Edmonton Halloween destination faces resident concerns over crowds and damage

Residents on Summerside Grande Boulevard say growing Halloween crowds have brought congestion, theft and property damage, while raising safety concerns for an accessibility event scheduled for Oct. 31. They want city support and a vehicle closure, but say permits, insurance and other safety measures would come at their own expense.

CTV News Edmonton has reported:

Residents of Summerside Grande Boulevard in southeast Edmonton say Halloween crowds have grown to a point that is creating congestion, property damage and theft. The boulevard has become a destination for people from across the city, drawn by homes decorated for Halloween and the chance to trick-or-treat. Residents say the growing volume is putting pressure on homeowners and raising concerns about safety.

Homeowner Nicole Cebuliak said she heard that about 3,000 people visited the neighbourhood on Halloween last year. “We’re not funded for this. There’s no sponsorship for this kind of event. It’s all out of our own pocket,” Cebuliak told CTV News Edmonton. She said adults were also going door to door to trick-or-treat.

Resident Lisa Reineke said she spent about $1,000 on candy last year. “That is a very expensive bill for Halloween, and Halloween is going to be on a Saturday this year, so we anticipate the crowds to be very large and starting much earlier in the day this year,” she said. Reineke also serves as block captain for Treat Accessibly, an event aimed at making Halloween inclusive for children with disabilities and mobility needs.

Traffic and pedestrian congestion have become another concern. “I’ve had friends that have tried to drive down the boulevard and they said it took them over an hour to go from one end to the other,” Cebuliak said. “It’s not just the cars; it’s the volume of people on the sidewalks. You’re literally shoulder-to-shoulder with people.”

The crowds are not limited to Grande Boulevard. Some homes elsewhere in the surrounding community have seen 400 or more trick-or-treaters, according to the source. Reineke said she has seen street-racing, weapons, people crossing through yards and decorations being stolen.

“That leaves a really touch taste in everybody’s mouth who has really enjoyed showcasing,” Reineke said. Cebuliak said she and other residents have put decorations away at night to prevent theft. “I know of at least two other houses where on Halloween they shut down, went to bed and stopped giving out candy,” she said. “It was after 10 p.m. and that’s when their decorations were stolen.”

Cebuliak and her family are weighing whether to hand out candy this year, when Halloween activities coincide with Treat Accessibly. The boulevard has hosted the event in recent years, but not on Oct. 31. “The street was shut down … there were security services, there were first aid services, donations for candy were provided … It was fun,” Cebuliak said.

She said holding Treat Accessibly during regular Halloween activities could create safety issues. “We didn’t ask for the volume of people to come. I certainly don’t promote it.” The Treat Accessibly event is scheduled for Halloween from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in an effort to avoid large crowds.

Reineke said crowds have already begun arriving on evenings and weekends. She said residents are concerned that children with accessibility needs could attend when the neighbourhood cannot meet those needs safely. “We aren’t able to get the street closed. We aren’t able to get the support from the city at this time to meet the needs for the infrastructure, for safety of children, safety of vehicles, for waste management - all of those pieces that would make it a safer time for children here.”

Residents would need permits and would have to pay out of pocket for insurance, policing and permitting to put safety measures in place, Reineke said. “That’s really hard to hear as a citizen in this community,” she said. “We did not ask for Halloween to be this large event, it has organically happened and I think some of the tension is that as a municipality, where is their responsibility in helping make sure that all of the children are safe here on Halloween?”

Cebuliak said she has spoken with Mayor Andrew Knack about the issue. “There is absolutely concern from the mayor,” she said. Some residents have tried to get Grande Boulevard homeowners to develop a plan to designate the street in a way similar to Candy Cane Lane, the holiday-light destination, but Cebuliak said there is little appetite for organizing a committee, arranging street closures and working with the city on permits and insurance.

Cebuliak, who has lived on Grande Boulevard for 12 years, said she would like the street closed to vehicles on Halloween. “Treat our street like your home, like your street. It’s about respecting other people’s homes and respecting each other as a broader community.” The report included files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson.