Homecoming weekend at the University of Guelph put people’s safety at “serious risk,” leading to “several” criminal charges and a strain on the city’s emergency department, according to officials.
One student at the Ontario school said the “chaos” broke out on Saturday as thousands turned out for an unsanctioned street party on Chancellors Way.
“People throwing cans at each other, yelling, causing fights,” recalled Erik Rutledge, a second-year economics and finance student.
Photos and videos, shared on social media, showed some of the unruly behaviour.
Rutledge watched the action from above.
“We had a little party in our apartment,” he told CTV News. “We were only allowed 20 people in, so we got wristbands for them.”
At one point, two young men climbed up the side of the building, and one of them lost his grip.
“I saw someone fall three storeys, trying to get in my apartment,” Rutledge said. “I don’t know who they are.”
Then, speaking directly to the CTV News camera, he added: “Hope you’re OK, if you hear this.”
The Guelph Police Service shut down Chancellors Way around 4 p.m. As the party raged on, they extended that closure to nearby streets.
“It was the craziest Homecoming I’ve ever been to in my entire life,” said Isa Elfarse, a second-year student at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. “Let alone the craziest HoCo I’ve seen at Guelph, ever.”
Videos on social media showed police with tactical gear trying to quell the crowd, while several students tossed red smoke bombs into the street.
Police tactical unit helped ‘restore order’
The Guelph Police Service issued a public statement on Monday afternoon.
“As the situation escalated and the risk to public safety increased, additional police resources, including members of the Guelph Police Service Tactics and Rescue Unit, were deployed to assist frontline officers and support emergency responders working within the crowd,” they wrote. “Their efforts helped restore order, prevent further injuries and allow emergency personnel to safely access those requiring assistance.”
Police also laid “several” charges related to Homecoming, including causing a disturbance and alcohol-related offences. They said investigators were still reviewing photos and videos, which may result in additional charges.
Guelph police told CTV News on Monday that “well over” 1,000 people were in attendance, “but nothing confirmed.”
“Anecdotally, sounds like in past years estimates put attendance at about 5,000 people, and the crowd appeared larger this year.”
ER was ‘stretched beyond capacity’
Guelph General Hospital said approximately 60 people were hurt at Homecoming, with “head injuries caused by thrown bottles, lacerations and intoxication.”
“Homecoming-related visits place significant pressure on critical hospital resources,” a statement from Dr. Alex Folkl, the chief of emergency medicine, read. “This weekend, our Emergency Department was stretched beyond capacity. Had we also experienced an influx of seriously ill patients or even a small multi-patient trauma event, there was a real risk that we would not have been able to provide every patient with the timely level of care they required.”
Mayor’s message
The City of Guelph didn’t mince words.
“This past weekend saw an unacceptable level of disruption, unsafe behaviour and incidents, exceeding what we have experienced in previous years,” their statement said, adding that “this behaviour has no place in our community.”
Cam Guthrie, Guelph’s mayor, shared his reaction in a video posted to social media.
“What I saw and what I’ve heard is not good. And I’m pretty ticked about that,” he said. “I am beyond upset seeing videos of our emergency services (responders) getting bottles thrown at them … I have heard from businesses that had their windows smashed out … then there’s the garbage and lighting of fires.”
Guthrie said he previously addressed the problem with other mayors, who have also dealt with unsanctioned street parties, as well as the university. Those discussions, so far, have gone nowhere, he said.
The mayor also had a message for students.
“There’s a lot of maturing that I think needs to occur here,” Guthrie said.
Students ‘had a blast’
Elfarse described the day as hectic, but memorable.
“Sure, stuff gets out of hand, but it was awesome,” he said.
When asked if this year’s street party crossed the line, Rutledge answered: “100 per cent.”
“I feel like it’s going to get crossed every time,” he continued. “People are just going to cause chaos, no matter what. They think that’s fun.”
CTV News then asked Rutledge about his overall “HoCo” experience.
“Had a blast, man,” he stated.
‘This cannot happen again’
The school’s president and vice chancellor did not mince words in a statement published on Monday.
Rene Van Acker said the celebration “posed a serious risk to the safety and wellbeing of our students, neighbours and broader community.”
“The University of Guelph is deeply disappointed by what occurred, and we are clear that this cannot happen again,” it read, in part.
Van Acker also said it will take a coordinated response and a renewed approached to prevent future unsanctioned gatherings.
“We will work closely with our community partners to review what occurred, assess where the current approach must change, and identify additional measures needed to prevent similar incidents, reduce risk and better support community safety,” the statement continued.
Van Acker then noted “a concerning trend” where people who are not students at the university, like Elfarse, are taking part in these unsanctioned gatherings. He claimed they were “among those involved in property damage and other disruptive behaviour.”
Some University of Guelph students, he acknowledged, were also part of the problem.
“Where individuals are found to have violated university policies or applicable laws, the university will take action,” he promised.
Van Acker thanked the students who behaved responsibly and helped to clean up on Sunday morning.
“The university engages in extensive planning and coordination throughout the year with campus and community partners to support a safe Homecoming weekend for students, staff, alumni and neighbours,” he wrote. “This work includes ongoing communication and education for students beginning at the start of term, encouraging them to reflect on and demonstrate the values of the university. We will build on this partnership and strengthen our shared planning so that our mitigation efforts are better aligned with the level of risk these gatherings can create.”
How does it compare?
Homecoming weekend is supposed to be a celebration of school pride, but unsanctioned street parties have overshadowed the event.
2025
No major incidents were reported at Homecoming 2025.
More than 10,000 people filled the street at the height of the party.
Guelph Police said they issued 80 tickets under the Liquor Licence Act that weekend and bylaw officers were called to more than 80 noise complaints across the city. Paramedics also treated three people who were sprayed with an unknown noxious substance.
2024
The unsanctioned street party came to an abrupt end in 2024.
Guelph Police said a man from Etobicoke was stabbed outside the main party zone and walked towards the crowd seeking help. He was not seriously hurt. Police said he had no association with the university but was in the city expressly for Homecoming celebrations.
First responders brought in extra help to manage the crowd. Guelph Police said that cost more than $73,000. Most of that was covered by the police service’s budget, but the University of Guelph also chipped in $18,000.
2023
An estimated 4,500 people gathered on Chancellors Way in 2023.
While they said there were “no major” incidents, an officer was hit in the neck with what was believed to be a beer bottle. They were not hurt.
2022
Approximately 5,000 people turned out for Homecoming celebrations in 2022.
Police said two separate fires were set during the gathering, including one involving a couch.
There were 400 calls for service, double the normal daily call volume, and 349 tickets for bylaw infractions were issued.
A Toronto man was also charged after he allegedly released bear spray into the crowd.
2021
An estimated 1,200 people gathered on Chancellors Way in 2021.
Guelph Police said a 19-year-old man from Mississauga shot fireworks into the crowd, but no one was hurt. At one point, partygoers surrounded a police cruiser and banged on the windows and screamed while officers were seated inside.
Police laid 46 charges related to the street party.
The cost was estimated at more than $30,000.
2018
Guelph Police said the cost for 2018’s party was $63,456, mostly for additional staffing.
Approximately 5,000 people packed Chancellors Way and, of those, 23 people were arrested for various offences.
2017
The warmer weather was blamed on a big turnout in 2017.
The crowd was estimated at 4,000 people.
