MEETINGS SAFE Good to Know MANAGING THE MASSES Crowd management isn’t just about security—it’s the planning behind the scenes that keeps every event running smoothly from arrival to departure by Allan Britnell No matter how memorable your event is, nothing matters more than getting everyone home safely. Behind every seamless conference, festival or gala is a carefully crafted crowd management plan that attendees rarely notice— but that no event should ever be without. From managing entrances and exits to anticipating crowd behaviour, controlling capacity and coordinating security, smart planning helps prevent small issues from becoming major emergencies. Here are five essential strategies to keep your next event safe and stress-free. PRE-PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL “First and foremost is understanding your risk assessment,” says Kerrie Blizard, director, public safety & environment for the Calgary Stampede. This is a formal document that identifies potential hazards, rated low, medium or high, along with mitigation measures for each. Audience demographics should also be factored into your assessment. An event attracting mostly seniors, for example, will require anticipating on-site health incidents and emergency evacuation for people with disabilities. PERMISSION TO ENTER One of the most important safety considerations is entry and exit procedures (or ingress and egress in safety parlance). Do you need to install physical barriers and/or security personnel to limit the number of entry points? Will all guests arrive and depart at the same time? Or can you stagger entry and exits with timed tickets? If it’s your first time using a venue, a pre-event site visit is essential to answer these questions and more. SITE SECURITY “Security is often overlooked, or the budget underestimated,” says Blizard. Each venue will have its own requirements based on anticipated crowd size, but the nature of the event itself can be a factor. A controversial guest speaker, for example, may necessitate consultations with local law enforcement and an enhanced security detail, including paid-duty police, to manage protestors. Politicians glad-handing and flipping pancakes is an annual ritual at the Calgary Stampede. Well in advance, Blizard and her team consult with each dignitary’s personal security detail, the Calgary police and the RCMP, to ensure their safety and that of attendees. SHOWSTOPPER An essential part of any plan is knowing how to shut things down quickly and safely during an emergency. A detailed communications plan, including specific roles and responsibilities, must be established in advance. If the incident is relatively minor, say a temporary power failure, and you’re able to continue after a pause, how do you permit re-entry for a ticketed event? For example, you could issue wristbands on the way in, or hand stamps on the way out. OUTER LIMITS Outdoor events have their own subset of extra requirements. “You need to provide the basic necessities for guests,” says Blizard, including access to drinking water and washrooms. Weather is a major factor for outdoor events. If rain is approaching, is there sufficient shelter available? What if the weather takes a dark turn, such as an approaching tornado or hailstorm? You need to have an evacuation plan and muster point(s) where staff and attendees can safely gather. Increasingly, outdoor events like street festivals also require vehicle control measures to avoid unintentional or intentional intrusions. BE RESOURCEFUL All this may sound intimidating, particularly for small non-profits planning events. But, as Blizard points out, there’s a wealth of free information, including risk assessment templates, available from organizations like the Event Safety Alliance of Canada (esacanada.ca) and the Global Crowd Management Alliance (thegcma.com). Fall 2026 | Ignitemag.ca | 13
