A group of Dr. Charles Best Secondary students from Coquitlam protested and gathered signatures for a petition to shut down the Paramount Gentleman's Club in New Westminster over the weekend.
Photograph by: Jason Lang , The Record
Though it will be up to the politicians in New Westminster to decide the fate of the Paramount Gentlemen's Club, the Coquitlam students who are hoping to shut it down are pleased with their weekend protest.
The Dr. Charles Best Secondary students from a social justice class were out in the Royal City to gather signatures for a petition to close the strip club.
While the students are still counting the signatures, one member of the class, Ryan Lepper, estimated the protest garnered at least 300 names.
"I think it was a success, and I was glad at all of the positive feedback we received, because most of what I saw on Twitter, Facebook and other sites was very negative," he told The NOW in an e-mail.
The students originally decided to take on the Paramount as a class project based on the argument that such clubs objectify women and, in part, because they know of some students who frequent the strip club.
The club is open to 18 year olds because it does not have a liquor licence or serve alcohol.
But the students' action also sparked debate in both cities.
Local politicians, including Coun. Selina Robinson and Trustee Gail Alty, lent their support to the students' efforts.
But the petition also generated a fair amount of negative feedback.
The club's owner told The Province newspaper the accusations against the club were unfair, noting the students didn't bother to call him to have a dialogue.
In the same story, the owner also said the club has never had any trouble with the law.
At the protest Saturday, dancers at the Paramount also organized a counter-protest.
Lepper said the students had no problem with the counter-protest, as it gave them a chance to talk to the dancers on the other side of the debate.
"The negative feedback was disappointing, but people are entitled to their own views, and if they don't want to support our cause they don't have to," he said.
"We had a great turnout though for our protest, and I'm glad that I got the opportunity to stand up for something that I strongly believe in."
The class is expected to present its petition at a future New Westminster city council meeting.
twitter.com/ jercoquitlamnow
A group of Dr. Charles Best Secondary students from Coquitlam protested and gathered signatures for a petition to shut down the Paramount Gentleman's Club in New Westminster over the weekend.
Photograph by: Jason Lang , The Record
