A statement on this weekend’s Panda Game after party – UPDATED

ASH statement

News Reports

Ottawa Police Service Investigation

GoFundMe to support the owner of the destroyed car


25-Apr-22

Sandy Hill Town and Gown Committee 12-Apr-2022

18-Nov-21

Minutes from November 4th Town & Gown Panda Game debrief:

TG-Nov-21-Minutes.EN_.pdf

TG-Nov-21-Minutes.FR_.pdf

TG-Nov-21-Resident-Survey-Responses.pdf

TG-Nov-21-ChatFile.pdf

Youtube recording of the meeting:


5-Nov-21

Representatives of ASH presented the report and recommendations below at the Town &Gown Panda debrief meeting held on 4-Nov-21. The report was also sent to the Mayor, Councillor Fleury, MPP Lucille Collard, MP Mona Fortier, as well as the OPS Chief Peter Sloly, the City Manager Steve Kanellakos, and the President of the University of Ottawa Jacques Frémont.

ASH Panda Report and Recommendations

ASH statement

Action Sandy Hill condemns the destructive, disrespectful, and criminal activities that took place on Saturday night on Russell Ave. First, ASH does not condone illegal “street parties” on residential streets. This was an illegal gathering. Second, we are incredibly disappointed in the deportment of these young adults, who showed a complete and flagrant disregard for public safety, the law, their neighbours, private property, and the environment.

While post-game festivities – and the problems it causes – are well known to the community, this year’s escalation and the City of Ottawa, the University of Ottawa, and the Ottawa Police’s collective failure to mount an effective response to the mayhem has led our Association and Sandy Hill residents to question the future of the Panda Games.

Through the Town and Gown committee, ASH has raised community concerns as well as possible mitigation measures with the University of Ottawa and the City of Ottawa. Clearly, our concerns about public safety and private property were not met.

Be assured that ASH will be in communication with the City, the University of Ottawa, and the Ottawa Police about Saturday’s events and their responsibilities to the Sandy Hill community.

We invite neighbours to reach out to us directly with comments, concerns, and ideas as to what you would like to see happen to the Panda Game. As a community association, it’s our duty to gather your thoughts and share them with the City, Ottawa Police, uOttawa, and other involved parties. Should you choose to send an email to officials, please also consider copying us. Please email info@ash-acs.ca with the subject line “Panda Games”.


 

News Reports

Citynews Ottawa

LISTEN: ‘Disappointing’ behaviour: Sandy Hill residents, city, academic officials calling out Panda Game ‘rioters’

LISTEN: “They weren’t supported by the police presence” Sandy Hill residents react to Panda Game after-party chaos [includes comments from Susan Khazaeli, ASH President]

University parties leaving chaos in their wake

CTV

Police pulled officers back before Sandy Hill street party escalated: mayor

Panda-monium: Vehicle damaged, streets covered in garbage following celebrations in Ottawa’s Sandy Hill neighbourhood

Police closure of Sandy Hill street ‘started a problem’ at Panda game party: councillor

Police chief on Panda game response: ‘We need to do better’

CBC

‘Out of hand’ Ottawa street party following football game condemned by officials, police

LISTEN: Some Sandy hill residents are calling for the panda game to be cancelled after Saturday’s chaos

Post-Panda Game mayhem leads to more charges

Ottawa police to review force’s Panda Game response

Ottawa Citizen

Post-Panda revellers converge on Russell Avenue for destructive street party

Egan: The Hangover — How to keep Panda, but control the chaos?

Russell Avenue residents: We’re fed up with Panda Game violence and lack of response by city leaders

Ottawa Sun

POST-PANDA CHAOS: ‘People were taking parts off the car and throwing them’

The Fulcrum

Sandy Hill residents calling for permanent end to Panda Game after violent Oct. 2 street party

 

Related Action Sandy Hill Posts


GoFundMe to support the owner of the destroyed car

Ottawa Destroyed Car Fund


Ottawa Police Service

Update 15-Oct-21

Public tips received by the Central Criminal Investigation Section have contributed to the identification of more individuals (per photos released on October 7th) as well as other involved people whose images had not been released by police.

https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/crime/panda-game-investigation.aspx

Update 7-Oct-21

Photos of individuals for identification

https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/crime/panda-game-investigation.aspx

This week, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Central Criminal Investigation Section has identified all 10 individuals (shown in photos released on October 4th) and laid charges against three persons involved in acts of mischief in Sandy Hill last Saturday evening.

Two 20 year old men from Ottawa and a 22 year old man from Haliburton, Ontario have been charged with one count each of Mischief over 5000$ and Participate in unlawful assembly, per the Criminal Code of Canada.Investigators have released another 18 images today and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying more individuals.

The investigation continues and investigators are reviewing images and videos submitted to the OPS or gathered by officers from surveillance video or social media.

If you can identify any of the individuals, please contact 613-236-1222 ext. 5166.

Video/photo evidence can be sent to: CentralCIU@ottawapolice.ca.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.


Updated: Panda Investigation: Police begin to release photos of individuals for identification

Panda Investigation: Police begin to release photos of individuals for identification

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, October 4, 2021      4:45pm

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is asking for the public’s help to identify multiple people in relation to criminal behaviour that occurred in Sandy Hill on Saturday evening.

Police are reviewing multiple images and videos submitted to the OPS or gathered by officers from surveillance video or social media.

If you can identify anyone in the images, please contact Ottawa Police at 613-236-1222 ext. 5166. If you have information about or images of criminal acts that were committed, please also contact police.

Investigators are examining all available footage, with the assistance of City and community partners, to identify the persons responsible for incidents of mischief and cause disturbance reported that evening, including a car that was overturned on Russell Avenue and one person assaulted.

A special web page for these photos has been created at ottawapolice.ca/pandagame and they are being shared on OPS social media platforms. More images are expected to be released this week.

Video/photo evidence can be sent to: CentralCIU@ottawapolice.ca.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.

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CONTACT:

Media Relations Office

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sunday, October 3rd  2021     1:00pm

Investigation into Post-Panda Game Incidents

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is investigating several incidents of criminal behaviour after a large crowd gathered in the Sandy Hill area of Ottawa last night following the Panda Game.

Police are reviewing social media, video and other investigative information gathered last night after thousands of people gathered on several streets including Russell Avenue.

OPS and other City partners had a very large presence throughout the day on Saturday for the traditional pre-Panda Game festivities.  The pre and post Game events were very safe and did not disrupt the neighbourhood.

However, just after 8p.m., large crowds began to gather in Sandy Hill at multiple addresses.

OPS redeployed a large number of officers and called out members of the Emergency Services Unit. The officers worked to control and manage the groups of people with partners from the RCMP, and City By-law, Paramedics and Ottawa Fire Services.

In some cases, the crowds became very disruptive. In one incident, a car was overturned and a person was assaulted. Police are reviewing evidence and will be laying any applicable charges under the Reopening of Ontario Act, Liquor Licence Act, City By-laws as well as any criminal charges under the Criminal Code of Canada.

These behaviours are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Investigators have been assigned to identify anyone who committed crimes. The OPS will also work with the University of Ottawa and Carleton University staff where students from those were involved in these behaviours.

At this time no one has been charged.

The OPS wants to thank all the officers, frontline responders, City of Ottawa By-law and Public Works personnel along with the University of Ottawa and Carleton University staff for their work under very difficult circumstances.

We are committed to keeping the community safe and fully understand the concerns from neighbourhood residents and property owners. Victims of these crimes will also be supported.

Anyone with information regarding any criminal behaviour or who has evidence like photos or video is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Central Criminal Investigation Section at 613-236-1222 ext. 5166.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.

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CONTACT:

Media Relations Office

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366