London festival organizers seek city support for rising security costs

London festival organizers say they're looking to increase security measures in response to public safety concerns and would like to see more financial support from the city. 

Annual festivals like London's Sunfest have emergency procedures and security in place, but a recent attack in Vancouver spurred organizers to ensure "all their ducks are in a row," said Mercedes Caxaj, Sunfest's co-artistic director.

"We have to be prepared for any kind of situation, especially at public-facing events."

On April 26, a man drove a car into a Filipino community festival in Vancouver, killing 11 people and injuring more than two dozen others. The tragedy has since sparked conversations around minimizing safety risks at public events, with the B.C. government reviewing festival safety measures and Toronto recently announcing $2.1 million in funding for increased festival security. Caxaj said she would like to see London follow Toronto's lead. 

Caxaj said festival security costs have increased year over year for Sunfest and that funding from the city would be an investment in the city's culture.

"To have that kind of support from the city would mean that they're also investing in the events, the event organizers, and in the social fabric and cultural vibrancy of the city," she said. "It means that we're working collectively." 

London's Victoria Park is also set to host a new festival celebrating Filipino culture and heritage in August, and the tragedy in Vancouver was discussed during security planning. Organizer Faith Trigo-Sawyer said they are taking it very seriously and have plans to set up barricades and even speed bumps to protect against vehicles.

Trigo-Sawyer said they will also be meeting with London police and city officials to discuss support and were pleased to see Toronto step up with added security funding.

"They should do it in all the cities that are having festivals," she said. 

New city policy aims for collaboration

London currently provides its own security staff, when available, to support city-run and non-profit events and festivals. This is done on a case-by-case basis, keeping in mind taxpayer cost for security wages and the level of community support for the event, according to Paul Ladouceur, the city's director of emergency management and security services. 

"We want to make sure the public can enjoy these events without concern for safety," he said.

When asked whether or not the city will consider allocating funds for festival security, Ladouceur said discussions about event safety are still ongoing, and he does not know where they will land. 

Ladouceur said there is a new special events policy aimed at increasing safety, but the policy doesn't include funding to support for-profit festival organizers; rather, there is a requirement that they work with the city to develop a comprehensive emergency response plan.

Organizers are asked to outline typical safety features like medical support, inclement weather protocol, and road closures, as well as procedures for more severe emergencies.

Organizers are taking precautions but are not worried 

Caxaj and Trigo-Sawyer made it clear they do not believe festivals in London are less safe than before. Unexpected situations can happen anywhere, and there are some events that can't be accounted for," Caxaj said. 

"I think we just hear about it a lot more," she said. "But because we're hearing about it, we have to be responsible to make sure that everybody's safety is the number-one priority." 

Trigo-Sawyer said she isn't concerned about any danger at Fiesta Extravaganza, but as an organizer, she wants to show people that they're taking appropriate precautions.

"That way, it will give them security that something like the Vancouver attack will not happen."