People in a New Brunswick village are being told they can dress up as a ghost, witch, cowboy or whatever they fancy this Halloween, just not a clown.
After the recent ‘creepy clown’ crime wave in the U.S. and Canada, officials from Memramcook, New Brunswick are asking residents to leave the clown costumes at home this year.
“We think that it might scare some people. Others might think it's funny. We just believe that out of respect for our community it might be best if we request people not to use any,” says Mariane Cullem, Memramcook councillor.
For the past few months, individuals dressed as creepy clowns have been spotted in several cities and even outside schools in the Maritimes and across Canada.
The sightings appear to be part of a growing trend that’s already spread through the United States, where clowns have been reportedly terrorizing children and stalking pedestrians.
The incidents have become so common in Nova Scotia, police, teachers and the government have been working together to put an end to the pranks.
Schools in the francophone district of New Brunswick have also advised students not to wear clown costumes to school on Monday.
While the other communities of Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe haven’t issued any recommendations to the public about wearing clown costumes, officials are asking people to use their best judgement when it comes to dressing up this Halloween.
And it seems that many people are listening.
According to one costume store owner, sales of clown costumes are definitely not what they were last year.
“We haven't rented any clowns and from what we've been hearing from people that are going to events it's […] at your own risk if you want to dress as a clown,” Patricia Graham, costume store owner, told CTV News Atlantic.
Meanwhile Canadian Tire has also decided not to sell clown costumes or decorations in Canada this year.
“It was more of a proactive approach,” said Canadian Tire store owner Mike Mercier. “We've been seeing it on the news all over the place and we just felt it was the right thing to do.”
