The City of Peterborough and the Peterborough Police Service have issued a joint statement about an “unsanctioned parade” that has been promoted as taking place on George Street between Brock and Lansdowne in Peterborough late Saturday afternoon (December 11).
“The City of Peterborough and Peterborough Police Service do not endorse or support parades or events that are held without the necessary permits or permissions,” reads the statement that was issued on Thursday (December 9).
According to the statement, the primary concern of police is for the safety of the participants and organizers.
“Unsanctioned parades are dangerous. They require extensive planning with multiple stakeholders including police, fire services, and the city’s public works and transportation divisions. They require significant financial support upfront for the associated expenses such as adequate insurance.”
The statement says that failure to follow the proper processes opens the organizer and participants up to potential charges and significant fines under the Criminal Code, the Highway Traffic Act, the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, and local by-laws.
One of those local by-laws involves temporary road closures for events. At its general committee meeting on Monday (December 6), city council endorsed amending by-law 05-083 to prohibit promoting or advertising an event for which a permit is required, unless a permit has been issued or unless the city has approved promotion of the event prior to the issuing of a permit.
The amendment by-law also allows the city to “establish administrative monetary penalties as an additional enforcement alternative.”
As for what will happen if Saturday’s unscanctioned parade on George Street goes ahead, the joint statement points out that, since George Street will not be officially closed, “all persons on it will be required to abide by the rules therein, and violations will be investigated and followed up on appropriately.”
“The Police Service wishes to communicate that a police response to such unsanctioned events should not be considered an endorsement, but recognized as a commitment to community safety,” the statement adds.
