Security top of mind at this weekend's Lilac Festival, says deputy police chief
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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'We continuously monitor both local and international incidents as part of our planning for all major events,' it stated.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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