Waterloo Mayor Dorothy Mc Cabe expressed that she was “surprised and shocked” to find out a sniper from the Waterloo Regional Police Service was sent to help manage an unsanctioned street party during St. Patrick’s Day weekend in the city’s university area.
Waterloo police confirmed to The Canadian Press that a photo and video showing a sniper watching over the St. Patrick’s Day crowd on Saturday featured one of their officers, but initially didn’t explain why a sniper was involved.
Later, police mentioned in an email late Sunday that “mass casualty considerations” factored into the safety plan for the event.
“The magnitude of unfortunate mass casualty events that have occurred across North America and around the world in recent decades have shaped emergency response strategies for all large gatherings,” Chief Mark Crowell stated in the email.
“In accordance with legislated standards for emergency response and public order deployment, our officers effectively managed a large unsanctioned gathering upholding safety for all involved.”
Canada has faced several vehicle attacks in recent years.
On April 26, 2025, an SUV drove through a busy street in Vancouver, killing 11 people and injuring many at the annual Lapu Lapu Day festival celebrating Filipino culture.
In 2021, four members of a Muslim family in London, Ontario, were killed while walking when Nathaniel Veltman struck them with his pickup truck. The self-described white nationalist received a life sentence.
In 2018, a 25-year-old man drove a rented van into pedestrians on Yonge Street in Toronto, resulting in 10 deaths and injuring another 16 people.
Waterloo police stated in their email that this year’s St. Patrick’s Day safety plan included using barriers “to prevent vehicles from dangerously driving into the area.”
The police also said tactical officers were positioned at higher locations to identify “potential safety concerns that may not be visible to officers on the ground.”
However, Mc Cabe noted she wasn’t made aware of any threats involving weapons or extreme violence that would warrant deploying a sniper at this year’s unsanctioned St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
She remarked that young people have been throwing street parties for St. Patrick’s Day for over 15 years and mentioned how the city has tried various methods to control these events as they disrupt residents and strain public resources.
In 2025, local police reported arresting 17 individuals and laying more than 250 charges connected to St. Patrick’s Day activities over several days that included what investigators believed was an attempt to take over a street.
Before last year’s festivities, the city secured an injunction allowing police to detain anyone participating in large unauthorized parties.
Mc Cabe said she requested a meeting with the police chief to understand why they felt it necessary to use a sniper at this year’s street party. Police confirmed that she had spoken with the chief about it.
The police emphasized they collaborate closely with emergency services and community partners like local university student unions to ensure coordinated responses during St. Patrick’s Day events.
A week ago, Waterloo declared it as a “Community Safety Event” ahead of St. Patrick’s Day while warning residents about enforcing its nuisance bylaw against actions like blocking sidewalks or lingering on roadways for street closures.
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