The Unofficial Homecomings 2009 - 2011--a big improvement.
Homecoming
2009 - 2011 Weekends without Homecoming have come and gone. The crowds on
Aberdeen Street diminished each year, to an estimated 1000. The police enforcement of the law was
greater.
In 2009 and 2010, the police horses displayed great skill, moving sideways to push people
off the street. This was a far more desirable method than tear
gas or water cannons. Enhanced police enforcement of the laws will
probably be needed for another few years, until the Aberdeen
Street syndrome is completely eliminated.
We
thank the Kingston Police and the several other assisting police
forces. We thank Kingston City Council for NOT closing Aberdeen St.
We thank Queen's University for cancelling Homecoming for at
least 5 years. And we thank the Queen's AMS (student government) for
discouraging Queen's students from going to
Aberdeen Street.
While
the event this year (2011) on Aberdeen Street would still, we believe,
be viewed as unacceptable by the families of Queen's students if those
events took place near their homes in their hometowns, we are greatly
encouraged by the improvements in the past three years. Hopefully, the worst is behind us and the situation will continue to improve.
However, we do agree with the Chief of Police and the Mayor that it is too soon for Queen's University to reinstate a fall Homecoming.