Councillor says cancelling Panda Game would not stop parties
The councillor representing Sandy Hill says cancelling the annual Panda Game between the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees and the Carleton Ravens won’t stop the party from spilling into residential streets.
Mathieu Fleury says there needs to be a “serious conversation” about homecoming weekend in the capital to keep streets and residents safe.
“Like last year, there needs to be a full debrief,” says Fleury. “It is very early to say one way or the other, people will ask and say, this seems simple. People like the football game or they don’t.”
Fleury says, “It is not a question of cancelling or not a football game, it is a bigger umbrella of homegoing environment... we have seen Queen’s University and what their homecoming was like, even when they canceled homecoming, how crazier that got. I want more nuance.”
This weekend, seven people were arrested, and dozens of tickets were handed out for open alcohol and excessive noise during a Sandy Hill street party relating to the annual football game. Police are investigating the “unsanctioned gathering.”
Fleury says, “Obviously Homecoming is the same weekend as Panda, it is one of the events of Homecoming. It would be easy for me to stand and say, just cancel the game, but that doesn’t remove the pressures and risk we see in Sandy Hill.”
Fleury says that because of measures put in place by both universities, as well as the city and police, the pre-game activities and the Panda Game itself was a success. But the issue remains the post-game celebrations.
“We are narrowing to a post-game environment, and if we look at it more closely the events were really, really challenging between 9 p.m. and midnight,” Fleury says.
“There needs to be deep thought into how to prevent folks from coming into cities, the traveling homecoming crowd—that needs to stop. Universities in both Ontario and Quebec need to take seriously the issues of homecoming and there are real recommendations that homecoming should be on the same weekend in every city, so we stop this traveling crowd and it becomes more management on a local level when it comes to those challenges. It would certainly help the situation here in Ottawa.”
Police will be forwarding the names of students to the universities if they are charged.
There was a heavy police presence in the area. The service came under harsh criticism last year, when festivities saw 2,000 people pack Russell Avenue, damaging property and flipping a vehicle.
Fleury says without the beefed-up presence this weekend, “No question it would have been as bad as last year. But that begs the question, is it expectable for our city to rely so heavily on enforcement for these types of events?”
He says, “One of the serious conversations is policing cost, because those are significant, and right now, the universities and organizers OSEG (Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group) are paying for the entire costs of this, and so should they, it shouldn’t be on the local taxpayer.”
OSEG told CTV News they are helping to cover the cost of pre-game as well as during the Panda Game, but not the costs after the game.
Police did not make a spokesperson available on Monday and provided no update to their investigation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
Montreal man facing charges following contraband drone drop at Millhaven: OPP
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says a 40-year-old man from Montreal is facing charges following a suspected drone drop of unauthorized items at the Millhaven Institution.
Potentially toxic chemicals hide in our drinking water and countless household objects, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Nigeria's fashion and dancing styles in the spotlight as Harry, Meghan visit its largest city
Nigeria's fashion and traditional dances were at full display on Sunday as Prince Harry and Meghan arrived in its largest city, Lagos, as part of their three-day visit to the country to promote mental health for soldiers and empower young people.
WATCH Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Police investigating after tow trucks shot at in Scarborough two hours apart
Toronto police are investigating after tow trucks were shot at in Scarborough about two hours apart Saturday night.
Cyclist issued fine for striking four-year-old girl crossing the street
A cyclist turned herself in and received a fine after striking a four-year-old girl who was crossing the street to catch a school bus.
U.K. foreign secretary says halting arms sales to Israel would only strengthen Hamas
Asked whether the U.K. would follow the U.S. in threatening to cut the supply of offensive weapons to Israel if it carried out an attack on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the two countries cannot be compared because unlike the U.S., Britain supplies a very small amount of Israel's weapons.