Board expresses concern over Ever After issues

KITCHENER — The chair of the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board says he hopes the annual Ever After Music Festival doesn’t get out of control and cause havoc for officers trying to police it.

At a police services board meeting Wednesday, members were told that police responded to 342 calls for service at the music festival that was held at Bingemans from June 2 to 4.

Nearly half of the calls were related to drugs, while others were for noise complaints, public intoxication, medical calls with transportation to a local hospital, and other liquor offences.

“How big can it get?” asked board chair Tom Galloway. “Can it get bigger than we can reasonably manage it?”

Deputy Chief Kevin Chalk said the festival was extremely busy with “significant activity” but there were no major incidents.

“These events are challenging to manage,” he said.

Unlike other public events that have potential for chaos, such as the annual St. Patrick’s Day party on Ezra Avenue, the music festival is organized by a private company that meets licensing regulations and other permits needed to hold the event, Chalk said.

The third annual electronic music event attracted young fans aged 16 to 25, with 8,000 people attending Friday night and 15,000 on both Saturday and Sunday.

Organizers had hoped for 25,000 patrons, and that could be worrisome, Galloway said.

“What if it was three times what they got, what concerns do we have or should we have?” he said.

Chalk said with a licensed event there are more regulations.

“It is far more controlled but it does have its challenges,” he said.

Police Chief Bryan Larkin said there was a significant police operational plan for the event, involving three inspectors and a staff sergeant, as well as 35 paid-duty officers for Saturday and Sunday along with 18 auxiliary unit members.

Although only nine charges were laid at the festival, the presence of illicit drugs was substantial, Larkin said. “It’s a public health concern,” he said.

An “amnesty box” at the front gates allowed concert goers to drop off drugs without penalty.

“The amnesty box was overflowing,” said Larkin.

The festival also put pressure on local paramedics. Twentyfour people were transported to hospital for extreme drug and alcohol intoxication. There were also issues of dehydration.

Individuals transported to an emergency department for care would have been unconscious or unable to stand or walk.

Last year, 12 festival goers were transported to hospital.

The company that organized the festivals paid for the paramedics as well as a first aid company for backup.