After last fall’s University of Ottawa Gee-Gees football victory over the Carleton Ravens, thousands of people descended on that area near the victorious campus. Revelers overturned a vehicle, seven people ended up in hospital, while eight others faced charges ranging from disorderly conduct to rioting to taking part in an unlawful assembly. This mess can’t happen again, said Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury. If that happens, the 53rd Panda game on Oct. 1 at Lansdowne Park could be one of the last. “It’s a reality that the cost of policing and the cost of reputation for both the city and the universities … put that tradition at risk,” he said. “The game will continue this year, but it doesn’t mean we’ll see it again next year.” Mayor Jim Watson said he plans to attend. He hopes people enjoy the game and then leave in peace, and he spoke out for anyone who gets violent. “The message to the students is clear: Don’t be an idiot. Enjoy the football game, have fun … but also respect the neighborhood you live in,” Watson said. “The bottom line is if it goes completely off the rails and there’s destruction and damage and injuries to people, obviously we have to step back and take a look — is this going to continue?”
Police will have ‘zero tolerance’
Ottawa police said online and going door-to-door that they would have “zero tolerance” for disruptive parties and warned people to expect a heavy police presence at ByWard Market, Sandy Hill and Old Ottawa South. Last year, the celebrations were quiet at first and a large number of police were on Sandy Hill during the day, but officers had to be redeployed around 8pm. after Russell Avenue was overrun with parties. Louise Lapointe, president of Action Sandy Hill, said the Panda game is part of what makes Ottawa the city it is and must continue. The community is not against fun, he said, but the “excessive parties and riots” of the past year are “absolutely ungrateful”. WATCHES | Some of what happened after the 2021 race:
Police are investigating Panda Game attendees who overturned and destroyed the car
Thousands of people descended on Ottawa’s Sandy Hill neighborhood after the annual Panda Game football game on Saturday. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson says he is “disappointed and disgusted” by the chaos that followed. The organization has been working with officials since last year to build on the successes of a tailgate event in an arena and move other events outside of residential areas to prevent what happened in 2021 from happening again. If it happens again, there could be consequences, Lapointe warned. “I think nobody wants to see Panda ever cancelled, but unfortunately that’s a risk if behavior doesn’t change.”
Student union wants to ‘protect Panda’
The University of Ottawa Students’ Union is focused on trying to “protect Panda,” according to student life commissioner Erin Atkinson. She plans to put up posters and send out emails reminding students to have fun while respecting the larger community. All in one day9:19 How the University of Ottawa Student Union is preparing for the Panda Game We speak with Student Life Commissioner Erin Atkinson about how the University of Ottawa’s Students’ Union is working to ensure there are no disturbances after next week’s Panda Game Atkinson said she hopes the city and police will “remain reasonable” in enforcement. “I think if we work together and respect each other on both sides, it will go so smoothly,” he added. Last year’s after-game party prompted Fleury to recommend canceling the 2022 Panda Game. The councilman now says the fans will decide whether the event goes ahead. “If there is no future Panda, it will be on the shoulders of the students’ decisions.”
