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Teens report dirty looks while trick-or-treating

A bylaw that anyone over the age of 14 can't go trick-or-treating in Bathurst doesn't sit well with many teenagers.

"I think that's kind of biased in a way, like age biased," said teen

Lauren Bird · CBC News ·
Cassie Tyre, 16, plans to go out trick or treating this Halloween, despite the recent age debate. (Lauren Bird)
A bylaw that anyone over the age of 14 can't go trick-or-treating in Bathurst doesn't sit well with many teenagers. 

"I think that's kind of biased in a way, like age biased," said Fredericton High School student Savanah Herrington, 17. 

"You're not supposed to be able to deny someone work based on someone's age, so why not let them participate in a good community activity. It happens every year, anybody should be able to do it."

The bylaw in Bathurst has been in place since 2005, it was brought into discussion at city hall after a resident asked council to re-evaluate it.

Cassie Tyre, 16, plans to trick-or-treat in Fredericton Monday night. She said she's gotten dirty looks at doors for being her age.  

"I want to trick-or-treat -- at least I'm not out partying," she said.

Mayor Paolo Fongemie said he's worried Bathurst could be getting a reputation for being all trick and no treat. 

"It is a little bit concerning for me. Most of the interviews that I (did were) projecting, 'you're the exception in Canada.' That's not the type of exception that we want to project for ourselves," he said.

Fongemie also said the city will likely look at making changes to the bylaw in the future.

"Times have changed over the years and I'm not sure that we actually need a bylaw to govern the Halloween day."

With files from Shift

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