Thousands gather for St. Patrick’s Day in Waterloo

2:30 p.m. – The number of revellers on the streets is estimated to be in the thousands.

As St. Patrick’s Day celebrations continue across the country, thousands have taken to the streets in Waterloo, Ontario. The sizeable gathering has the attention of local authorities who will be monitoring the situation closely.

2:15 p.m. – A street party has started on Marshall Street in Waterloo.

While the party hasn’t yet spilled out to become a full-blown street party, locals in the MacGregor Albert, Northdale, and Uptown neighbourhoods were prepared for the festivities that St. Patrick’s Day always brings. Police in Waterloo will be keeping a close eye on events as they unfold.

12:30 p.m. – Foot traffic is building along Marshall Street as the rain begins to ease off.

The morning rain that had threatened to put a damper on the festivities seems to be easing off in Waterloo, just in time to encourage revellers to head to the streets. Foot traffic is building on Marshall Street, which is typically a focal point of celebrations.

Students prioritize safety

As students stream into Waterloo, they’re focused not only on having a good time but also being safe. Some have experienced negative reactions from the community in previous years, and they’re eager to avoid a repeat of those incidents.

“We’ve had some troubles in the past where we’ve taken a lot of the brunt for things that happen on the street. So this year we’re doing our part to make sure that we can assist bylaw and Waterloo regional police in making sure we can celebrate St. Pats in a fun way but also in a safe way,” one student told CTV News.

11:30 a.m. – Parties have started at homes on Ezra Avenue and Marshall Street

Although the street party hasn’t started yet, parties are already underway at homes on Ezra Avenue and Marshall Street, with residents hoping to keep noise levels down to avoid drawing the attention of authorities.

Watching the forecast

With the rain expected to let up later in the day, students are watching the forecast and hopeful that they’ll be able to break out the green and hit the streets. As one student put it, “It’s honestly like a tradition now.”

10:30 a.m. – Police presence on Marshall Street

The police are maintaining a visible presence on Marshall Street, but as yet, there are no reports of street parties getting out of control.

10:00 a.m. – Overnight parking ban announced

As the celebrations get underway in Waterloo, local authorities are all too aware of the potential for things to get out of control. An overnight parking ban has been announced for Friday and Saturday night in the MacGregor Albert, Northdale, and Uptown neighbourhoods to help police maintain order.

While St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are grabbing the headlines, there’s plenty of other news being made across Canada, including the following stories:

• Edmonton police investigate shooting of two officers (CTV News)
• International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin (BBC News)
• Federal government allows graduates to apply for extended work permits (CBC News)
• Trudeau accuses Conservative rival of undermining democracy (Global News)
• Record number of complaints made to Banking Ombudsman (Huffington Post)
• Montreal police arrest suspect in triple stabbing case (CTV News)
• Interim commissioner named for RCMP (Global News)
• Study suggests COVID-19 originated in animals, not a lab (CP24)
• Actor Lance Reddick dies at 60 (CBC News)

Credit: https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/thousands-of-st-patrick-s-day-partiers-spill-into-the-street-in-waterloo-1.6317785

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