Large street gatherings

Our Town and Gown Committee has created an unsanctioned public gatherings task force to study large, unplanned street gatherings in Waterloo. 


On this page:

  1. Advancing recommendations
  2. Responsibilities for driving change

Advancing recommendations

The task force was asked to assess the growth of unsanctioned public gatherings, their impact on the community and provide possible strategies on how to manage them.

An update on this work was presented to city council in March 2020.

A Town and Gown working group is currently working to advance the following recommendations:

  • 10 – Comprehensive Communications Plan
  • 3 – Institutional Culture
  • 4 – Student Solutions
  • 7 – Legislative Improvements

View the full summary: Large Street Gatherings - Areas of Recommendations (PDF).


Responsibilities for Driving the Change

Representatives from several local organizations are working together to advance these recommendations. 

  • City of Waterloo (City)
  • Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU)
  • University of Waterloo (UW)
  • Conestoga College
  • Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS)
  • Paramedics
  • Student Unions
  • Landlord Associations
Responsibilities of partner organizations advancing recommendations
Initiative Lead Collaborators
Operational excellence WRPS City of Waterloo, Paramedics, WLU, UW
Change nature of event WLU, UW, Conestoga College Student Unions
Institutional culture WLU, UW, Conestoga College Student Unions
Student solutions WLU, UW, Conestoga College  
Shift the financial burden WLU, UW, Conestoga College City, Student Unions
Advocacy City WRPS, WLU, UW, Conestoga College, Student Unions
Legislative improvements City WRPS
Change the built form City WLU
Landowner education City WLU, Landlord Associations
Comprehensive communication plan City, Town and Gown Committee WLU, UW, Conestoga College, Student Unions, WRPS
Ongoing collaboration Town and Gown Committee All partners
Measuring outcomes Town and Gown Committee All partners