On behalf of town council, Mayor Nina Bifolchi extends a sincere thank you to the Ontario Provincial Police for the tremendous effort officers put into keeping our community safe this past weekend while an unsanctioned gathering of car enthusiasts took place in town.
In addition, Mayor Bifolchi thanks members of the Wasaga Beach Fire Department and the Wasaga Beach Public Works Department, as well as other municipal staffers, for their efforts to assist police and support our community over the last few days.
Municipal assistance included closing certain town parking lots and placing speed bumps at locations arranged by the OPP.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to these men and women for their coordinated effort,” Mayor Bifolchi said. “Unfortunately, this past weekend cost our province and our town a great deal in terms of resources and money due to unlawful activity that put the safety of our residents and police at risk. While the final cost is still being tallied, it is safe to say that people in our community should not have their quality of life impacted by visitors who drive dangerously and break a number of other laws.”
Police responded to 439 calls for service on the weekend. Officers had 70 vehicles towed for a variety of offences, including 22 instances of stunt driving and 33 incidents involving unfit vehicles. Police removed four impaired drivers from the road and issued 383 charges to motorists.
“These numbers for such a short period of time are simply astounding and speak volumes to the character of this so-called event and its supporters,” Mayor Bifolchi said. “There is no official, identifiable organizer of this past weekend, only an anonymous social media presence that is utilized to activate participants and encourage unruly and illegal activity.”
Responsible individuals and organizations go through the town’s special events process and obtain the necessary approvals before operating an event in our community. This includes having a detailed plan and proper insurance. Wasaga Beach has a long history of safely hosting organized car and motorcycle events and this is due to our special events procedures.
“In the last few days some have suggested that we should attempt to work with the people that bring this car gathering to Wasaga Beach, but this town will not go down a path of appeasement and negotiate with lawlessness,” Mayor Bifolchi said. “Our town is not a place for illegal activity by visitors looking for a good time. There are no exceptions. We can do without that type of tourist. Wasaga Beach is a destination for people looking to enjoy our beautiful natural setting and great quality of life. Trying to take over our town, driving dangerously in our parking lots and on our roads, is simply not acceptable. While some businesses such as motels and restaurants may have benefited this past weekend, other businesses were negatively effected. We ask that people who enjoy participating in these dangerous car gatherings refrain from visiting Wasaga Beach.”
People in our community are still grappling with how best to get through these illegal events. For example, leading into the weekend, after first agreeing, two property owners asked to have the speed bumps removed from the entrances to their lots, with one later calling on OPP for assistance to have their lot cleared when it became apparent inappropriate behaviour was taking place.
The town will continue to work with law enforcement officials to ensure public safety at all times throughout the year.
People wishing to organize legitimate events should contact the town’s Special Events Department for further information on how to go about having a safe and fun activity in the community.
Town thanks OPP, fire service, and public works for helping keep Wasaga Beach safe over the weekend. More here: https://t.co/GiUOXSudju #WasagaBeach pic.twitter.com/VKqF2TeyGO
— Town of Wasaga Beach (@WB_Media) September 27, 2021