Message regarding illegal street gatherings

Sept. 7, 2021

Dear Laurier community,

This weekend some Wilfrid Laurier University students participated in illegal gatherings near our Waterloo campus that resulted in vandalism to city and university property. These gatherings were in flagrant violation of Ontario’s public health measures and extremely disrespectful to our community. There is zero tolerance for this behaviour at Laurier.

Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) and Laurier’s Special Constable Service (SCS) are collaborating to go through video footage to identify those who engaged in illegal activities. Those identified will be facing suspension and/or expulsion from the university, may face fines for violating the Reopening Ontario Act, and could face criminal charges related to vandalism.

WRPS and SCS will also be working together to increase their security presence on and around our campus to ensure this behaviour stops immediately.

We are still in the midst of a global health crisis. We have seen how very real the threat of COVID-19 and its variants can be in our community. Students must take their responsibility as community members seriously. Reckless behaviour will not be tolerated as it is putting the most vulnerable in our community at risk and tarnishing the reputation of students and our university.

Deborah L. MacLatchy, PhD
President and Vice-Chancellor