Students warn others about risks of St. Patrick's Day street party in Waterloo

As students gear up for another unsanctioned street party on Ezra Avenue in Waterloo this Sunday, others have been knocking on doors to warn about the risks of taking to the street to celebrate on St. Patrick's Day.

The message from Wilfrid Laurier University's administration is simple: "Laurier actively discourages unsanctioned street gatherings," the university tweeted Friday.

Shawn Cruz says that's also the stance of the student union.

He's the associate vice president of university affairs for the Student Union at Wilfrid Laurier University and helped organize the door-knocking campaign this week. Students, city officials and police talked to people who live in the area around Ezra Avenue about what will be done to curb bad behaviour.

But, he says, simply telling the students not to go to the party doesn't work.

"I think that's a good way to get the door shut in our face," he said. "Instead, we tell them to be safe and respectful if they choose to attend the gathering and also reinforce those fines as a bit of a deterrent."

Cruz has attended the street party in years past but doesn't now.

He said in the years he's gone, he's seen students come from universities outside of the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

Littering, public urination fines are $300

Some of the information they give students includes reminding them of hefty fines they can face for things like littering or public urination, which is $300.

"It's very steep, particularly if you're on a budget," he said.

There are also non-academic consequences students can face through the university's code of conduct. That includes sanctions by the dean of students ranging from a meeting, having to pay restitution, suspension or even expulsion.

Last year, about 22,000 students gathered on Ezra Avenue on St. Patrick's Day. Police said costs reached $713,000 and included bringing in officers from other jurisdictions to help the Waterloo Regional Police Service as well as paramedics.

The City of Waterloo has developed a task force to look at ways to change the party and to reduce the size of it, possibly moving it elsewhere and preventing it from getting larger.

The city is currently surveying residents about the party and the way they experience it, whether as students who go to the party, students who don't or homeowners who live in the area and are impacted.

Cruz says in talking to students and homeowners, they get a good sense of the concerns about the party.

"It's clear that people's number one concern both from our end and from the community is really safety for everyone's sake," he said.

"People are generally receptive to the information, which I think is really good because it shows that the message of safety and respect is definitely sinking in for our students."