No evidence cameras around Acadia University deterred bad student behaviour, report says

Josh Hoffman · CBC News

· Posted: May 09, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

Video cameras installed successful the residential country astir Acadia University for a two-year aviator task didn't person immoderate evident effect connected spot transgression and pupil partying, according to a study from Town of Wolfville staff.

The surveillance cameras were mounted at 11 locations successful the streets surrounding the Wolfville, N.S., assemblage successful 2022 owed to escalating complaints from residents, with the hopes the beingness of the equipment would deter atrocious behaviour and summation accountability.

"I deliberation possibly it conscionable didn't conscionable our expectations," Jennifer Ingham, Wolfville's lawman mayor, said successful an interview.

There's nary factual grounds the cameras were a deterrent and erstwhile incidents did occur, "footage captured was not adjuvant successful holding immoderate idiosyncratic accountable for their behavior," the unit study said.

Despite this, the municipality said spot crime, the theft of street signage and wide nuisance calls person decreased since 2022.

Restrictions connected nationalist gatherings related to the COVID-19 pandemic made it hard for students to beryllium social, Ingham said, but once those restrictions were lifted, determination were less issues with ample gatherings spilling retired into the residential streets.

Better collaboration betwixt the municipality, the assemblage and RCMP person besides gone a agelong mode successful keeping the peace, she said.

"I deliberation the partnerships are conscionable moving truly good astatine the contiguous moment," she said. 

Collaborative approach

The RCMP are taking a much collaborative attack to preventing problems betwixt students and residents successful the neighbourhood surrounding Acadia, said the apical Mountie for the area.

"What we've done successful caller years is we person made definite to impact partners much successful the readying process," said Staff Sgt. Ed Nugent, commandant of Kings District RCMP. 

Nugent said the Mounties bash person an accrued beingness successful the residential country adjacent to the school during significant events similar homecoming celebrations, but a ample portion of mitigating immoderate issues is being proactive.

The force is successful changeless consultation with the university, pupil organizations and adjacent landlords, helium said.  

Mounties enactment straight with the town's compliance officers erstwhile they cognize a large lawsuit is happening, Nugent said. 

"I deliberation it's harmless to accidental that we've built and strengthened our relationships greatly with the municipality and we presently bask a truly bully moving relationship," helium said.

The immense bulk of students and young radical successful the assemblage are large to woody with, Nugent said.

Wolfville's politician besides gave recognition to the students for being a portion of the solution.

"Kudos to their bulk successful liable partying," Jodi MacKay said astatine council's committee of the full gathering connected Wednesday. "I deliberation we've travel a agelong way." 

Councillors voted unanimously astatine the gathering to not proceed the video surveillance project.

A last determination connected the substance volition beryllium made astatine the adjacent regular assembly meeting.