Parked on Ezra Avenue, Brawley’s truck was one of several pieces of personal property damaged during a large gathering Monday.
“[I’m] disappointed for sure, I was disappointed.  I haven’t had much luck with this truck.  It had been stolen once before in this area, now it’s apparently been heavily vandalized,” he said
The windshield was smashed, the hood and roof were dented, the mirrors were ripped off and even the license plate was stolen.
Police say there were several reports of property damage stemming from a large gathering on Ezra Avenue Monday night that left a trail of damage in the University of Waterloo area.

The damage to a truck after a rally on Ezra Ave. (Jeff Pickel/CTV News Kitchener) Video posted on social media and geotagged on Ezra Avenue shows the area filled with hundreds of people, litter strewn on the road and emergency lights flashing. In another video, several people are seen climbing into a blue truck. One of the videos posted online appears to show a person holding a golf club and repeatedly swinging the golf club at the windshield of the vehicle. “There is clear video everywhere. I mean I don’t know what they were thinking. There’s a big group of 100 people, you have to know there’s going to be videos,” Brawley said. Brawley said he is not a student at the University of Waterloo or Wilfrid Laurier University. He said he parked his truck on Ezra Avenue overnight to visit his girlfriend who lives nearby. Witnesses say hundreds of people were on Ezra Avenue on Monday night, with a small number in the crowd behaving very recklessly, including crowd surfing. It’s unclear if the people involved in the disaster are students at nearby universities, but a Laurier spokesman said if they are the consequences will be severe. “At Laurier this could result in suspension or expulsion. If you find yourself wrecking cars burning mattresses and setting things on fire, that type of activity is not acceptable and we do not want these students in our community,” said Ivan Joseph, vice-president of student affairs at Wilfrid Laurier University. Speaking to CTV News, students who just moved to Waterloo days ago say they find this behavior shocking and disturbing. “I was a little scared. I just chose Laurier for the program. I didn’t realize it was a crazy party school and now there are people getting hurt,” one student told CTV News. Another witness to the gathering said: “there were a lot of people in trolleys, there was a lot of jumping and shouting and there were people on mattresses and they were trying to light the mattresses on fire.” Waterloo Regional Police said officers responded around 11:30 p.m. on September 5 to reports of a large gathering in the area of ​​Ezra Avenue and Clayfield Avenue in Waterloo. Police said a man was hit in the head by what was believed to be a side mirror of a vehicle that had been thrown into the air. Another man was injured after falling. The crowd dispersed after about three hours and a street sweeper was brought in to clean up a large amount of trash and debris left behind, police said.

LOCAL ELECTED WEIGHT ON

Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky said there is increased monitoring of university campuses during certain days and times during the school year, including the beginning of September.
While he didn’t go into detail about what’s planned in response to Monday night’s rally, he said it always prompts a review of what the city and its partners are doing.
Jaworsky noted that with about 50,000 students arriving for the school year, only a fraction participate in parties like the one seen recently on Ezra Avenue.
He also had this message for those who may now have some regrets.
“There’s always a good way to get out and get to know your community.  To go visit our retailers.  To apologize.  This is always something you can do and it is greatly appreciated.  “
Jawarsky said students can work with the university if they have problems or any challenges.
“Universities and colleges are well suited to offer your advice. This isn’t a strike and you’re out of the community. But we want to make sure everyone has the best chance of success. And if you’ve fallen off the beaten path there are plenty of people here at community to help you get back right away,” he said.
Ward 7 councilor Tenille Bonoguore said students who chose to call Waterloo Region home should remember that they are good neighbors throughout the community.
“This is your home now, which is awesome, but we want you to really step up and upgrade while you’re here,” Bonoguore said.  “I mean this is the university.  You could be changing the world, you could be helping the planet, you could be making a real impact right here right now in your chosen place.  Well, I think we would ask that you don’t cheapen it, don’t waste it.  All we need is for people to be good neighbors.”