As Trent University’s 54th annual Head of the Trent weekend begins, the Peterborough police and the university are asking students and residents to celebrate “safely and respectfully” and to expect to see a larger-than-normal police presence both on and off-campus during the weekend.
The annual weekend, which features competitive rowing, Excalibur varsity games, alumni gatherings, and family-friendly activities, draws thousands of alumni, students, family, and friends to the university’s Symons Campus as well as to downtown Peterborough.
Trent University’s associate vice president of students Lawrence Lam and Peterborough police staff sergeant Mark Reesor spoke at a media conference Friday morning (October 3) at police headquarters on Water Street in downtown Peterborough.
“The annual Head of the Trent weekend, this weekend, is a time-honoured tradition to celebrate all things green and white with Trent University,” Lam said. “We have alumni and athletes coming in from all over the world back to Peterborough, back to campus, which is a huge boost to our community, our restaurants, our hotels and shops.”
Since it began in 1971 with just 13 boats, the Head of the Trent regatta has grown into one of the largest head races in North America, with more than 800 boats and 1,400 athletes competing along the five-kilometre course on the Trent-Severn Waterway.
As it does every year, Trent University “encourages all participants to celebrate safely and responsibly on campus and throughout the city. Trent works closely with the City of Peterborough, student unions, and local emergency services to ensure the weekend is safe and enjoyable for all.”
Past weekends have been marred by raucous parties attended by hundreds of students, as well as isolated incidents of mischief, theft, and nuisance in downtown Peterborough.
In addition to attending parties, many students traditionally head to downtown Peterborough on Saturday night to socialize and celebrate at the bars.
In preparation for the weekend, Peterborough police have been working over the past few months with fire and paramedics and the City of Peterborough’s emergency management, transit and board of works to develop a coordinated response during the weekend.
According to Reesor, the police response includes increased staffing levels, with the crowd management unit, the volunteer auxiliary unit, and paid duty officers who will be located both on and off-campus “so that we can respond quickly and adequately to any situations that we’re required to.”
“Trent’s very graciously stepped up and paid the bill for these additional officers because they recognize that, both and off campus, some of the people that are coming into the city are here because of the Head of the Trent weekend,” Reesor said.
In addition to the crowd management unit and the auxiliary unit, Reesor said there will be four officers on campus and seven officers in the city, with an additional four officers in the city at night.
Part of the advance planning has included meetings with neighbours and students, with the auxiliary unit visiting areas that have seen large student parties in past years to offer suggestions to neighbours on improving property safety.
While no road closures are planned during the weekend, Reesor said they are possible if required to ensure the safety of students and residents.
For more information about the Head of the Trent weekend, including a schedule of events and activities, visit www.trentu.ca/headofthetrent.
