Barrhaven Canada Day implements new security measures
Posted Jun 30, 2019 05:00:33 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Security measures are being put in place at Barrhaven's Canada Day event.
Incidents involving teens and Ottawa Police officers at the 2018 festivities led Darrell Bartraw to realize that some changes would be needed.
“Immediately after the event last year we sat down with our committee” said the President of Barrhaven Canada Day. “We knew we were going to have to put up fencing and do bag checks.”
On top of that, they installed more lighting and will have an added security presence.
Bartraw says the added safety measures will cost them somewhere between $15,000 and $18,000, but they have received some help.
“Luckily we've got a great community and a lot of new businesses have stepped up to help us out,” he explained. “We were also fortunate to get some extra money this year from Heritage Canada.”
He says they wanted to help out, knowing the kinds of issues they had last year.
The festivities are family-friendly, and provide a change of pace from the crowds that make their way to Parliament Hill.
There is a kids zone with lots of interactive games. There's a crafting area where kids can build things, and plenty of games where all kids are winners.
He says it's also nice to be able to see the stage.
“You can get right up to the stage instead of getting up on dad's shoulders and seeing a little dot on a screen.”
The fireworks start at 10:00 p.m. and he says they are better than on Parliament Hill.
“They're a lot closer here, it's almost like they're falling on your head, so you get a really good bird's-eye view of them.”
The festivities are being held at Clarke Fields Park on Strandherd Drive.
For more information, you can head here.
