Peak homecoming attendance in Waterloo about a third of last year, police say

At its peak, this year's unsanctioned homecoming street party in Waterloo sawabout a thirdof last year's foot traffic, according to new numbers from the Waterloo Regional Police Service.

Police say there were 4,800 attendees this year, compared to 14,000 in 2018.

Still, it was hardly a genteel affair.

Officers made 17 arrests, compared to 12 last year.Police noted only three of those arrests were in the Ezra Avenue corridor.

"It just shows the atmosphere was changing on Ezra Avenuethis year, people weren't feeling it so much as a party atmosphere," said Cherri Greeno, manager of corporate communications for the police service.

Greeno said new crowd management "pods" helped tamp down on boisterous crowds. The pods are a type of fenced-in area, featuring washrooms and garbage and recycling binsthat help keep crowds moving and preventlittering and public urination.

Overall, officers laid roughly 330 charges over the weekend, down only slightly from 380 the year before.

Most of the charges were laid under the Liquor License Act and Highway Traffic Act. There were also a handful of bylaw offences and charges laid under the Cannabis Control and Trespass to Property acts.

Wilfrid Laurier University's special constable service handed out 73 notices of provincial offences during the event and made three arrests of their own.

Greeno said Ontario Provincial Police and Peel Regional Police provided assistance to regional police during the weekend, but couldn't comment on the overall number of officers patrolling during the weekend.

Neither police or the city have released the full cost of policing during homecoming.

Emergency visits and parking violations

It was a busy weekend for other first responders, too.

Regional paramedics responded to 38 calls for service in the event perimeter, and took 27 patients to hospital.Five of them were in serious or critical condition.

All in all, 24people presented at the Grand River Hospital emergency roomfor homecoming-related ailments, and 12 people at the St. Mary's General Hospital emergency room.

Municipal enforcement officers laid 34noise and public nuisance charges, and 415 traffic and parking violations.

The fire department responded to two calls forelevator rescues, one false alarm, 12 medical emergenciesand two dangerous conditions.

Open alcohol most common offence in Guelph

In Guelph, police said they doled out roughly 100 summons for offencesincluding open carry of alcohol, jay walking and public urination.

Ten people were arrested for public intoxication, and two for impaired driving.

The total costincurred by Guelph police will be released at an upcoming police services board meeting.