02-19-2019, 10:54 PM
Ontario universities meet in Waterloo to discuss unsanctioned street parties
Quote:Wilfrid Laurier University played host to eight Ontario universities for a discussion on unsanctioned street parties such as the annual St. Patrick's Day party on Ezra Avenue in Waterloo.https://www.therecord.com/news-story/918...t-parties/
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Fifty-four representatives from universities including Waterloo, Queen's, Guelph, Western, McMaster, Ottawa, Brock and Carleton were joined by members of the Waterloo and Kingston police forces and city representatives at the meeting held Friday on Laurier's campus. The goal was to have a shared discussion about the challenges each school faces, what has worked when trying to control the parties and what hasn't.
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One is the growing number of people attending unsanctioned street parties. In Waterloo, 22,400 people came out to Ezra Avenue last year on St. Patrick's Day; the year before the crowd was estimated at 15,000.
Another challenge is the influx of people from out of town. Crowley said 73 per cent of the 619 charges laid at last year's Ezra Avenue party were against students who don't attend Laurier.
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Crowley said that this year the City of Waterloo, police and the universities will take a similar approach to the St. Patrick's Day gathering on Ezra as they did last year.
There will be a substantial police presence; Laurier special constables will be out as well as contracted security, and bylaw and police officers will be enforcing all relevant laws, he said.