Think about your health and don't go to Ezra on Tuesday, police chief says

Think about your own health, think about your family and think about the larger community and then ask yourself, is it worth going to the unsanctioned street party on Ezra Avenue in Waterloo on Tuesday — that's the message from Waterloo Regional Police Services Chief Bryan Larkin.

 For the past few years, the area has seen young revellers flood the street on St. Patrick's Day.

This year, there is a heightened concern about the street gathering because of COVID-19.

"I hope that all of us ask ourselves: is one day worth it? Is it worth getting sick? Is it worth making others potentially ill and sick? Is it worth endangering ourselves?" Larkin said during a press conference Friday morning.

Region of Waterloo Public Health has not yet banned large gatherings, but the province's chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams said Friday he's "recommending the immediate suspension of all large events and public gatherings of over 250 people."

Gathering 'a germ factory'

Waterloo Coun. Tenille Bonoguore said she's heard from residents who have asked the city to shut down the party.

But she says they can't because there's no one who organizes it. Instead, she said they have to appeal to students not to go.

"I think this might be the year that people listen to that message the most," she said during an interview on CBC's The Morning Edition.

"I mean this kind of gathering is a germ factory, and this year is just really highlighting some of those risks."

Police plans 

Larkin would not give specifics of what police have planned to keep people from congregating on the street but said it will include measures such as those seen during homecoming in the fall.

In that case, police set up fencing and pods to make Ezra Avenue less easy to navigate. 

There were fewer people at homecoming this year, but that could also be due to the universities co-ordinating homecoming games on the same weekends to avoid having students travel homecoming-to-homecoming each weekend.

Larkin was asked whether police would consider using their power under the criminal code to prevent riots when it comes to the Ezra party.

He said while it has been part of the conversation, the plan currently is to go with recommendations laid out by a task force that looked at ways to curb the gathering.

"I want to reassure the community that our operational plan is significantly well resourced, significantly well-planned and will be executed and implemented with precision," Larkin said.