The City of Mississauga initiated a request for an injunction at the plaza after two years of nuisance gatherings, altercations, street racing, and illegal fireworks, amongst other disturbances. Despite enhanced enforcement efforts and several attempts to work with the plaza condominium corporations, the issues continue.
On August 13, 2025, Justice Doi of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice granted the City’s request for an injunction (a court Order), to enable stronger enforcement and order the condominium corporations that own Ridgeway Plaza to take further action to prohibit nuisance gatherings at the plaza. These include large gatherings of people, loud music and sound, parking lot and street racing, fights, and the use of illegal fireworks, among many other disturbances. The City is committed to and responsible for enforcing by-laws which are intended to limit nuisances and ensure a safe and accessible community for all residents and businesses.
Beginning today, the City and Peel Regional Police (Peel Police) Joint Enforcement Operations team will be actively enforcing the injunction Orders and the Nuisance Gathering By-law as per the terms of the Orders. Platinum Drive and Odyssey Drive will be blocked at both ends, and signage will be installed to inform people visiting the plaza about the new rules and the injunction Orders. The City is aware of plans for large-scale gatherings at Ridgeway Plaza for Pakistan Independence Day on August 13 and 14, and for Afghanistan Independence Day on August 19. The City pursued this injunction to prevent the planned unsanctioned events which would disrupt public order and safety in the community.
The injunction Orders make it clear that the two condominium corporations have a direct responsibility to protect public safety at the plaza and stop the nuisance gatherings. People in attendance at the plaza are also required to comply with the injunction Orders by not contributing to a nuisance gathering.
Key terms of the injunction Orders
- The temporary injunction Orders will remain in effect from noon on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 until 2 a.m. on Friday, August 15, 2025, and from noon on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 until 2 a.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, subject to variation by court Order.
- The board members, the condo corporations, and the business owners who know or should know about this injunction and are seen to be violating the Order (e.g. encouraging large gatherings, keeping the restaurants open), can be fined, detained and/or arrested or be held in contempt of the Orders.
- The condominium corporation(s) must take action to:
- Regulate the flow of vehicle traffic in and out of Ridgeway Plaza.
- Install parking gate arms/barriers.
- Employ sufficient security and paid duty police officers to control and regulate pedestrian and vehicle traffic at the plaza.
- Regulate, prohibit and/or control pedestrian traffic/gatherings/loitering in the parking lot of Ridgeway Plaza that may lead to a nuisance gathering.
Complaints about the plaza
Since June 2023, the City has received numerous complaints about Ridgeway Plaza, including:
- Excessively loud music
- Large gatherings (thousands of people))
- Illegal patios
- Illegal use of moveable barbeques
- Littering, garbage and debris
- Illegal use of fireworks
- Physical fights and altercations
- Threatening and aggressive behaviour among patrons
- Vehicle noise
- Erratic and dangerous driving of vehicles in the parking lot
- Street racing on nearby roads
- Difficulties with safe entry and exit out of the plaza
The local City Councillors, the Mayor, and City staff, along with Peel Police have tried to work with the condominium corporation owners. To date, there has been no co-operation. The City’s goal is to have the condominium corporation owners address the issues at the plaza and put in place measures to stop them. If this had been done, there would have been no need for the injunction Orders.
Previous enforcement activity
Since October 2023, the City conducted joint enforcement operations with the Peel Police to address public safety, large gatherings and other concerns. Numerous charges have been laid.
Despite best efforts from the City’s By-law enforcement team and Peel Police, large gatherings and unsanctioned events have continued year-round. There has been an upswing in large gatherings on specific days including:
- Pakistan Independence Day, August 13 to 14
- Afghanistan Independence Day, August 19
- National Iraqi Day, October 3
- Chand Raat
- March 19 to 22
- May 26 to 30
- Other impromptu unsanctioned events periodically that breach the Nuisance Gathering By-law
Nuisance gatherings, attracting crowds of more than 3,000 people, have consistently occurred over the last two years (2023 and 2024) to commemorate these dates. These gatherings have repeatedly involved conduct and outcomes that violate the City’s Nuisance Gathering By-law and interfered with the City’s ability to safely maintain its roads, regulate the flow of traffic, respond to emergencies in and around Ridgeway Plaza, and enforce other by-laws.
The City is not targeting any specific groups or individuals; but rather is focused on ensuring public safety and reducing community disturbances.
Mississauga is a cultural canvas and is proud of its cultural diversity. The City welcomes celebrations for days of significance for all cultures, as long as all laws are followed, public safety is maintained, and the local community is respected. Many sanctioned cultural celebrations are held in Mississauga that residents can participate in safely, including a Flag Raising for Pakistan Independence Day, Italfest, Muslimfest2025, Japan Festival Canada 2025, Mosaic – South Asian Festival of Mississauga, RED FM Summer Bhangra Jam and many others which can be found on the City’s events calendar.
The City hopes that the condominium corporations named in the injunction Orders will abide by their terms and work to prevent and/or manage any further nuisance gatherings at Ridgeway Plaza. The City’s goal is to make the plaza safe and enjoyable for all who visit and ensure the land and residents of the surrounding community are safe and respected.
You can view the injunction Orders here.
