Musicians need a spot to load in that isn’t blocks away from the venues we perform at.

Recently I had a gig at a downtown venue and I stopped at a taxi stand with my hazard lights on. I have two speakers that weigh 57lbs each and in the 3 minutes it took me to carry them inside I got a $130 parking ticket. After conversations with fellow musicians I discovered that several others had received the tickets as well. Please note that this particular spot is a new taxi stand and I have yet to witness taxis use it.

$130 ticket is more than half our pay for our gigs and more than most musicians like myself can afford. I realize there are load in passes available in Ottawa but they are very expensive.

There should be exceptions made for musicians who are loading in equipment across the city. Our equipment is not only expensive but there are also several areas in Ottawa where it’s not safe to leave your equipment in your car as there’s a high risk of it being stolen. There are several musicians who have experienced theft.

I have requested a court date to fight my ticket and urge others to do so.

Please sign this petition and share with your friends.

Thank you,

Jayla Kirkey Musician