'There were families on the ground and people were crying': Ex-goer describes bear spray attack
Bear spray incidents at the Saskatoon Ex have prompted Prairieland Park to look at beefing up security measures at the gates.
Mace was deployed in three separate incidents during the annual fair and it’s causing organizers and fair goers to re-evaluate the event which sees thousands of adults and children attend.
Roderick Daniels was at the grandstand with his family watching the Trooper concert Saturday night. The moment he realized bear spray was being released, he grabbed his 11-month-old son and ran.
“This is the most scared I’ve been as a parent. I cried a few times. I never want to experience this again,” Daniels told CTV News.
“I was running out of there. My baby was puking and foaming at the mouth, so that’s where I went into panic mode, he said.
Daniels says his son seemed to be back to normal health two days later.
He posted a Tik Tok video after the event expressing his anger at the random attack.
“There were families on the ground and people were crying. I saw six or seven children getting washed with milk, juice or water,” he says.
Daniels would like to see increased security at the fair to make it safer.
Saskatoon police want people to know the severity of using bear spray.
“It’s considered a weapon so anything that can be done to reduce the chance of getting something like this inside is a good thing,” Alyson Edwards with the Saskatoon Police Service told CTV News.
Prairieland Park released this statement earlier Monday:
"This is a new challenge for the fair industry as a whole, and in the future, we will be looking to technology to assist us. Prairieland is already researching body scanners and metal detectors to be used at large-scale public events on the park," the statement read.
"Given the nature of this incident, police are confident they’ll find those responsible. “We are fortunate, we have witnesses and the can of bear spray we believe was involved so our investigators have evidence to work with,” Edwards said.
Officers were already on scene and responded along with Medavie Health Services. Troy Davies says they used specially designed medical wipes on the pepper spray victims and not water.
“It kept our paramedics extremely busy this week. It’s the first time we’ve seen it at the Ex since we’ve been involved since 1999 that I can think of,” Davies said.
Davies says 50 people were treated on site for injuries like burns to their eyes and skin.
Prairieland Park confirmed this year’s event saw a total attendance of almost 226,000.
As for Daniels and his young son, he won’t let this incident prevent him from attending again, but says he’ll be on his guard next time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Ford to recall some pickup trucks in Canada over tail light failure
Ford is set to recall some pickup trucks in Canada due to potential tail light failure.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
How to overcome 'savings guilt' when you're living paycheque to paycheque
As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.