Let’s head back to the 1968 pages of the Optimist when Halloween night was described a nightmare for Ladner merchants, police and firemen.
Over 250 youths reportedly roamed the streets, setting bonfires and committing vandalism. Youths also threw rocks and bottles at fireman, police and emergency vehicles.
Windows in a pair of police cruisers were smashed.
Police Chief Merv Smith said Ladner was the only area in Delta to experience problems that night as many store windows were also smashed.
All off-duty policeman had to be called to help control the crowd and several arrests were made.
The first fire was set at the Ladner Shopping Centre, while several cars were pushed onto the roads blocking traffic.
Logs, garbage, steel drums and wooden pallets were also piled at the intersection 48th Avenue and Elliot Street and set on fire.
Fire Chief Cliff Cory said it was a bad night and that parents needed to step up and take responsibility, a comment echoed by Mayor Dugald Morrison and others.
