St. Patrick's Day celebrated by street party in Waterloo's university district
K-W students rally in thousands for annual event
St. Patricks day on Waterloo's Ezra Street looks like a recurring nightmare of mine pic.twitter.com/t4pAE3dAuW
—@keentlan
Ready for a great day working Project Respect and ensuring a safe #SPD2017 #bevisible #firmbutfair #safety pic.twitter.com/O5nXGtpahk
—@WRPSToday
The force wason the lookout for underage drinking, consuming alcohol in forbidden placesand unlicensed parties that charge money for liquor.
"If there are kegs of beer, and that beer is being sold, that is illegal," said CherriGreeno, spokesperson for the Waterloo Regional police.
"We will be taking the kegs away. Anyone who is selling any type of alcohol at any party needs to know that that's not legal and that liquor will be confiscated and the party will be shut down."
"What people need to remember is that not everybody down there is a student. In that area, there are people that live there, there's families," addedGreeno.
Being #StPatricksDay it only made sense to stop in at Kennedy's in St.Agatha for lunch! #wrawesome #kitcon pic.twitter.com/xgHaBgGPAA
—@Michaelharrispc
Students at Wilfrid Laurier's Lutheran seminary opened a quieter, alcohol-free alternative venue: they call it the Sham Rock Cafe.
"It's about offering a place for folks that want somewhere to be but aren't comfortable doing something with the wide population,"said Anne Anderson, community pastor at the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.
Waterloo paramedics placed doorstep notes around the area, to spread the message about safe partying and alcohol consumption.
SPD 2017 Door Knocker. Spreading the message for a safe SPD celebration. @waterloomedics @WRPS @wfd @wlu ROWPS #community outreach pic.twitter.com/HVvj9kFnXd
—@waterloomedics
"We understand it's a party and it happens every year so we of course want them to have fun, but we want them to do that in a safe way and we want them to be respectful of everyone that lives in that community, not just the students that are there partying," Greeno said.