Illegal rally shut down after 500 cars arrive in Wasaga Beach

Nearly 500 cars were turned away from Wasaga Beach after attempting to hold an unsanctioned rally on Saturday night.

In a statement released Sunday, Mayor Brian Smith says around 500 vehicles arrived to the town but were turned away.

Illegal car rallies such as this H2Oi event have plagued the town since the pandemic, with property damage and disturbances becoming an annual issue for residents.

He says that while a small group of cars were able to enter, police quickly addressed any illegal activity that occurred.

The mayor says the rally, which was not a sanctioned event, was successfully dispersed prior to its beginning.

Earlier last week residents were warned of an increased police presence in the town over the long weekend to prevent the rally before it started.

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The Ontario Supreme Court of Justice additionally granted the beachfront town an injunction as a preventive measure.

The injunction would provide that the H2Oi rally, or any others, could not be attended or participated in during the long weekend.

The order further granted OPP the authorization to arrest and remove anyone who is knowingly contravened with any part of the order.

Measures implemented to deter rally goers included road closures and vehicle checkpoints along with a heavier than normal police presence.

Last year’s event in Wasaga saw nearly 200 charges laid and reports of damaged property that included two OPP vehicles having their windows smashed with officers and a dog inside.

While no charges have been reported in connection to the rally, OPP say there were still upwards of 250 charges laid across the province over labour day weekend.

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