Top stories of the week: ‘Sniper’ spotted at St. Patrick’s Day street party, big drug bust and multi-million-dollar military contract

Unsanctioned St. Patrick's Day party in Waterloo, Ont. and tactical officers for Waterloo Regional Police on March 14, 2026. (Courtesy: Seth D.)

Need to catch up on what’s been going on around Waterloo Region?

Below were the five most popular stories on CTV News Kitchener this week.

We also have a W5 investigation into drug mule recruitment in Waterloo Region and a pricey hospital bill for a U.S. woman visiting Kitchener-Waterloo.

St. Patrick’s Day in Waterloo: ‘Sniper,’ celebrations and charges

Hundreds of students turned out March 14 for an early St. Patrick’s Day street party in Waterloo.

It’s an annual tradition in the university district, despite efforts by both police and politicians to stop the unsanctioned event.

Neighbours complained about damage to their property and public urination, telling CTV News they felt trapped in their homes during the raucous street party.

Some of the students were also on edge. They captured images and videos of what they described as a “sniper” keeping a close eye on the crowd at this year’s event.

Waterloo Regional Police said it was actually their Public Order Unit and Emergency Response Team, which was part of the service’s broader safety plan for the student gathering.

Police Chief Mark Crowell defended that decision at a police board meeting on Wednesday.

“It is meant not to intimidate and not to provide any level of concern,” he said. “It’s actually meant to protect and to provide our officers and our emergency services partners every opportunity and advantage should the worst circumstances happen.”

Crowell specifically cited other mass casualty events and the necessity for proper preparation for any security-related situations that may arise.

On Friday, police shared an enforcement update for the period between March 13 to March 18. They said 218 charges were laid, including six for criminal offences. Of those, 128 charges were issued under the Highway Traffic Act, 58 related to the Liquor and Control Act, as well as three for trespassing. One charge was under the Cannabis Control Act. In all, 13 people were arrested.

The City of Waterloo, meantime, said bylaw officers responded to 72 noise and nuisance calls on March 14. Those resulted in seven tickets being issued, as well as six charges for blocking or interfering with vehicular traffic.

Police seize $842K worth of drugs in joint investigation

Illegal drugs, worth more than $842,000, were seized by police as part of an investigation dubbed “Project Deception Lake.”

Waterloo Regional Police said they were tipped off about a 23-year-old Kitchener man who was reportingly transporting drugs. On Jan. 12, he was pulled over on Highway 17 East by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service. At that time, they recovered approximately $142,338 worth of suspected cocaine and fentanyl. That arrest also led to officers to a home in Sault Ste. Marie where they seized suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

More drugs were found at homes in Cambridge, Woodstock and Kitchener, including a large amount of cocaine, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), hashish, heroin and MDMA. Officers also seized more than $130,000 in Canadian cash, “luxury” jewelry and bags, precious metal bars, cellphones, vehicles, a bulletproof vest and prohibited gun with ammunition.

Six people were charged as part of Project Deception Lake.

Kitchener company secures multi-million-dollar military contract

Colt Canada has secured a federal contract to supply the Canadian Armed Forces with up to 65,402 new assault rifles.

The deal is worth approximately $307 million and result in 70 new jobs at the company.

Canada’s secretary of state for defence procurement made the announcement Thursday, explaining the assault rifles currently in use by the armed forces are 35 years old.

Two people killed in Brant County crash

Two people were killed Friday when a pickup truck, minivan and SUV collided on Colborne Street East in Brant County.

OPP said a 38-year-old driver and 16-year-old passenger, who were both in the minivan, died at the scene.

Four people in the SUV and the driver of the pickup truck were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

‘Inappropriate and unacceptable’ language used at GOHL game between Stratford and London teams

Language described as “inappropriate and unacceptable” was heard at the GOHL game between the Stratford Hunter Steel Warriors and London Nationals on March 16.

According to the Stratford’s director of hockey operations, it came from a spectator and was directed at a London player. He also said security escorted a group of people out of the venue as a result of the incident.

The Hunter Steel Warriors later posted a statement to their social media account which read, in part: “We want to be unequivocally clear: there is no place in our game, our arena, or our community for racist or discriminatory language of any kind. This behaviour does not reflect the values of our organization, our players, or the vast majority of our fans.”

The Nationals responded with their own social media statement.

“Stratford is a longstanding and respected organization within our league, and we value the relationship between our teams, players and communities,” it read. “It is important to recognize that the actions of one individual do not reflect an entire organization, its players or fanbase.”

More in-depth reporting

CTV News spoke to a woman from the U.S., who suffered a stroke while visiting her family in Kitchener-Waterloo and ended up with a hospital bill of more than $110,000.

W5’s Avery Haines had the story of a 19-year-old Cambridge woman who said she was tricked into becoming a drug mule for an international syndicate. She was arrested in Hong Kong, along with three others, after authorities found 25 kilograms of cocaine in her suitcase.

W5 identified her alleged recruiter as a 19-year-old from Cambridge and a 21-year-old Kitchener man was named an alleged ringleader who, one victim claimed, had a direct connection to a higher-up in the network named “Dot.”

Part 1: International syndicate lures Canadians as drug mules, four arrested in Hong Kong

Part 2: Canadian teen’s Instagram chats reveal playbook for recruiting drug mules

Part 3: W5 tracks down alleged Canadian recruiters linked to 4 jailed in Hong Kong drug cases