A recent report presented to the Guelph Police Service board revealed that this year’s unofficial homecoming gatherings in Guelph attracted a crowd of approximately 13,000 to 15,000 people on September 26. The majority of attendees were concentrated in the street area of Chancellor’s Way near the Stone Road Mall, although the gathering also spilled over into surrounding areas.
The police responded to about 550 calls that day, with 250 directly linked to the unsanctioned event. This marked a significant increase of over 100% in call volume compared to the previous year’s homecoming. During the festivities, there were a total of 11 reported criminal incidents, resulting in six arrests and around 70 provincial office notices issued, primarily related to open liquor violations.
The reported criminal occurrences included seven assaults, one incident involving an offensive weapon, a disturb-the-peace incident, and two cases of mischief. Of the six arrests made, four were for public intoxication, one for assault, and another for causing a disturbance.
The total cost of police response to the event was estimated at $91,000, with 88 police officers and civilian staff deployed. Mayor Cam Guthrie described this year’s homecoming as the most severe yet, citing widespread property damage that affected neighborhoods and local businesses.
Property damage reports included vandalism to a transit bus shelter, two vehicles on Chancellor’s Way, and multiple businesses in the vicinity. Additionally, an assault at a nearby plaza resulted in two individuals being hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
The formation of a homecoming working group comprising the City of Guelph, Guelph Police Service, University of Guelph, and Guelph General Hospital aims to address and reduce the risks associated with future unsanctioned gatherings. The collaborative effort seeks to counter the evolving challenges posed by social media influence, disorderly behavior, and safety concerns during large-scale events like homecoming.