Cardston celebrates early tricks, treats
Calgary Alberta Canada News 12Oct99 D4
By Cameron Maxwell: Calgary Sun

CARDSTON, ALBERTA -- The city council in the Mormon enclave of Cardston, Alberta, Canada has elected to move Halloween from Sunday, Oct. 31 to the Saturday, Oct. 30th. Several other communities across Canada that have also decided to officially have Halloween trick-or-treating one day earlier, which has spawned some controversy.

"The whole idea of kids running around dressed up is a big carnival, and isn't appropriate," said Mel Tagg, Cardston's mayor. "We try to use Sunday for Sunday business and Halloween is not Sunday business. Cardston's a very religious town -- we use the Sabbath day for what it's intended to be."

Mayor Tagg recalls many times the town has changed trick-or-treat day to a Saturday when Halloween fell on the Sunday.

However, moving Halloween's date is not a new controversy in Canada. The issue last came up in 1993, when Canadian cities were divided as to when to celebrate the favorite child holiday.

This year, it has prompted a lively public debate in St. John's, Newfoundland. when its city council voted unanimously to grant a request by the St. John's Ministerial Association to move Halloween to Oct. 30. However, news of the date change prompted a flood of telephone calls, e-mails and faxes from residents wanting the city to abide by the calendar and stay out of any religious debate.