WINNIPEG — It’s a day to celebrate our country but along with the parties, the Winnipeg Police Service is reminding people to be safe.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend Canada Day celebrations around Winnipeg including three historically large events at the Forks, Osborne Village and the Assiniboine Park.
“Last year we broke records with 72,000 down here in a one kilometre stretch,” Osborne Biz Executive Director Stephanie Meilleur said. “We are planning for that same attendance, if not more, this year.”
The annual Osborne Village Street Festival & Canada Day Celebration, is Winnipeg’s largest and longest-running street festival, according to organizers.
Along with adding extra activities to this year’s roster, the Osborne Biz is also adding extra security.
“At any point we have 25 to 30 officers in the area as well as additional hired security,” Meilleur said.
The Winnipeg Police Service said while it doesn’t release the number of officers on duty, it is focusing policing efforts on those three main locations.
“You’ll see a fairly significant police presence out there,” Cst. Rob Carver said. “You’ll see officers from our Crowd Management Unit on hand. Tactical Support will be showing up, Street Crime, General Patrol members and cadets will certainly be around.”
Officers said they look at past celebrations when planning staffing for large events such as Canada Day.
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In 2015, the Forks Canada Day celebration was its biggest in 20 years, with 100,000 people in attendance. However, along with the fireworks there were several serious police incidents.
A 17-year-old was stabbed with a machete after a fight escalated near the skate park.
Just a few blocks away, police responded to a triple stabbing at a block party in the Earls restaurant parking lot on Main Street.
“We are always learning from previous experience, so we know that calls for service are high,” Cst. Carver said. “Our officers will work as efficiently as they can but these aren’t things we can speed through.”
Police are also sending out a warning to anyone who may be driving down to the Forks on Canada Day.
After the celebrations are over, officers will be holding traffic from leaving the area until pedestrians are able to leave.
“We have thousands and thousands of people who are leaving with families and on bikes,” Cst. Carver said. “People have to be safe.”