³Ô¹ÏÍø

Dear Parents,

³Ô¹ÏÍø is committed to providing students with excellent academic opportunities in a safe and supportive environment.

With this commitment in mind, we would like to alert you to a growing concern in the City of Waterloo and at the university about a large unsanctioned street gathering that occurs each St. Patrick’s Day on Ezra Avenue near the university’s Waterloo campus.

This gathering, which attracts students from other universities and young people from across Ontario, has grown to the point where it poses a real danger to participants, neighbours, police and emergency responders.

As the parent of a ³Ô¹ÏÍø student, we would like you to know that the university does not condone these street gatherings and we actively discourage ³Ô¹ÏÍø students from participating.

The university is working closely with the City of Waterloo, the Waterloo Regional Police, and other community partners to eliminate these street parties and to ensure the safety of students and neighbours. ³Ô¹ÏÍø is an active member of the Mayor of Waterloo’s Task Force on Unsanctioned Public Gatherings, which has made a series of 12 recommendations to discourage street parties and, eventually, bring them to an end.

This year, March 17 falls on a Tuesday. The university expects all classes, labs and related activities to be run as normal and we are reminding students that attendance is required and expected.

We are also advising all members of the ³Ô¹ÏÍø community that participation in an unsanctioned street gathering is not only dangerous, it also damages the university’s reputation and the reputation of individual students and graduates.

The safety of students, neighbours and community partners is our top priority. As such, ³Ô¹ÏÍø is once again strongly urging our students not to participate in street parties and to behave in safe and respectful ways at all times.

Thank you.

Jason Coolman
Vice-President: Advancement and External Relations