ANTIGONISH: Antigonish Town Council wants to work with local RCMP and St. Francis Xavier University to address issues stemming from “unruly” St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
During a recent council meeting, councillors discussed incidents from Saturday, March 15, including a large crowd gathering on St. Mary’s Street, public drinking, and other disturbances.
Mayor Sean Cameron emphasized that the next step would involve bringing these concerns to the town’s Police and Licensing Committee for further review and action.
“The culture at StFX has changed, it kind of forces them off campus,” Mayor Cameron said. “We have to change the culture that it’s ok to walk around our town with open liquor, it is not, [that] it is ok to gather in large masses – we don’t accept that behaviour.”
While Mayor Cameron acknowledged that the majority of students were well-behaved, he noted that some images shared on social media were concerning. He praised the efforts of law enforcement for containing the situation and expressed relief that no serious injuries were reported.
Cameron also extended gratitude to the students who volunteered to assist with cleanup efforts the following day.
“We need to meet with StFX, meet with RCMP to discuss what we can do to prevent these types of behaviours.”
According to the RCMP, eight individuals were detained for offences under the Liquor Control Act and for disturbing the peace. Officers issued 17 Summary Offence Tickets, 11 of which were related to liquor violations.
Additionally, two tickets were issued under the town’s Nuisance Party By-Law.
The council remains committed to working with stakeholders to ensure future celebrations can be enjoyed safely and responsibly.