Pubdate: Wed, 05 Jul 2017
Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Author: Liz Monteiro
Page: B3

POLICE REPORT INCREASE IN DRUG USE AT EVER AFTER MUSIC FESTIVAL

KITCHENER - The number of people who were impaired by drugs or alcohol
at the Ever After Music Festival at Bingemans was up from last year,
and that's cause for concern, says a report to be presented at the
Waterloo Regional Police Services Board on Wednesday.

The report says the number of young people impaired put "significant
pressure" on medical staff at the event held in Kitchener last month.

Police said they received 342 calls. Nearly half of them were related
to drugs, with 129 drug-related incidents and 100 noise complaints.
The remainder ranged from public intoxication, medical calls with
transportation to a local hospital and other liquor offences.

In the three-page report, police say, "officers utilized discretion to
lay charges where appropriate, but given the abundance of illicit
drugs and the volume of seizures, charging everyone is not realistic
or practical."

Police said there was an "amnesty box" at the front entrances to allow
concertgoers to drop off their drug packages without penalty.

The electronic dance music festival was held June 2 to 4 at Bingemans.
The private event is organized by a Woodbridge company. The event
attracts young people between 16 and 25. This year's party, the third
annual, had 8,000 people Friday night and 15,000 on both Saturday and
Sunday.

Police said they had 35 paid-duty officers for Saturday and Sunday
along with 18 auxiliary unit members.

But planning of the event involved a staff sergeant and "a significant
commitment" by three inspectors.

Despite the planning and the increased intoxication, police only laid
nine charges. The report says the event was largely peaceful and
participants co-operated.

Robert Crossan, deputy chief of the Region of Waterloo Paramedic
Services, said paramedics took 24 people to hospital for extreme drug
and alcohol intoxication.

Patrons transported to an emergency department for care would have
been unconscious or unable to stand or walk, he said.

Last year, 12 festival goers were transported to hospital.

The private company paid for the paramedics as well as a first aid
company for backup.

Two ambulances with four paramedics and one supervisor were on-site
while the festival was going on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday.
Patients were taken to hospital steadily throughout the weekend event.

Both police and paramedics say they are considering increasing their
numbers with more paramedics on site and more paid-duty police to cope
with drug seizures.

The festival organizer pays for the cost of the paramedics and a
supervisor to be posted at the festival, and that doesn't affect the
number of paramedics out in the community.

Crossan said calls for service continued after the festival with many
party-goers staying in area hotels.

Jeff Young, manager of special events for the City of Kitchener, said
the private company met all requirements with the city for permits and
licences which included noise exemption, fire department inspection,
road closures, special event permits and a food truck licence. Bylaw
officers were also on site.
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