‘Beyond upset’: Guelph mayor reacts as Homecoming chaos leads to charges

Guelph Police are tallying up charges after an unruly homecoming weekend, during which multiple charges were laid this past Saturday.

In an email to Now Toronto, the Guelph Police Service confirmed a busy weekend for officers after they were called to the Chancellors Way area on the University of Guelph campus.

The school was celebrating homecoming before it got out of hand. Police received multiple disturbance and alcohol-related calls that led to charges when they arrived on scene.

Police confirmed the gathering was larger than the usual turnout in past years, which they say led to safety concerns.

Attendees of the HoCo celebration could be seen throwing objects, climbing buildings and other structures, as well as shoplifting and vandalizing nearby businesses, according to police.

As the event continued, concerns continued to grow.

Initially, the operation was in collaboration with the University of Guelph, the City of Guelph, Bylaw staff, the Guelph Fire Department, Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service, Guelph General Hospital, and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, alongside police. Each group aimed to protect the safety of students, residents, and visitors during the celebration.

Once the commotion escalated, police called in their Service Tactics and Rescue Unit to assist in the crowd.

“Although no known serious injuries have been reported at the time of this release, emergency responders treated multiple people for injuries, including cuts and lacerations, and responded to a number of intoxication-related medical calls,” police said in the email.

Officers laid multiple criminal and provincial charges, including for causing a disturbance and numerous alcohol-related offences.

Police confirmed to Now Toronto that they are still verifying the numbers on how many charges were laid before releasing them, ensuring they have removed duplicate calls and determined whether incidents reported separately or at a later time were connected, before doing so.

Investigators will also continue to review reported incidents, video and other evidence, and there may be additional charges.

‘I’m disappointed,’ Mayor reacts

Following Saturday’s events, Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie took to his social media, telling residents that he was disappointed.

“I’m disappointed that what occurred was obviously completely unnecessary,” he said in a video on Facebook. “…Last night was something that definitely came out of the blue.”

Guthrie added that he was concerned about the safety aspect of the turnout and the disorderly event.

“I am beyond upset seeing videos of our emergency services getting bottles thrown at them, and worse,” he said.

Additionally, multiple businesses reported damages, including smashed windows, according to the mayor.

Guthrie said that the fact that taxpayers front these costs year after year leaves him “ticked.”

“At the end of the day, I’m a taxpayer too, and I don’t want a dime of my hard-earned money going to this kind of stuff when other people are ultimately responsible,” he said.

Guthrie also directed a message to the parents of the university students involved, telling them that if they recognized their child in the crowd in the videos circulating online, it was time to have a talk with them.

“There’s a lot of maturing that I think needs to occur here.”

He also told students involved that it was time to say sorry.

“Maybe it’s time you take responsibility, maybe it’s time you knock on the door of your neighbours and introduce yourself,” Guthrie suggested.

“You are a guest in our city, and we want to welcome you with open arms, but that is a two-way street. [You’ve] got to respect us on the way back.”