Waterloo declares 'community safety event' to prevent unsanctioned St. Patrick's Day street parties

The City of Waterloo says it has declared a "community safety event" and its nuisance bylaw will be enforced starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

"A community safety event is declared in anticipation of an event that may cause public safety or nuisance concerns, such as an unsanctioned street gathering," the city said in a release on Wednesday.

The city is aiming to curb street parties in the university district which have become an annual occurrence on St. Patrick's Day. Thousands of young people descend on the streets near the campus of Wilfrid Laurier University, with parties often spilling into the streets leading to road closures.

The St. Patrick's Day gathering was once known to happen on Ezra Avenue, but efforts have been made such as fencing and signs to dissuade people from gathering there. Last year, police said between 20,000 and 25,000 people gathered on nearby Marshall Street.

The unsanctioned parties generally end as students slowly disperse after a few hours.

Last year, the city has got a court injunction to stop the party, but it still happened.

City officials said Wednesday they didn't seek out an injunction this year "based on the experience of the past several years where people have continued to gather in the street without consideration for consequences." 

The city also warned people that "charges will be laid again this year if people do not follow bylaws and regulations, or heed officer instructions with regard to those regulations."

That includes tickets for things like noise violations, roofing (being on a roof without proper training), littering, public urination and garbage. The city notes tickets may be handed out after any parties take place.

Under the city's nuisance bylaw, people cannot:

Nicole Papke is the city's director of municipal enforcement services. She previously told CBC K-W's The Morning Edition with host Craig Norris their biggest concern for the day is keeping everyone safe.

"A lot of planning is involved and we certainly our biggest concern, of course, is public safety for everyone, in addition to sort of the impacts on the community, including on our health system on this day," she said.

She said rather than attending an unsanctioned street party, the city "encouraging everybody to take advantage of other events will be taking place on those days."

The city's bylaw department works with the universities as well as paramedic services and police during the day to address concerns.