Corydon Avenue residents’ noise complaints to city, police met with silence

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This article was published 12/08/2023 (1128 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If noise from a nearby restaurant or bar is rattling windows, shaking walls and disrupting neighbours’ sleep, who do they call?

The answer is unclear, leaving some feeling as though their complaints are being ignored.

An open letter, plastered on apartments in the 700 block of Corydon Avenue, is accusing a nearby bar of repeated noise violations. The letter asks residents to let city officials, 311 and the Winnipeg Police Service know, but little appears to have been done in response to concerns that were raised a year ago.

The owner of an email address included in the notice did not respond requests for comment, but the Free Press spoke to several residents about 7 Arabian Dreams, a bar and hookah lounge at 775 Corydon Ave.

All spoke anonymously, but were united in frustration over the noise.

“I’ve heard replete and multiple noise complaints to my office… I’m as frustrated as my residents,” area city Coun. Sherri Rollins said.

“Many of the residents are longtime homeowners on Corydon that are very accustomed to the bar scene… saying this isn’t (the same). This is a very different experience where they can’t sleep and they are being disrupted.”

7 Arabian Dreams owner Amonjot Bajwa balked at the accusations, calling them unwarranted and racially motivated.

“I don’t want to be unfair,” he said Friday. “We don’t want any trouble with anybody, but what they have to understand is this is business. There is music all over the street. Every place plays music on the weekends… but I don’t know why they are just targeting us.”

The city was unable to provide details on the number of complaints received about 7 Arabian Dreams. A spokesperson could not say whether bylaw officers have visited the business, or whether fines related to noise violations have been issued.

According to city bylaws, noise from a loud party or people-related noise falls under the jurisdiction of the Winnipeg Police Service, which also refused to provide information about enforcement at the location, citing privacy concerns.

The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba said it issued a compliance order last July, suspending 7 Arabian Dreams’ dining room licence due to an incident that occurred on the premises. The licence was reinstated five days later, after an investigation and safety evaluation.

A spokesperson for the provincial authority did not provide details about what led to the order.

Licensed premises are seldom subject to suspensions unless they ignore a series of interventions, including cautions and written warnings. Only one order has been issued against the business in recent years, the spokesperson said.

7 Arabian Dreams was fined about $1,000 because of noise violations last summer, but the business has not paid and is contesting the offences in court, Bajwa said, adding he believes a small number of residents are responsible for the recent complaints.

Katia von Stackleberg, executive director of the Corydon Avenue Business Improvement Zone said she, too, is aware of the residents’ complaints. She was reluctant to comment, saying her role as a business leader in the community puts her in a difficult position.

But she said she has met with Bajwa and he has been receptive to listening to concerns.

“I’ve met with them twice, and both times they did what I’m asking, so I’m hoping things will improve,” she said.

Rollins said overlapping jurisdiction between the city, police and liquor officials makes it difficult to track, address and enforce noise violations at bars and restaurants.

A review of bylaw practices may be needed, she said, adding the city must strike a balance between supporting businesses and not allowing bars and lounges to operate with impunity.

“It’s part of the night-life scene I want to see in Winnipeg,” she said. “But does that mean it has to result in noise-blaring, decibel-busting action? No.”

Current noise bylaws prohibit “unreasonably loud, unnecessary or excessive noise or sound.” However, the violation criteria are vague, with considerations given to the time, day of the week and “the nature of the event or activity producing the noise or sound.”

Generally, activities generating excessive noise are prohibited after 9 p.m., the bylaw states.

City bylaw officers seldom work past 5 p.m., so complaints are funnelled to police, Rollins said.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca