If they don't stop the party, why put up the fence? Waterloo mayor explains Ezra Avenue fencing
For the second year in a row, the City of Waterloo chose to fence off Ezra Avenue for St. Patrick’s Day.
For the second year in a row, the party simply shifted a short walk over to Marshall Street.
This has prompted the simple question, why fence off one street if the party is simply going to move?
Today we have an answer.
According to Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe, the goal of closing off Ezra Avenue wasn’t necessarily to stop the party, but to move it off Ezra.
"First of all, we would absolutely prefer it not happen,” McCabe said. “If it is happening, one of our priorities is to ensure the people who are attending are safe, or as safe as possible. So that’s really the reason for moving off Ezra, because it's a very contained area and difficult to get into if there is an emergency to respond to."
According to McCabe, the layout of Ezra – a short street with few access points – creates a dense crowd that provides extreme challenges for first responders.
“We want to ensure that public safety is maintained, so having it in an area where emergency services like paramedics in particular can get in and provide care as needed, or police can get in to respond to incidents, it’s easier in a location that is more spread out and has many access points,” McCabe said.
According to the city, the cost of the fencing is shared between the city, Wilfrid Laurier University and property owners. The city said the final cost has not yet been determined.
Prior to St. Patrick’s Day, neither the city nor Waterloo regional police would comment on the operational plan for March 17.
Police have released figures on the number of arrests and fines handed out, but have said they will not comment on the operational plan.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.