Beefed-up police presence follows Oakville’s Canada Day flip-flop

In February, the Town of Oakville decided to pull the plug on Canada Day because of unruly kids.

Last night (March 30), local politicians rescinded that decision and will proceed with celebrations this year, but with beefed-up law enforcement.

The move by councillors comes after weeks of public pushback since the original decision was made to end July 1 activities, including nighttime fireworks, traditionally held at Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park.

At their February meeting, councillors cancelled Canada Day because of increasingly violent incidents at the end of the celebrations, when young people would take over Lakeshore Road and shoot fireworks into crowds, buildings, and at police.

However, a lack of suitable alternative locations and the community’s desire to keep the party going in the Bronte neighbourhood forced councillors to retrace their steps last night and undo their previous decision.

“Everybody that we have spoken to wants a Canada Day; they want it in Bronte, but they want it to be safe,” said Ward 1 Town and Regional Councillor Sean O’Meara.

Halton Regional Police Chief Steve Tanner told councillors that his department will deploy new strategies in its attempt to control the young crowd, which has ranged in size from 500 to 1,000 and has disrupted the Oakville family event for the past three years by taking over the streets.

Tanner said he believes that Canadians need to celebrate Canada Day and that Bronte is the best location for festivities.

He said police will deploy their resources differently this year, which he expects will be more effective than in the past. He said officers will provide earlier intervention to prevent problems from occurring. Further, he said, cameras and visible deterrents will be used, and that adequate levels of staffing will be in place, but he declined to say how many officers will be made available.

The chief went on to say that despite the estimated numbers of those who have taken part in the illegal activities, most of the young people in the group have been there to watch, not to take part.

“Kids are going to make some mistakes, but there are also going to be problem people in that group that purposely wreak as much havoc as they can by setting off fireworks,” Tanner said. “While there have not been a lot of reports of serious incidents, it doesn’t mean that things weren’t happening that caused concern.”

The town also intends to spend up to $75,000 by hiring a safety consultant to help with crowd management and assist with a plan to deal with the large crowd that exits the park when the sanctioned fireworks end.

Town Commissioner of Community Services Paul Damaso said his department is also looking at increasing barricades and fencing, and adding signs, lighting and removing some of the street fixtures along Lakeshore Road. More volunteers will also be recruited.