Fireworks have proved a controversial topic in Metro Vancouver.
Following the announcement last May (2023) that the Canada Day fireworks are indefinitely cancelled a conversation began online between two camps of people, those pro-fireworks and those relieved to hear that the loud display is gone for good.
The annual fireworks were also cancelled in 2022 but the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority cited rising costs for safety and security as the reason for cancelling. When "after careful consideration" they decided to "permanently discontinue the evening fireworks display," Mayor Ken Sim Tweeted that he was "incredibly disappointed to see [the fireworks] cancelled this year."
Why are locals for or against fireworks?
"Fireworks have long been a part of Canada Day in Vancouver," he said. "We will be reaching out to the Port Authority to discuss this further and hope to see a return of Canada Day fireworks in the coming years."
In previous years, firework shows have drawn massive crowds to the Downtown core which is one of the reasons some locals are pleased that the Canada Day ones are over. That, and the distress the noise causes pets.
In 2018, PETA's president, Ingrid Newkirk, submitted a letter to Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and the city council, asking them to ban fireworks at Halloween because of the trauma experienced by many pets as well as the discomfort of veterans and other sufferers of PTSD.
The issue came up again in 2021 when the BC SPCA promoted a petition calling on the federal government to protect animals from the dangers of fireworks.
Now, Vancouverites have taken to Twitter to share a safer, quieter, more environmentally friendly alternative to fireworks: drone light shows.
Is it likely that Vancouver will get a drone light show?
The rising popularity of coordinated drone flights in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. has some asking why Canada can't follow suit.
Vancouver first got a taste of the potential for drone displays in 2017, when Ontario company Arrowonics produced a nightly show instead of fireworks at the Pacific National Exhibition Fair and in 2022 it was suggested that the Honda Celebration of Light replace fireworks with drones in an effort to be more green.
However, the Celebration of Light producer Paul Runnals of Brandlive Management Group said that adding a drone show would only add expense and at least in the short term they had no intention of including one.
There were also plans to have a Christmas-themed drone show at the Convention Centre last year but it was called off last minute due to technical difficulties.
It would seem that Vancouver is far from ready for a regular coordinated display of light and agility (seriously, some drone shows are really involved) but there is a lot of interest.
Drone shows obviously pose their own safety considerations but following the recent fire ban and explosion of Burnaby's Canada Day fireworks, maybe it's something worth considering.
@adamalberts Fireworks in Burnaby explode! #vancouver #canada #canadiansummer #vancouverisawesome #canadaday #burnaby #centralpark #fyp ♬ original sound - Adam Alberts
With files from Bob Makin, Lindsay William-Ross, Maria Diment and The Canadian Press.
