Large street gatherings strongly discouraged: community partners take St. Patrick’s Day messages door-to-door in Waterloo
Respectful today versus sorry tomorrow. This is the simple, yet essential message that community partners are promoting to discourage the large street gathering on St. Patrick’s Day. From door hangers to posters, the message is clear: large street gatherings are toxic and dangerous, and disrespectful to our residents and the community at large.
St. Patrick’s Day activities, which traditionally take place on March 17 on Ezra Street, are unsanctioned. There is no licensed street event, and the gathering is not officially organized or condoned. The hope is that people who choose to mark St. Patrick’s Day will do so in a licensed establishment or on private property, however if people do congregate outside that day, the top priority for city and police officials and academic institutions is on student and neighbourhood safety.
On March 10, City of Waterloo Fire Rescue and municipal enforcement will join Waterloo Regional Police Services, Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services, Wilfrid Laurier University, Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union, University of Waterloo and Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association for the annual doorknocker campaign. The goal is to spread messages about the dangers of large street gatherings, as well as specific information about illegal consumption of alcohol in public areas, and the fines for excessive noise, littering, and excess garbage.
Additionally, officials will remind students that malicious false alarms prevent firefighters from responding to genuine emergences across the city. Students will also be encouraged to carry identification, stick together, never leave a friend behind and ensure all make it home safely.
The overarching peer-to-peer message is that large street gatherings are discouraged, and that students are expected to treat their neighbours and neighbourhood with respect, and to take pride in representing their university communities.
While the messages reach local students directly, activities increasingly attract participants from out of town. St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, and officials encourage students to prioritize academics over St. Patrick’s Day activities, and encourage visitors to do the same.
Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Waterloo and their student unions are collaborating to promote similar messages.
Members of the media are welcome to follow the doorknocker campaign on March 10. Participants will meet at 5 p.m. at the Wilfrid Laurier University parking lot located off Balsam Street behind the Lazaridis Business School. The campaign begins at 6 p.m.
Media contacts:
Shelly Reed
Communications Consultant
City of Waterloo
519-747-8515 or shelly.reed@waterloo.ca
Kevin Crowley
Director, Communications and Public Affairs
Wilfrid Laurier University
519-573-1084 or kcrowley@wlu.ca
Cherri Greeno
Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Information
Waterloo Regional Police Service
519-650-8500 ext. 8773 or cherri.greeno@wrps.on.ca
Matthew Grant
Director, Media Relations
University of Waterloo
226-929-7627 or matthew.grant@uwaterloo.ca
Julie Kalbfleisch
Public Health and Paramedic Services
519-575-4400 ext. 2270 or jkalbfleisch@regionofwaterloo.ca