"3, 2, 1," the crowd counted down as they stood on the seawall at the Vancouver Convention Centre on Dec. 31, 2022.
The last moments of 2022 ticked by and they stared into the sky, waiting for the pop and twinkle of fireworks above Burrard Inlet.
It was likely a disappointing way to start 2023, as the traditional New Year's Eve fireworks were cancelled weeks ago and the only twinkling lights the crowd saw that night came from North Vancouver.
"There were lots of people at Canada Place assuming there would be fireworks," says VPD Const. Tania Visintin in an email.
Videos from the area show the crowd counting down and then waiting. Others show the crowd dispersing. One such video has gone viral, with 500,000 views on TikTok
@crazycatlady997 a very anticlimactic ending 😂 #vancouver #nye #newyears #fyp ♬ original sound - Crazycat
@handeepharika #happynewyear #2023#vancouverbc ♬ original sound - handeepharika
@kaur86899 New year eve… #vancouver #vancouverites #newyear #newyeareve #nofireworks #fun #crowd #night #tiktok #love #downtown #nightout ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
@ereeeiiiyn First NYE in Canada and no fireworks! Hahahaha Nakakamiss ang Pinas at ang maiingay na kanto tuwing New Year!!! #canada_life🇨🇦 #canada #fyp #NYE ♬ original sound - Katherine Flores
It appears people in the crowd at Canada Place weren't the only ones disappointed. Videos from English Bay show a crowd gathered along the shore, apparently expecting fireworks.
@yanik.paulpaquette What a bunch of dissapointed vancouverite. Guess we didnt make the budget!! #vancouver #fyp #britishcolumbia #nye #newyearseve #vancouverbc ♬ original sound - Yanik Paul-Paquette
@yanik.paulpaquette Cancelled fireworks?? #vancouver #fyp #britishcolumbia #newyearseve #vancouverbc ♬ Sweater Weather (Sped Up) - The Neighbourhood
And while many on the Granville Strip were just there for the party, at least a few turned to the sky at midnight hoping for fireworks.
@siam__david #newyear #vancouver #downtown #2023 #fyp ♬ original sound - Sam twy
@officialrupindersandhu77 😂😂Happy New Year To all #vancouver #newyear #nofireworks #fypシ #foryou ♬ original sound - @ਸੰਧੂ
While there were no official fireworks, some illegal shows did pop-off around the city.
@smartiescuties I'm disappointed. Should've stayed in Seattle #newyear #nye #newyearseve #nye2023 #newyearseve2023 #Canada #Vancouver #firework #fireworks #nyefireworks #us #usa #newyearfireworks #fireworks2023 #world #lame #scienceworld #downtownvancouver ♬ original sound - Smarties Cuties
@heuser_emma Who else was disappointed with the fireworks this year? #happynewyear #2023 #fireworks #vancouver #falsecreek #scienceworld #nye #fyp #tiktok ♬ original sound - Emma Heuser
@randomrabiness Vancouverites are cravin #vancouver #vancouverbc #fy #foryou #foryoupage #funny #funnyvideos ♬ original sound - randomrabiness
Organizers cancelled 2022 event, planning 2023 already
Following a pandemic hiatus, the New Year's Eve fireworks celebration was expected to take place on the last night of 2022 at the event's new location in False Creek. The display was supposed to have activations and pyro special effects that have never been seen in Vancouver.
However, the event was postponed due to "escalating costs in logistics, and challenges with securing the necessary critical labour in completing the required site-wide security and crowd control measures across East False Creek," explained event organizer Concord's New Year's Eve Vancouver.
"This new, truly world-class event concept would have made all Vancouverites proud, and rekindled a sense of civic pride, hope, and betterment during the most auspicious night of the year."
Now, the countdown is set to Dec. 31, 2023. "New Year's Eve in Vancouver will return bigger and better," tout organizers.
With files from Maria Diment
