St. Patrick's Day party on Ezra Ave. cost $767K, say officials

According to public officials, this year's unsanctioned Ezra Avenue party on St. Patrick's Day in Waterloo cost $767,211 in police, emergency and other city services. 

Waterloo Regional Police Service say an estimated 33,000 people attended the party, which was a 47 per cent increase from 2018. Last year, peak attendance was said to be about 22,400. 

In a report released at the Police Services Board meeting Wednesday, police say the party "experience its largest crowd ever." 

• PHOTOS: Here's what St. Patrick's Day looked like at Waterloo's biggest unsanctioned street party

"The costs are unsustainable," said Bryan Larkin, chief of WRPS. 

According to a news release sent out by the City of Waterloo, the cost breakdown is: 

• WRPS: $286,400.
• City of Waterloo: $90,500.
• Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services: $85,000.
• Wilfrid Laurier University: $295,311.
• University of Waterloo: $10,000.

Larkin said the money could be spent on "better priorities in the community." 

• From 2018: How Waterloo's unsanctioned St. Patrick's Day party cost $713K
• Massive 2018 St. Patrick's Day street party prompts community task force

"We clearly have a significant addiction issue, we have mental health strategies that need funding, I think we can do a better job of reallocating those monies than focusing on unsanctioned parties," he said.