Security top of mind at this weekend's Lilac Festival, says deputy police chief
Article content
With one of Calgary's largest street festivals set to take over the Beltline, Mission and Cliff Bungalow this weekend, and with recent vehicle-ramming events in Liverpool and Vancouver in mind, protecting attendees will be a priority at Sunday's 4th Street Lilac Festival.
Article content
Article content
The free yearly event is slated to bring more than 100,000 Calgarians down to 4th Street S.W. for the day-long celebration, which informally kicks off the summer festival season.
Article content
Article content
Lilac Fest, which is entering its 34th year, will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. between 12th Avenue and Elbow Drive S.W., offering up hundreds of vendors and dozens of live performances.
Article content
Article content
A statement from the Calgary Police Service said there will be enhanced security protocols in place and the agency is taking extra measures to ensure the safety of festivalgoers this year.
Article content
'We continuously monitor both local and international incidents as part of our planning for all major events,' it stated.
Article content
Article content
This year's festival comes just days after a minivan plowed into a crowd of soccer fans in Liverpool who were celebrating their team winning the English Premier League championship. Nobody was killed in Tuesday's attack, but 79 were reportedly injured and many were hospitalized, including children.
Article content
Article content
That incident followed a deadly vehicle-ramming in Vancouver last month, where 11 people were killed and many more were injured during the Lapu Lapu Day festival on April 26.
Article content
In response, chief administrative officer David Duckworth said the city completes approximately 100 emergency response plans for festivals and community events each year, preparing for everything from medical emergencies to fires, bomb threats and violence.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
Southern Alberta hockey player dies after falling from Calgary highrise
The southern Alberta hockey community is in shock, mourning the sudden death of a young man beloved in the community. O'Shea Red Crow, 21, from Siksika Nation died on Sunday in Calgary and the homicide unit is investigating. The Calgary Police Service said officers were called at 5 a.m. to the 1100 block of Third St. S.E., after a man reportedly fell a highrise balcony. Upon arrival, police said the man was found in medical distress and taken to hospital in life-threatening condition, where he died of his injuries. Doug Raycroft, coach of the Wheatland Kings junior hockey team in Strathmore, coached Red Crow during the 2023-24 season and said news of his death left him in shock. 'I just saw him a few weeks ago and everything was fine,' Raycroft said. He said news of the loss spread quickly in the hockey community. Story continues below advertisement 'I know I speak for our whole organization, the players and their administration, we're just all devastated to hear this news and really feel bad for the family, for his mom Rose and his family, that are I'm sure beyond belief devastated at this.' View image in full screen O'Shea Red Crow, 21, from Siksika Nation, played for the Strathmore Wheatland Kings junior hockey team during the 2023-24 season. Supplied Red Crow was a quiet but funny young man — a gentle giant — and a beloved teammate who played in a few teams in southern Alberta in recent years, Raycroft said, including most recently with the Siksika Buffaloes, a senior team on Siksika Nation. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'He was passionate and loved playing,' Raycroft said, explaining in addition to his junior hockey commitments, the five-foot-11-inch, 260-pound forward would join friends to play in tournaments held at First Nations in Alberta. 'There was always a lot of guys that just loved playing with him. Story continues below advertisement 'He was a good teammate and you know he's gonna be missed.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He was a good teammate and you know he's gonna be missed." Before joining the Wheatland Kings, Red Crow played for the Vernal Oilers in Utah. The team posted their condolences Sunday night on Facebook. 'With heavy hearts, we sadly announce the passing of former Oiler O'Shea Red Crow,' the team said. 'O'Shea arrived in Vernal during the 2022/23 season and instantly became a fan favorite, recording 21 points in 22 games and establishing himself as one of the most feared players in the Northwest division before seeing his season end prematurely due to an injury suffered at the Las Vegas showcase. 'The definition of a 'gentle giant,' O'Shea was beloved by not only his Oiler teammates and coaches, but also the entire Vernal community.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The definition of a 'gentle giant,' O'Shea was beloved by not only his Oiler teammates and coaches, but also the entire Vernal community." The team expressed their condolences to his family and friends, as well as the entire Siksika Nation. While Calgary police said there was no threat to public safety, the circumstances leading up to Red Crow's death remain under investigation. Anyone who was affected by witnessing Red Crow's death is encouraged to connect with CPS Victim Assistance Support Team (VAST) by calling 403-428-8398 or toll-free at 1-888-327-7828. Story continues below advertisement Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers.
Calgary Herald
4 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
'Specialized equipment': A look at the RCMP-led entourage for G7 security
The RCMP-led team handling security for the upcoming G7 summit have given a glimpse of the equipment that will be on standby. Article content Article content A bear trap, motorcades, mobile command centres and multiple armoured vehicles were among the tools members of the Integrated Safety and Security Group (ISSG) had on display for media on Monday. Article content Drones, mounted police, bicycles, motorcycles and ATVs were also shown in a parking lot at the Calgary Police Service headquarters. Article content Article content Led by the RCMP, the ISSG is the multi-agency team responsible for safety and security of the G7 Leaders' Summit, which runs from June 15 to 17 in Kananaskis Village. Article content Article content Among the RCMP's partner agencies are the Calgary Police Service, the Alberta Sheriff's branch, Alberta conservation officers and the Canadian Forces, all of which had equipment and personnel present in northeast Calgary on Monday. Article content RCMP Chief Supt. David Hall, ISSG security director, said the purpose of Monday's display was to give members of the public a sense of what to expect in terms of equipment throughout Calgary and Kananaskis during the summit. Article content 'Some of it is pretty specialized equipment that will allow us to make sure the event's safe and secure for kind of everybody involved,' said Hall, adding it is the 'more visible' of the security measures in place. Article content Article content 'I want to reassure you that every security measure that we have put in place is intended to keep people safe,' he said. Article content Article content Hall noted that the security operation is massively complex, being the 'largest domestic security operation' for whichever country is the host. Article content Airspace to be restricted Article content Last week, RCMP highlighted several areas that will be under airspace restrictions, and cautioned that pilots persistently breaching restricted airspace over the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis could be shot down by military aircraft. Article content Aerial intruders who refuse to obey orders to turn back from restricted airspace radiating 30 nautical miles from the summit venue in Kananaskis Village could be brought down with force as a last resort, Sgt. Mark Basanta, lead aerospace planner for the G7, said last week.
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Sombre start to Filipino Heritage Month in B.C. as festival attack's shadow lingers
A woman wipes tears during a memorial for the Filipino community's Lapu Lapu Day festival victims, in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 31, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns British Columbia is marking the start of this year's Filipino Heritage Month with a sombre tribute to the victims of April's deadly attack at Vancouver's Lapu Lapu Day Festival. Premier David Eby issued a statement saying this year's celebration of Filipino Heritage Month in June is happening 'alongside deep sorrow, under the backdrop of the tragic attack' that killed 11 people and shook the community to its core. Eby says the province continues to grieve, but the support shown by different communities 'coming together to heal' demonstrates how 'strength in unity' has enriched B.C.'s cultural fabric. In a separate statement, New Democrat legislative member Mable Elmore — who is of Filipino descent — says her community is marking the heritage month to 'honour the memories of those lost after the Lapu Lapu Day Festival.' Elmore says while the community remains in mourning, she is confident that people are healing and will emerge stronger from the tragedy. The suspect in the attack, Adam Kai-Ji Lo, appeared in court on Friday via video as part of the process to determine if he is fit to stand trial. He is tentatively set to appear in court next on June 6. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025. The Canadian Press
