Thousands of people gather every year to watch the skies glow for Vancouver's Celebration of Light fireworks festival -- but few realize just what it takes to get a 15-minute show off the ground.

Neil Sedman has wowed audiences in British Columbia for more than 15 years with choreographed fireworks exhibitions at Vancouver's Canada Day show, the Symphony of Fire competition and the Vancouver Canadians baseball games.

Though he doesn't take part in the Celebration of Light, he says it takes about 10 hours to put together a 15-minute show.

"To be in this business, you have to do it because you love it," Sedman said. "I just enjoy the colors and the process of putting a show together and hearing the crowd cheer at the end."

Sedman says he got hooked on fireworks as a boy during Halloween. He eventually started his own business, the Celebration Fireworks Company, after retiring from a career in retail and now runs the company with the help of his grown children Jennifer and Jonathan.

Logistically, you need more than a passion for fireworks, of course; pyrotechnics is highly dangerous and proper training and government certification is required.

The Explosives Regulatory Division (ERD) is responsible for issuing licenses and permits for the handling, importing, manufacturing and storing of explosives and fireworks in Canada.

The agency offers certifications through a day-long course where aspiring pyrotechnicians are trained and tested on explosive safety. Certificates cost about $100 for a five-year-long license, Sedman explained.

Before licenses are issued, trainees also must sign up as apprentices at firework companies and get recommendation letters proving they have successfully participated in at least three shows, Sedman said.

Most of Sedman's employees have full-time employment in other industries and see fireworks as a fun part-time job -- technicians make around $200 per show.

"My guys come to work for specific shows," he said. "Some are firemen or work in the movie business, but they love fireworks so much that they always want to help."

City permits are required for any public fireworks event and the fire department has to be notified as a precaution, Sedman said.

Insurance for operators can be a heavy burden; Sedman pays up to $12,000 a year to insure his business.