Thousands gather in Guelph for 'unsanctioned' homecoming celebrations

Police say thousands of people gathered on Chancellors Way in Guelph on Saturday afternoon and evening for an unsanctioned gathering after the university's homecoming football game.

It's an event police anticipate every year, Guelph Police spokesperson Scott Tracey said, but the party grew in size over the course of the evening.

At one point, barriers had to be set up to contain the street party to Chancellors Way, and were eventually expanded to include a portion of Edinburgh Road S. adjacent to Chancellors Way.

Tracey said fireworks were set off at about 11:30 p.m., but police were unable to apprehend those responsible.

Tracey said there were also a fair amount of alcohol-related tickets handed down by police, as well as "a number of people [who] were removed from the crowd by police and paramedics and transported to the hospital for intoxication treatment."

While the one on Chancellors Way was the largest, there were other parties in the city where police and bylaw officers were called to attend.

"There were about 40 noise complaints across the city," Tracey said. Those noise complaints were reported between noon Saturday and 4 a.m. Sunday.

Man stabbed in area

At around 9 p.m. on Saturday, an injured Etobicoke man approached officers at the Edinburgh Road and Chancellors Way junction to report that he had been stabbed in the abdomen during an altercation with people he didn't know.

The man said it happened during homecoming celebrations near the university, but Tracey said it's believed the man was stabbed in the parking lot of a nearby business.

He said the victim was not a University of Guelph student but was likely in town to participate in the festivities.

There are two male suspects in the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

University doesn't condone street party

Tracey said Guelph Police work closely with the university in efforts to contain homecoming parties each year. 

In an emailed statement from a University of Guelph spokesperson, Jessamine Luck said the university works closely with police and other partners to ensure the safety of students and all community members.

While the university does not condone large unsanctioned gatherings, Luck said they do prepare for homecoming with wellbeing services like, "an increased security presence, communication about safe and responsible behaviour, a Campus Alcohol Recovery Room for students who may have overconsumed, and an onsite campus first response team to respond to calls for minor injuries and first aid."

There was also a community clean up of nearby streets Sunday morning, facilitated by the university's Student Experience group.