The mayor of Antigonish says StFX Homecoming Weekend was better from the perspective of town officials.
There have been complaints from residents of loud off-campus parties and excessive drinking the last few years.
Councillors discussed the September event at October’s regular town council meeting Monday night.
After the meeting, Laurie Boucher, the town’s mayor, said members of a committee made up of local stakeholders worked hard to mitigate some of the issues.
“The planning didn’t start a month, or two months, or even six months before Homecoming,” she said. “The planning started very shortly after (the 2017) Homecoming, and that began with the calling together of a working group, and seeing what we could put in place to be better (in 2018).”
Town officials contributed $4,000 for an event designed to keep current students on campus the Saturday morning of Homecoming Weekend.
Boucher said town officials wouldn’t hesitate to contribute financially to their StFX counterparts for an on-campus event for current students again.
“That partnership is worth a lot, and this is just part of it,” she said. “When you’re a partner with somebody, you can’t pick and choose what you’re doing.”
Boucher said there was some negative feedback to their contribution, but the majority of reaction was positive.
She said increased policing costs as a result of Homecoming Weekend wouldn’t stop them from providing funding in future years.