing criminal charges. As a business owner you cannot control the behaviour of your customers and sometimes not even you staff. What if there was a manager present that was allowing this to happen. (They may have even turned a blind eye for good reasons if they were not wanting to send people out into a storm). If that manager was fired then perhaps a year suspension is too harsh. There are a lot of unknowns and I don't think it's fair to judge the business owner as cold and irresponsible based on what limited information is in the media.
I don't think I've been to a wedding reception where people weren't drinking in the parking lot, underage people don't have access to alcohol, etc. It happens and most of us who probably aren't too concerned about it.
Mr. Bambrick was 18, underage to consume alcohol but still and adult who is expected to make his own decisions. Turns out his decisions to drink and to go out walking in a blizzard proved to be the wrong ones. It is unfortunate and my heart goes out to his family but let's not send a lynch mob after Mr. MacEachern. -
- mae
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:49:34
I feel for these parents. They sound like very fair and understanding people. I don't see any malice or vindictiviness in their words.
The fact that Mr. macEachern is appealing is so heartless, why doesn't he take his bumps and give it up. It shows what kind of a person he is. Money money money, is that what drives him? -
- LA
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:49:03
Hey Judy from Washington. Kyle was not an underaged child. At 18 he was a legal adult. In less than one year he would have been legal age to drink. And I guarantee you there is no more alcoholism than Washington just because the drinking age is 19 not 21.
However if you can guarantee us your 18 yr old would always be supervised and never drink, go ahead. Must be a Utopia in Washington. -
- justanislander
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:44:35
He says his three-year-old daughter and his seven-year-old son dearly miss their big stepbrother.
..........to the writer of this article, please look up the definition of step-brother. Kyle was NOT their step-brother, he was their brother! Half-brother if you want to be technical, but certainly NOT step-brother....which means no blood relationship. Using inappropriate terms to define relationships can be very hurtful if they are incorrect. A newspaper should know better. -
- chester field
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:44:16
There are no winners here folks......this was a private party, you son/daughter or mine could have been there. Everybody seems to want to look around and blame somebody, anybody, other than the victim. I do not know what took place there that night, nor do I expect anybody will ever know, but I am sure anybody that had any wrong doing will suffer for the rest of their life, my heart goes out to the MOM and DAD and brothers and sisters, God Love You
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- Clarice
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:55
For the past month, I have been following the media stories of the tragedy of Kyle's disappearance and death through the Guardian online. During those terrible days when he was missing, I wondered what had happened to cause him to leave the clubhouse and venture into the storm. When I returned to the Island for his funeral, there were so many unanswered questions. I trusted that through time, some answers and the truth would come to light.
I prayed, and still do, for the young people who were there that night, for the many people who willingly searched for Kyle and for the many who supported Allie and Brenda and the extended families during this heart wrenching time. I also prayed for the people who owned the club and those who sponsored this gathering. As a parent, I understand that minors will drink and as a parent sought to provide as much safety as possible for the
young people.
Yesterday I was stunned to learn that there were so many infractions of the Liquor Laws broken. These are all conditions of the privilege of holding a liquor licence and the responsibility of operating a business of this sort. In all walks of society today there are laws with consequences for ignoring those laws. According to my interpretation of the news, the club was closed for the season and did not have a licence in place. Mr MacEachern, you did not value your privilege of operating a seasonal licensed club. I find it an insult that you are contesting the suspension. Due to the circumstances that played out at your club, I will never enjoy the privilege of my grandson, his hugs, his joy and watching him grow to be the man he might have been. I pray that no other family will ever start their New Year in this manner. -
- Mel
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:40:00
Did anything go on at this party that would not happen any Saturday night at most of the bars in Charlottetown. Seems to me the club is being made a scapegoat.
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- True Colours
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:34:39
Mr. Mac Eachern; you have shown your true colours. You are irresponsible and uncaring. I for one will not darken the door of your establishment again.
You seem to be an icon of bad decisions. -
- agreed
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:34:31
Well said p j...I was going to make the same comment. You would think that our children are more safe at an establishment where this are regulations in place and supervision than at a house party.
