Amended nuisance rules and a declared safety event set the stage for a controversial police response to the annual St. Patrick’s Day crowds
Although the official St. Patrick’s Day is held on March 17, thousands of people flooded the streets of Kitchener-Waterloo from Thursday to Monday to celebrate the Irish holiday. This year, however, the festivities have sparked controversy over the police response.
In Waterloo, St. Patrick’s Day is notorious for its major, largely unsanctioned street parties, typically held on Ezra Avenue, Regina Street or Marshall Street. The holiday has become a popular event for university students, with students from across the country travelling here to celebrate.
Despite below-freezing weather conditions this year, thousands of students and partygoers gathered around Marshall Street, creating a sea of green and shamrocks. Many students arrived with face paint, beads and whatever green clothes they could find, ready to show their St. Patrick’s spirit.
In response to the annual gathering, the City of Waterloo pre-emptively tightened its street-gathering rules to prevent large parties before they formed.
A Community Safety Event was declared, and amendments were made to the city’s nuisance bylaw, along with an on-street parking ban in the Post-Secondary District. The parking ban was in effect from 2:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, and again from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17.
Amendments to the bylaw were intended to address large street gatherings and allow enforcement officers to intervene earlier when sidewalks or highways are blocked. The amendments allow officers to take a more proactive approach rather than the reactive response used in previous years. The amendment states plainly, “No person shall block, interfere, obstruct, or otherwise impede the passage of any pedestrian or vehicle on a Highway or on Public Property, except where permitted to do so by the City.”
While a large police presence was expected due to the notoriety of the event, some people are raising concerns about what they say was an extreme response from Waterloo Regional Police. Several videos circulating on social media appear to show a sniper positioned on top of a building on Marshall Street, dressed in black clothing and pointing a rifle toward the crowd.
Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe said she was “surprised and shocked” to learn that a Waterloo Regional Police Service sniper had been deployed. McCabe said she had not been informed of concerns about weapons or other issues that might require a sniper at the St. Patrick’s festivities. The community remains divided over whether the event was over-policed or whether the response was appropriate.
On social media, the City of Waterloo said, “Responding to this unsafe event puts strain on the city and community services. When police, fire, paramedics, bylaw, and local hospitals are busy responding to a large street gathering, residents across Waterloo Region are put at risk,” and urged locals to celebrate responsibly.
By the afternoon, students were being ticketed upwards of $800 for stopping on Marshall Street, and law enforcement had formed a line of officers behind the crowd. One officer with a speaker announced to the crowd, “To preserve the peace and protect property, you are directed to disperse and clear the roadway immediately.” He continued to say failure to comply may result in enforcement action. By 3:30 p.m., the crowd had grown too large, and officers retreated.
By 7 p.m., hundreds of people had moved from Marshall Street and were lined up on King Street outside the many bars and clubs in the area. Clubs were at full capacity.
Caroline Ekuajomi, a second-year computer science major at Wilfrid Laurier University who went out to Rare, described the night as being packed in a good way. “The drinks were expensive, but it was worth it; we got turnt.” She added, “A lot of people are friendly, everyone has a vibe, you can dance with everyone there.”
Wilfrid Laurier continues to uphold its reputation as a party school, with celebrations continuing long into the week.
Contributed Photo/Clara Rose/Ethan Kulik
