Statement on the Victoria Day Community Safety Incident

On Monday May 19, the City of Kitchener experienced a serious public safety incident involving a small group of reckless youth discharging fireworks in dangerous and unlawful ways, in the heart of our community. Thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts by City of Kitchener staff, Waterloo Region Police Service (WRPS), and other partners, proactive safety measures including the temporary closure of Victoria Park were undertaken, and no serious injuries were reported.

On behalf of City Council, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to our City of Kitchener Bylaw and Security teams, Waterloo Region Police Service, Kitchener Fire Department and other first responders who were prepared to manage the unacceptable and dangerous events that occurred last night by this small group of rowdy young people who displayed little to no regard for their fellow community members and their safety. Though this incident should have never happened, City staff and WRPS worked together collaboratively to manage the situation and keep bystanders and community members safe. Creating a welcoming and enjoyable environment for all residents remains the City’s priority and we will continue to invest in measures to prevent reprehensible actions like these at public gatherings.

Across the rest of our city, Victoria Day celebrations were largely peaceful, with citizens celebrating safely and respectfully. This is the kind of city that we know Kitchener to be, and we thank residents for being good neighbours and celebrating appropriately.

From May 16 to 20 in the lead-up to Victoria Day, the City maintained a significant proactive presence across Kitchener, including a large, uniformed deployment at major City parks. In total, 64 complaints were received with three charges laid under the fireworks bylaw. Additional charges may still be forthcoming as officers continue their investigations and follow-ups.

City staff also continue to work closely with WRPS to prevent incidents like these ahead of a busy summer of future events. If anyone has information or video regarding this incident, which can assist in the investigations, please call the WRPS non-emergency line at 519-570-9777.

Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, on behalf of Kitchener Council