A British Columbia community has chosen to silence an iconic sound of summer by banning ice cream trucks from broadcasting their familiar tinny tunes.
A bylaw approved this week by West Kelowna district council will put an end to the traditional, chiming music that ice cream truck drivers use to attract customers.
Councillor Carol Zanon says she doesn't view the bylaw as a blow to tradition, but rather, a way to prevent the noisy vehicles from disturbing others.
"I think you've got to consider who lives here," she said. "There's other folks that live here and some are upset by noise."
But the new legislation has proven to be sticky issue in the community, with others viewing the music bylaw as unnecessary and too harsh.
Councillor Bryden Winsby, who voted against the bylaw, says he's unhappy about the decision his colleagues have made.
"Are we really a no-fun city? Music and noise can be part of a vibrant community and if you take all those kinds of things away, what have you done?"
Entertainment aside, the bylaw has triggered concern amongst ice cream truck owners who worry the new rule will be a threat to their bottom line.
Kathy Erickson of Scooter's Ice Cream says much of her business is driven by the truck's music.
"It will certainly decrease my sales by a lot, because that's our form of advertising. That's what we do," she told CTV British Columbia.
Her daughter Tarra has similar concerns.
"It's our way of finding business, so I think the music really helps a lot. If there's no music, how are they going to know that we're here?" she said.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Kent Molgat
