Two arrests for public intoxication, but otherwise, no post-Panda Game pandemonium, police report
Ottawa police say there are no reports of any significant issues following Sunday's Panda Game between the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.
The annual football game between the Gee-Gees and the Ravens draws tens of thousands of students to TD Place and later to after parties downtown. In past years, the parties have grown out of control and have led to injury, arrest and property damage.
This year, however, organizers made attempts to curtail the late night debauchery with on-campus parties. The game had also been moved to a Sunday, ostensibly due to a scheduling conflict with the CFL, but having classes the following day might have contributed to a quieter night in Sandy Hill and elsewhere.
"I didn't see any signs of craziness and I work on campus and we were expecting maybe some activity," said local resident Hali Krawchuk. "We shut down our building because of concerns that things might get out of hand but it appears they didn't, which is great."
In a news release sent early Monday morning, Ottawa police said there were two arrests for public intoxication Sunday night, but that was about it.
"We want to thank everyone for remaining respectful of the community surrounding Ottawa and Carleton Universities," police said. "We appreciate your willingness to celebrate responsibly."
Students say there were still parties, but the out-of-control atmopshere of the last two years was toned down significantly.
"It wasn't that bad honestly, for students being everywhere. Lots of police patrolling around so it felt pretty safe and calm," said Mylene Pelletier. "It was my first year. I heard on the street from the past that the car was flipped and everything, but it was my first year and nothing like that happened."
Some students led a cleanup effort on Monday to tidy up the discarded red cups, beer cans and cigarette butts left behind.
"The game part is the only thing that's good about it," said Sandy Hill resident Steve Waters. "After that, the university has to figure it out. Enough is enough... The shenanigans; they're supposed to be adults, but they don't show it."
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
- Sign up now for our nightly CTV News Ottawa newsletter
--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Natalie van Rooy.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

NEW Health-care in Canada could be more like Norway's, with some improvements: study
Canada is trailing behind other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries when it comes to both the number of physicians relative to the population, and its spending on primary care, according to a new analysis published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Schools closed, more than 100,000 without electricity as snow falls in Quebec
More than 106,000 homes in Quebec are without electricity after Environment Canada reported nearly 25 cm of snow had fallen across the province.
Escaped kangaroo found safe after 3 days on the loose in Ontario
A kangaroo that escaped the Oshawa Zoo last week has been captured by police officers after more than three days on the loose.
Israel orders evacuations as it widens offensive but Palestinians are running out of places to go
The Israeli military on Monday renewed its calls for mass evacuations from the southern town of Khan Younis, where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in recent weeks, as it widened its ground offensive and bombarded targets across the Gaza Strip.
'Potent and impactful storm' on the way to B.C.'s South Coast, Vancouver Island
Heavy rainfall is in store for much of southern B.C. starting Monday, when a 'potent and impactful storm' is forecast to make landfall, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Indonesia's Marapi volcano erupts for the second day as 12 climbers remain missing
Indonesian authorities halted Monday the search for 12 climbers after Mount Marapi volcano erupted again, unleashing a new burst of hot ash as high as 800 meters (2,620 feet) into the air, officials said.
Serene Chinese boarding school named 'World Building of the Year'
A Chinese boarding school designed to let students unwind and “waste time mindfully” has been named 2023’s World Building of the Year.
Oxford University Press has named 'rizz' as its word of the year
Oxford University Press has named 'rizz' as its word of the year, highlighting the popularity of a term used by Generation Z to describe someone's ability to attract or seduce another person.
These are the 5 headlines you should read this morning
Global Affairs Canada confirms the death of an eighth Canadian amid the Israel-Hamas war, Venezuelans approve a referendum to claim sovereignty over much of Guyana, and international students are once again set to face working hour limits.