1952:

A 4-4 split vote in City Council is ended by Mayor Fred Hume, upholding a council prohibition on City Hall Christmas Parties.

“A last-minute bid Monday to lift the ban on office parties Christmas Eve at City Hall failed Monday when aldermen upheld the prohibition in a split vote,” reports the Vancouver Sun. “The vote, taken at a closed city council meeting, came after many civic employees had expressed sharp criticism of the plan to close the building at noon.”

And, while the Sun remains cryptic around the exact reason for banning City Hall festivities, the implication is that civic employees have been known to engage in more than their share of holiday cheer.

“Last week, aldermen said the move was aimed at giving workers an extra half-day to complete Christmas shopping,” the article continues, “but the staff said it was an implied criticism of conduct at past parties. At Monday’s meeting, a proposal was advanced that the ruling be changed to give employees the option of quitting at noon or staying in the building until 3pm for departmental parties. The eight aldermen split down the middle, and Mayor Fred Hume cast the tie-breaking ballot to uphold the out-by-noon ruling.”

 

IMAGE: A Salvation Army novelty photograph, circa 1950s. Image courtesy of the Vancouver Public Library.