Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe expressed her surprise and shock upon learning that a sniper from the Waterloo Regional Police Service was deployed during an unsanctioned street party in the city's university district over St. Patrick's Day weekend. The use of a sniper drew significant attention, especially amidst concerns regarding public safety at large gatherings.
The police confirmed to The Canadian Press that a circulating photo and video depicting a sniper monitoring the crowd were indeed of a Waterloo police officer. Initially, there was no response regarding the reasons for this deployment. However, police later communicated via email that “mass casualty considerations” had influenced their safety plan for the event.
Chief Mark Crowell further elaborated that the recent history of mass casualty incidents in North America and around the world shaped their emergency response strategies for large gatherings. He emphasized that their officers were carrying out their duties to maintain safety for all involved during the unsanctioned event.
Recent incidents across Canada highlight the urgency of such precautionary measures. Notably, on April 26, 2025, an SUV drove into a crowded street in Vancouver, resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals during the Lapu Lapu Day festival, which celebrates Filipino culture. In another tragic event in 2021, Nathaniel Veltman, a self-identified white nationalist, was sentenced to life for deliberately killing four members of a Muslim family in London, Ontario, with his vehicle. Additionally, in 2018, a rented van was used to target pedestrians in Toronto, resulting in 10 deaths and multiple injuries.
To prevent similar tragedies, Waterloo police included safety barriers in their safety plan for St. Patrick's Day weekend to guard against vehicles entering the crowd. They reported that tactical officers were strategically positioned in elevated locations to detect potential safety concerns that might not be visible to officers on the ground.
Despite these precautions, Mayor McCabe stated she had not been made aware of any serious risks, such as weapons or extreme violence, that would justify the presence of a sniper at the unsanctioned St. Patrick's Day festivities. McCabe noted that for over 15 years, young people had gathered to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with street parties, and while the city had made efforts to manage the event due to its disruptive nature and strain on public resources, she was caught off guard by the sniper's deployment.
In the previous year, Waterloo police reported 17 arrests and over 250 charges related to the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, highlighting the event's challenges. Investigators had also believed that there was an attempt to take over a street, indicating the need for law enforcement to maintain order during such gatherings. In response to these problems, the city obtained an injunction prior to last year's festivities, allowing police to detain and charge anyone involved in large unsanctioned parties.
In light of the recent sniper deployment, Mayor McCabe has requested a meeting with the police chief to discuss the necessity of such measures for this year's street party. Following this request, the mayor and the chief have engaged in conversation regarding the issue.
Waterloo police emphasized their commitment to a collaborative response, working alongside emergency services and community partners, including local student unions, to ensure public safety during the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. The city had previously declared a “Community Safety Event” before the celebrations, outlining plans to enforce its nuisance bylaw, which prohibits actions such as obstructing sidewalks or remaining on roadways to force street closures.
