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By Mel Rothenburger

Armchair Mayor

ROTHENBURGER: We’re allowed to have fun on Canada Day, fireworks and all

Jul 1, 2023 | 9:09 AM

CANADA DAY IS BACK to the way it should be at Riverside Park today — fireworks are returning as part of the celebrations after a lengthy absence.

They’re more than a spectacular light show above the meeting of the North and South Thompson Rivers. They’re symbolic of the fact our country is ready to start enjoying Canada Day again, though some cities still struggle with whether to hold their pyrotechnic displays.

There are a variety of reasons. There have been concerns about the effect of climate change, and the increasing dangers of both wildfires and structural fires. That was why Canada Day fireworks were cancelled in Kamloops last year.

Before that, along with in-person Canada Day festivities, they became the victim of COVID.

This year, it was decided by the City and Kamloops Fire Rescue to take a practical approach and cancel the fireworks only if conditions call for it before the first Roman candle is lit.

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The fire threat is real. Just this week, a house fire in Vernon is believed to have been connected to fireworks. It’s unclear whether the fireworks were being set off or simply being stored but I’ll get into the backyard-fireworks issue in a minute.

In Montreal, fireworks have been cancelled due to their contribution to poor air quality. In past years, apparently, a rise in air pollution lasted up to four hours after fireworks were set off.

Toronto reduced them because of cost. Vancouver cancelled them for the same reason, though there are hopes to revive them.

Fireworks displays are notorious for panicking pets and livestock, and causing PTSD flareups. The use of fireworks as weapons has become an increasing concern to police in recent years.

There’s a big distinction, though, between backyard fireworks set off by amateurs who go out and buy a couple of hundred bucks worth, and professionals who know exactly how to do everything safely.

The Canada Day fireworks in Kamloops are very much the latter variety. Once again, they’ll be set off at the point on Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc land across the river from Riverside Park and you can’t find a much safer place for it than that. The contractor hired for the display has experience and knowledge of how to do it safely. Kamloops Fire Rescue will be on the alert for any problems.

Yesterday (June 30, 2023), KFR and the City issued another warning that “consumer” fireworks are “just not worth it.” As it is, they’re only legally allowed between Oct. 24 and Nov. 1 and between Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 but private fireworks should be banned year-round, permits or not.

There are frequent hints it might be coming. KFR posted a social media comment earlier this week that “we’re hoping that as regulations change in the near future, that these types of flammable explosives will be more difficult for unauthorized users to acquire.”

City Hall confirms its two-year review of the bylaw that governs fireworks will be completed this summer, so here’s hoping it will be bold on the issue of backyard blastoffs. Ideally, in my view, there should be a federal ban.

As mentioned, and despite all precautions, community fireworks are being questioned, too, and not just for practical reasons such as costs, fire hazard or pollution. In Quebec, separatists regard Canada Day and the fireworks hoopla as a way of revving up patriotism to reduce the chances of Quebec leaving confederation.
Chief Dan Tom of the Tsarlip First Nation on Vancouver Island thinks Canada Day fireworks should be cancelled and the money donated to indigenous organizations or, at least, replaced with learning about First Nations perspectives. The Indigenous Foundation agrees.

Calgary temporarily cancelled its fireworks this year, citing “cultural sensitivities” around reconciliation as well as the 100^th anniversary of the Chinese exclusion act, but changed its mind after public backlash.

I prefer the Kamloops approach. The City and Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc have developed a remarkable path toward reconciliation based on co-operation, patience and real results. The idea of permanently cancelling Canada Day fireworks has never entered the picture.

This is all the more remarkable given that the Kamloops residential school is the scene of the 215. The relationship between the City and TteS is so strong and productive that it wins awards. Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir is a supporter of Canada Day. She sees it as a way to celebrate our diversity and to foster understanding of our history. And the City sees Canada Day as an opportunity to help make that happen.

So let’s allow ourselves to once again be proud of our movie stars, our innovators, our musicians, our humanitarians, proud of our moose, beaver, polar bears and geese, of our politeness and our quirkiness, and our diversity.

We should feel excited to celebrate this special day. Fireworks are the grand conclusion of Canada Day, a day and evening to unite us, not divide us. That makes them important.

Let’s enjoy the day together — the entertainment, good food, art, and (weather permitting) fireworks.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.