The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PM40050478 THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2020 Nobody ever plans to make the taxman a beneficiary of their Will. 519-886-2360 ext 6241 • Suite 201 - 80 King St S, Waterloo, ON N2J 1P5 • www.mceachniematthewsgroup.ca Trademarks, including IG Private Wealth Management are owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsidiary corporations Investors Group Financial Services Inc. ---DEAL OF THE WEEK--- 6MM THICK • 100% WATERPROOF! CLICK VINYL PLANKS $100PER SQ FTREG 3.99FROM A pandemic, public pleas and continued police presence helped keep St. Patrick's Day partiers off Ezra Avenue in Waterloo this year. Numerous appeals made by health, city and law enforcement officials ahead of the annual un- sanctioned event were bolstered by the province's decision to de- clare an emergency due to the CO- VID-19 outbreak on Tuesday morning. The emergency declaration al- lows the province to use every power possible to protect health and safety, including charging those who gather in groups of more than 50 people, which are now prohibited. "This is a significant change in- tended to protect the health of the community," reads a statement sent out by Wilfrid Laurier Uni- versity. "Do the right thing - stay away from large gatherings on or off campus." Tuesday morning, Waterloo Regional Police Chief Bryan Lar- kin said officers would disperse gatherings with poise and profes- sionalism and could issue partiers summons to appear in court if nec- essary. Also, after cancelling all in-per- son classes and exams last week, ST. PADDY'S DAY REVELERS STAY AWAY FROM EZRA AVENUE See 'NOW, page 4 Police officers and security guards were the only people in green lining Ezra Avenue on Tuesday morning in anticipation of the annual St. Patrick's Day street gathering. Bill Jackson/Torstar BILL JACKSON bjackson@kitchenerpost.ca A lw ay s on lin e fir st a t w at er lo oc hr on ic le .c a/ co ld ca se THIS WEEK Who is behind restaurant bombing during birthday festivities?