Homecoming is here and WRPS is asking students to be smart and safe

It’s always one of the most notorious weekends of the year, but homecoming officially kicks off today for students across the region.

The ever-popular weekend is highlighted by a football match today at 1 p.m. between the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks and the visiting Ottawa Gee-Gees at University Stadium. Tickets to the game are already sold out.

Ezra Avenue will also be closed for the weekend for the ongoing celebrations around the campus, the same as occurs on St. Patrick’s Day.

Waterloo Regional Police knows that it’s one of the biggest party weekends of the year, reminding students to be responsible.

“I wanted to remind everybody to be safe, be smart, and be responsible,” said Constable Chris Iden in a post to social media. “Homecoming weekends should be a celebration, and not something that you want to forget.”

He says, just like every year, lots of preperations have gone into the busy weekend, but it’s up to the students themselves on what will come of it.

“This weekend, remember, try to take advantage of the liquor establishments uptown. Make sure that you drink responsibly and have a safe way home. And please, remember that unsanctioned gatherings are both unlawful and unsafe.”

He says homecoming should be a weekend to remember, but making a big mistake could change it into one you’ll want to forget.