Homecoming Crowd Strains Guelph Hospital as Paramedics Seek Outside Help

A larger-than-usual Homecoming gathering put pressure on Guelph’s emergency services Saturday. One mother described spending roughly 12 hours at the hospital with her infant daughter as staff handled the influx of patients.

Guelph General Hospital treated about 60 Homecoming-related patients over the weekend, while local paramedics sought help from neighbouring services as a large gathering near Chancellors Way put pressure on emergency responders.

Dr. Alex Folkl, the hospital’s chief of emergency medicine, said patients were treated for injuries including head wounds and cuts, as well as intoxication. He said the emergency department was stretched beyond capacity and warned that another surge of seriously ill or injured patients could have affected its ability to provide timely care.

Guelph Police said Saturday’s gathering was significantly larger than those in recent years. Officers responded to objects being thrown, people climbing buildings and other structures, and reports of shoplifting and vandalism at nearby businesses. Police said no serious injuries were known at the time of their release, although emergency responders had treated multiple people for injuries and intoxication.

As public safety concerns grew, police deployed additional officers, including members of the Tactics and Rescue Unit, to support frontline officers and help emergency crews reach people in the crowd. Police said several criminal and provincial offence charges were laid, including for causing a disturbance and alcohol-related offences. Investigators are reviewing reports and video, and further charges are possible.

Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service deputy chief Leanne Swantko said crews had prepared for increased demand, but the evening was busier than anticipated. The service requested support from neighbouring municipalities while continuing to handle other emergency calls in the community.

The strain was felt by patients who had no connection to Homecoming. Sedona Wise of Erin said she brought her six-month-old daughter to Guelph General on Saturday night after the child woke up vomiting and having trouble breathing. Wise said they waited about 30 minutes to check in, her daughter was assessed by a doctor around 8:30 a.m., and they left around 10:30 a.m., roughly 12 hours after arriving.

Wise said her daughter vomited again during the wait. When she asked about seeing a doctor around 5 a.m., she said she was told the volume of Homecoming-related patients could mean several more hours of waiting. Wise said she understood that the most critical patients take priority and was grateful for the care her daughter received, but wanted the effect on other families recognized.

Police said their Homecoming response was planned with the University of Guelph, the city and bylaw staff, fire and paramedic services, Guelph General Hospital, and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. The agencies will review their response to inform planning for future gatherings.

Anyone with video or information about criminal or dangerous activity can contact Sergeant Daniel McTaggart at 519-824-1212, ext. 7171, or dmctaggart@guelphpolice.ca. The police occurrence number is GU26065626.