St. Patrick's Day crowd this year down 88 per cent from 2019

St. Patrick's Day 2022 saw a much smaller gathering and fewer charges laidcompared to the last significant gathering in the Waterloo, Ont., university districtthat drew 33,000 people to Ezra Avenue in 2019.

Even though therewas an unsanctionedevent on neighbouring Marshall and Regina streets, Waterloo Regional Police Service Chief Bryan Larkin said police did see "some significant successes."

"We went from over 33,000 individuals in an unsanctioned event to just over 3,500 to 4,000 individuals," he said during a police services board meeting Wednesday.

Peak crowd size in 2022 was about12 per centof the same event in 2019.

"For myself and from an operational perspective, we deem that as tremendous support," Larkinsaid.

Ezra Avenue, which borders Wilfrid Laurier University was quiet in 2020 and 2021 whenpublic health officials urged people not to gather because of COVID-19 lockdowns.

This year, city and regionalofficials blocked access to most of Ezra Avenuewith fencing and university security constablesposted at almost every home toensure neighbourhood safety.

There was also a heavy Waterloo regional police presence with dozens more officers and cruisers patrolling the area.

Charges and costs down

The number of charges laid this year dropped to154 and 90 calls for service, comparedto the 512 charges and 216 calls for service in 2019.

The following weekend resulted in 46 charges laid and 126 calls for service, according to a report included in the boardmeeting agenda. The report adds there were"no street gatherings occurred during the post-St. Patrick's Day weekend."

Police operational costs were also significantly lower. Police said the event costs for St. Patrick's Day were approximately $141,200. Costs for the rest of the St. Patrick's Day weekend wereapproximately at $62,900.

The event in 2019 cost$767,211 in police, emergency and other city services.