Is it time to re-ignite the conversation about sanctioning a street party for Guelph Homecoming or St. Patrick's Day?
Multiple media reports indicate university officials and Ottawa police say that strategy led to much tamer student behaviour at the annual Panda Bowl football game. As such, Mayor Cam Guthrie believes it's an idea worth considering locally as well.
The University of Ottawa organized both pre-game and post-game parties for the Panda Bowl, held Oct. 1 – a Sunday – against Carleton University, complete with live music performances and limited alcohol at a student residence at uOttawa.
"We noticed that the student behaviour this year was very co-operative, especially compared to 2022 and 2021," Ottawa police Supt. Frank D'Aoust told The Canadian Press.
For Guelph Homecoming, an unsanctioned street gathering once again took hold at Chancellor's Way on Sept. 23. At its peak, police said approximately 4,500 people were there.
First responders were on scene for much of the afternoon and evening.
No major incidents were reported this time around, but policing costs topped $113,000 in 2022. The figure for 2023 is expected to be part of a report in the works, but it's not clear if it'll be ready ahead of the Oct. 19 police board meeting.
Guthrie said covering the policing cost in Guelph has been an ongoing dispute for quite some time between the city, police and U of G.
In Ottawa, media reports say Carleton and uOttawa split the cost for a police presence this year, which is estimated to be about $500,000.
The University of Guelph did not have anyone available for an interview Friday or Tuesday. But in an emailed statement to GuelphToday Friday, a spokesperson said it's tried a sanctioned event in the past, though not to the same scale as what happened in Ottawa.
"In 2019, the university hosted a post-game event on Johnston Green," wrote Deirdre Healey, the interim associate vice-president of communications and marketing at U of G.
"However, we did not notice an impact in terms of deterring large unsanctioned gatherings."
The event Healey was referring to was called Gryphon Park, which had free food for students who had a student card, entertainment and the Homecoming football game on a big screen. But the event wrapped up at 5:30 p.m.
The Post-Panda Party in Ottawa ran from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. in a student residence parking lot.
GuelphToday has reached out to Healey for a follow up question on if an evening event has been part of U of G's discussions.
But in the previous emailed statement, Healey added the university recognizes the challenge presented by the large gatherings, and how much it impacts the post-secondary education sector.
"We also work closely with other institutions to compare mitigation approaches, strategies and tactics that will produce desirable outcomes in our various local environments," she said.
"As part of our cross-sector collaboration practices, we will continue to connect with our peers to learn more about practices or tactics they have used that have been successful in deterring large unsanctioned gatherings to help inform our strategies moving forward."
She said the university will also continue its communication with students about the dangers of these gatherings, and provide resources and information to encourage safe and respectful behaviour.
Guthrie did acknowledge that communication has been part of a successful strategy by the university.
On the topic of holding a sanctioned evening party, it is unclear if any stakeholders want to take on the risk or liability that could come into play.
In the end, hearing about the potential success in Ottawa does peak Guthrie's interest in exploring those strategies here.
"New ideas should never be discounted," he said.
