Enjoying a respectful and safe St. Patrick’s Day

Over the past few years, students have placed a new emphasis on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. While it has always been a day to have fun and wish each other the “luck of the Irish”, some university communities experience larger-scale outdoor parties and public street gatherings that can be unsafe and can jeopardize the health and well-being of participants and neighbours.

Around McMaster there has been an increase in parties and gatherings, but for the most part, party-goers have gathered in manageable numbers and have respected requests to maintain safety.

In advance of this year’s anticipated events, the University has worked with Hamilton Police and Hamilton City Bylaw to ensure a full safety and patrol plan is in place.

“St. Patrick’s Day is another opportunity for students to celebrate and socialize. Our hope and expectation is that these celebrations will be done safely and will be respectful of the community, the neighbourhood and of each other,” says Sean Van Koughnett, Dean of Students.

The plan for St. Patrick’s Day starts with additional University-funded police officers on duty Thursday, March 14^th and continues through the weekend. In total, McMaster is paying for an additional 200 hours of Hamilton policing patrols and extra University security campus patrols, over and above the plans for Hamilton Police Services.

McMaster/Hamilton Police Services/City of Hamilton St. Patrick’s Day Safety Plan

Thurs. March 14

University-funded Hamilton police officers on patrol in Ainslie Wood-Westdale
Additional McMaster security officers on campus patrols
Additional city bylaw officers on patrol in Ainslie Wood-Westdale

Fri. March 15

University-funded Hamilton police officers on patrol in Ainslie Wood-Westdale
Additional McMaster security officers on campus patrols
Additional city bylaw officers on patrol in Ainslie Wood-Westdale
Additional Hamilton Police patrol officers
Neighbourhood RIDE Spot checks

Sat. March 16 – Sun. March 17

A dedicated Hamilton Police dispatcher for Ainslie Wood/Westdale for calls for service to neighbourhood
University-funded Hamilton police officers on patrol in Ainslie Wood-Westdale
Additional McMaster security officers on campus patrols
Two Hamilton Police Crime Managers
Three Hamilton Police ACTION teams
Seven beat patrol officers
Six Hamilton Police HEAT officers
Mounted patrols on horseback
Neighbourhood RIDE Spot Checks
Four Public order teams

Six Hamilton Bylaw enforcement officers

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Over the past few years, students have placed a new emphasis on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. While it has always been a day to have fun and wish each other the “luck of the Irish”, some university communities experience larger-scale outdoor parties and public street gatherings that can be unsafe and can jeopardize the health and well-being of participants and neighbours.

Around McMaster there has been an increase in parties and gatherings, but for the most part, party-goers have gathered in manageable numbers and have respected requests to maintain safety.

In advance of this year’s anticipated events, the University has worked with Hamilton Police and Hamilton City Bylaw to ensure a full safety and patrol plan is in place.

“St. Patrick’s Day is another opportunity for students to celebrate and socialize. Our hope and expectation is that these celebrations will be done safely and will be respectful of the community, the neighbourhood and of each other,” says Sean Van Koughnett, Dean of Students.

The plan for St. Patrick’s Day starts with additional University-funded police officers on duty Thursday, March 14<sup>th</sup> and continues through the weekend. In total, McMaster is paying for an additional 200 hours of Hamilton policing patrols and extra University security campus patrols, over and above the plans for Hamilton Police Services.

<strong>McMaster/Hamilton Police Services/City of Hamilton St. Patrick’s Day Safety Plan</strong>

<u>Thurs. March 14</u>
<ul>
 	<li>University-funded Hamilton police officers on patrol in Ainslie Wood-Westdale</li>
 	<li>Additional McMaster security officers on campus patrols</li>
 	<li>Additional city bylaw officers on patrol in Ainslie Wood-Westdale</li>
</ul>
<u>Fri. March 15</u>
<ul>
 	<li>University-funded Hamilton police officers on patrol in Ainslie Wood-Westdale</li>
 	<li>Additional McMaster security officers on campus patrols</li>
 	<li>Additional city bylaw officers on patrol in Ainslie Wood-Westdale</li>
 	<li>Additional Hamilton Police patrol officers</li>
 	<li>Neighbourhood RIDE Spot checks</li>
</ul>
<u>Sat. March 16 – Sun. March 17</u>
<ul>
 	<li>A dedicated Hamilton Police dispatcher for Ainslie Wood/Westdale for calls for service to neighbourhood</li>
 	<li>University-funded Hamilton police officers on patrol in Ainslie Wood-Westdale</li>
 	<li>Additional McMaster security officers on campus patrols</li>
 	<li>Two Hamilton Police Crime Managers</li>
 	<li>Three Hamilton Police ACTION teams</li>
 	<li>Seven beat patrol officers</li>
 	<li>Six Hamilton Police HEAT officers</li>
 	<li>Mounted patrols on horseback</li>
 	<li>Neighbourhood RIDE Spot Checks</li>
 	<li>Four Public order teams</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li>Six Hamilton Bylaw enforcement officers</li>
</ul>

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