Fireworks, large crowds and chaos in downtown Kitchener for Victoria Day

Downtown Kitchener, Ont. on May 18, 2026. (Source: Ian Graham)

Victoria Day was anything but quiet in downtown Kitchener.

Videos, shared with CTV News, showed hundreds of people in the streets and a large response from Waterloo Regional Police and bylaw officers.

They said multiple complaints came in between 4:30 p.m. and 12 a.m. Most were for fireworks set off in and around Victoria Park, mischief and public intoxication, as well as noise complaints.

“A youth was arrested after throwing a lit firework that exploded on two motor vehicles,” police said in a media release. “The youth, a 15-year-old male from Cambridge, was charged with failing to comply with an undertaking and engaging in a prohibited act under the Trespass to Property Act.”

That was not the only bad behaviour on the streets.

According to police, someone set off fireworks at Queen Street South and Charles Street West.

“The firework then struck a police officer and a bylaw officer, who did not sustain any physical injuries,” they said.

The person wanted for that incident was only described as an unknown male.

“To ensure public safety and the dispersal of the crowds, Victoria Park was closed at approximately 9 p.m.,” police said.

In all, four people were arrested in connection with Victoria Day celebrations in Waterloo Region.

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Police said their Public Order Unit, Direct Action Response Team, Community and Youth Engagement Unit, General Investigations Unit and Community Policing officers responded in downtown Kitchener on Monday night.

More to come.