Vancouver park board approves one-night English Bay fireworks
Commissioners backed the fireworks show despite concerns over the city’s spending
By Cheryl Chan
Last updated 8 hours ago
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The Vancouver park board has approved a one-night summer fireworks show at English Bay, despite criticism about the city’s spending priorities.
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The event was proposed by Mayor Ken Sim after organizers of the long-running Celebration of Light said they could no longer stage the annual three-night spectacle due to a funding shortfall.
The free, non-ticketed show will be a scaled-down version of the Celebration of Light, with a similar footprint, a smaller rooftop lounge on the roof of the English Bay bathhouse and a limited number of food trucks. There will be no grandstand seating or a drone show.
The event will be produced by BrandLive, the same production company that mounted the now-cancelled fireworks extravaganza.
A date hasn’t yet been announced.
In February, Vancouver city council voted to spend up to $2 million for the one-night substitute event. The park board, which has jurisdiction over English Bay Beach, isn’t on the hook for any costs. Park board expenses, including cleanup and lifeguard staffing, estimated at $10,000 to $15,000, will be paid by the city.
On Monday night, the park board approved the use of English Bay for the show and approved a permit to serve alcohol to a maximum of 100 guests, intended for a VIP lounge area for potential sponsors and other guests.
Some commissioners backed the plan but raised concerns about spending.
Commissioner Laura Christensen said the $2 million price tag comes as the city cuts staffing and services. Council recently rejected a motion to provide $600,000 to the park board to reinstate lifeguard staffing at some beaches.
“There is a real problem with the fact we are spending $2 million on a fireworks show when we can’t find the money to properly lifeguard our beaches and we’re cutting many jobs and services at the park board right now,” said Christensen, who said she supported the proposal “begrudgingly.”
Commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky, who voted against the proposal, said he loves fireworks but believed the city’s version will be a “hollowed-out” version of the Celebration of Light.
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“I don’t believe it’ll have the same vibe,” he said, noting the lack of competition. He also suggested the proposal amounted to “electioneering” by the mayor.
Other commissioners supported the event, saying it preserves a popular summer tradition.
Commissioner Jas Birdi questioned whether opposition was directed more at the mayor than the event itself.
“There is some electioneering going on (in) the opposite way as well,” he said, adding the show could bring positive attention to Vancouver, particularly with major events such as the World Cup drawing visitors to the city.
