Risk management at public events: a case study of a municipality within Southern Ontario

Abstract

Current literature surrounding risk management at public events focuses on the efforts of municipal officials to reduce the risk of terrorist activity. The literature only focuses on large municipalities that host global sporting events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. The focus tends to be on a broad global view of terrorism superseding other types of mundane criminal activities that are more likely to occur at smaller municipalities and venues. In this thesis, an analysis of potential risks at public events hosted by a medium-size municipality is examined. By analyzing the responses of in-depth interviews with municipal officials, performing a content analysis of their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and participating in direct observation of municipal events, this study determines that differences exist between the risks outlined in existing literature and the perceptions of risk garnered from the experience of those that work in the field. Security officials of this medium-size municipality define risks as “emergencies” and consider the risk of stampedes and environmental disasters as a greater threat than terrorism within their events.