Osheaga organizers focusing more than ever on safety

WATCH ABOVE: Sunday was the last day of the Osheaga Music Festival. With a record number of attendees, organizers have had to work harder than ever to coordinate the festival’s logistics. Global’s Rachel Lau has the story.

MONTREAL – Osheaga general manager Jacques Aubé was both shocked and amazed that in its eighth year, Osheaga has completely taken over Montreal.

“It’s huge, it’s great, it’s fantastic,” he said.

For the second year in a row, the three day music festival is completely sold out.

With more than 42,000 people making the trip from Montreal to Parc-Jean-Drapeau, Aubé, along with his team, has spent months figuring out logistics to keep everyone safe.

“We’re much more proactive,” said Aubé

“As we get better, we’re keeping the same security people, the same service a la clientele people for all the years so they understand Osheaga and they understand what we want to give to our clientele, and it’s working.”

Osheaga has worked closely with several partners, including Montreal police, to make sure to keep any incidents at a minimum.

“It’s nice cooperation and good collaboration,” explained Simon Delorme, spokesperson for Montreal police.

“Good communication between all the people, which are involved in the safety of the people of the visitors here.”

Tickets to the festival are computerized.

Everyone who enters the site is scanned in through a chip on their bracelets.

Festival goers say even with the number of people at Osheaga this year, they can definitely feel the strong security presence.

“They’ve got security guards everywhere and the music is amazing. I really like it,” said one attendee, Stephanie.

With each Osheaga festival breaking the attendance record from the previous year, Aubé said he doesn’t know what to expect in 2014, but there’s no time like the present to start thinking about safety logistics.