Mayor calls out 'hooliganism' at Kitchener park on Victoria Day
Kitchener’s mayor has strong words for what happened in and around Victoria Park on Monday night, calling it reckless hooliganism, unsafe and violent behaviour, and a significant risk to public safety.
The scary scene unfolded on Victoria Day, with a large group of young people shooting fireworks at each other, as well as bystanders, animals, by-law officers and police.
“I was both very disappointed and very angry,” Mayor Berry Vrbanovic told CTV News on Wednesday. “There seemed to be a total disregard for the safety of others.”
Waterloo Regional Police said one teen was arrested and charged with assault and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
There were no serious injuries reported, but the mayor said there will be further discussions involving city bylaw, property standards and security staff internally, as well as meetings with community safety partners, and in particular, Waterloo Regional Police.
While the mayor said it’s still too early to propose solutions, working with the school boards will likely be a component, given the age of those involved.
“Making young people understand that… as a community, we need to look out for each other and make sure it’s a great community for everyone,” Vrbanovic explained.
Adding to the concerns is the fact a similar incident happened on Victoria Day 2023, and Canada Day is just six weeks away.
Councillor Debbie Chapman said it’s important to address the situation quickly, given how many people live in close proximity to Victoria Park.
She also received numerous messages from residents as the situation unfolded on Monday.
“People were scared, right, they didn’t know what might transpire… or what might become of the activity that was going on around them,” Chapman explained.
Her constituents told her they were concerned it could become a recurring event, like the St. Patrick’s Day street parties in Waterloo’s university district, and want it addressed quickly before that happens.
Chapman said it’s likely there will be more bylaw and police enforcement in Victoria Park this year for Canada Day celebrations.
“This is people’s homes and people need to be able to feel safe.”
Chapman expects a staff report on the Victoria Day incident will be available in a couple of weeks, and discussions can go from there.
People running down a Kitchener street and shooting fireworks on May 21, 2024. (Source: Harold Russell/Facebook)
One other Kitchener city councillor, however, said it might be time to look at an outright fireworks ban.
Councillor Paul Singh has advocated for restricting firework displays to city-coordinated designated sites when Kitchener was making changes to its fireworks bylaw last year, and is even more supportive of the decision after Monday’s events.
Singh hopes there will be compliance with the bylaw and respect on Canada Day and Diwali later this year, but said if the rules aren’t followed and people’s safety and property are at risk, a ban is the necessary next step.
The City of Woodstock recently decided to back a fireworks ban. They said there were too many people not following the rules around setting off fireworks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.4798178.1580915917!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
Shooting in Michigan leaves 'numerous wounded victims,' authorities say
Several people have been wounded in a shooting at a splash pad in Rochester Hills, authorities said Saturday.
A new tax filing system could give Canadians more than $1 billion in unclaimed benefits: PBO
Canadians would get more than $1 billion in unclaimed benefits each year through an automatic tax filing system, according to a report published by the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO).
Video shows northern Ont. storm hammer shoreline, breaking dock
The owner of a northern Ont. camp is continuing to clean up after an intense storm that prompted a tornado warning Thursday ripped through the area breaking his dock and downing trees.
'All hands on deck situation': City of Calgary declares state of local emergency over water main break
The City of Calgary declared a local state of emergency Saturday morning in response to the latest developments in a major water main break that is impacting the city.
Trudeau calls into question findings of stunning watchdog foreign interference report
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has concerns with how conclusions were gathered in a spy watchdog report.
U.K. royals unite on palace balcony as Princess of Wales returns to public view after cancer diagnosis
London put on a display of birthday pageantry Saturday for King Charles III, a military parade that marked the Princess of Wales ' first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis early this year.
Abducted child found dead and sister injured in suspected human trafficking case, authorities say
36-year-old Daniel Callihan was arrested Thursday after a 35-year-old mother was found dead and her two abducted daughters were later discovered in Mississippi – one dead and the other alive – in what investigators say may be a human trafficking case.
Man who stabbed Mexican tourist in Vancouver Tim Hortons 2 years ago released from prison, police warn
Vancouver police are warning the public that the man who stabbed a stranger in a downtown coffee shop in January 2022 has been released and will be living in the city again.
Here’s what we know about the 5 new hotspots on the broken water main: City of Calgary
Late Friday afternoon, the City of Calgary held a media availability to deliver an update on the status of the 16 Avenue water main break that delivered shocking news.