Vancouver mayor 'incredibly disappointed' in port authority's decision to cancel Canada Day fireworks
For years, it ended Canada Day in Vancouver with a bang.
Prior to the pandemic, tens of thousands would gather to view the dazzling fireworks display launching into the night sky from the Burrard Inlet. In 2022, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority cancelled the fireworks, citing rising event costs.
Now, the federal agency says the fireworks will not return anytime soon.
"It was a big decision," said Gillian Behnke, communications manager with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
"The primary reason was rising costs."
Behnke says the fireworks have a pricetag upwards of $200,000.
"Things like fencing, porta-potties, everything has gone up in price and we had to make some decisions," she said.
Vancouver mayor Ken Sim isn't pleased with the decision.
"We're incredibly disappointed to see them cancelled this year," Sim told CTV News via text message.
"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."
The City of Vancouver told CTV News it is not planning a fireworks display of its own for Canada Day.
Nearby cities including Surrey, Burnaby and Abbotsford are including fireworks in their Canada Day festivities.
According to a City of Surrey representative, that city's fireworks display costs approximately $66,000 in total. The city says its display is mostly funded through corporate sponsors.
In Calgary, the city originally cancelled its annual Canada Day fireworks display this year, but heavy pushback resulted in the city reversing its decision.
For festivities in Vancouver, the daytime "Canada Together" event remains a go, with various performances and activities planned. The port authority says programming was decided on in consultation with local First Nations, and details for the event will be released next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6110769.1665857313!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
1 person killed and 23 injured in a bus crash in northern Maryland, police say
One person was killed and 23 others were injured when a bus crashed early Sunday on Interstate 95 in northern Maryland, police said.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Video shows gaggle of geese stopping traffic on Highway 1 near Vancouver
A mother goose and her goslings caused a bit of a traffic jam on a busy stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway near Vancouver Saturday.
Chemical spill could be cause of stinky water in Puslinch, Ont., new report says
People living in Puslinch, Ont. may have the answer to why their water smelled so bad last year.
Should you save or splurge on makeup this summer?
If you're wondering whether you should splurge or save when it comes to buying skincare products and makeup this summer, we got some answers for you.
William Shatner says he would consider 'Star Trek' return: 'Here comes Captain Kirk!'
The Montreal-born actor, famed for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," says he is open to reprising the iconic role in the sci-fi franchise as long as the storytelling is stellar.