Parks unsafe for July 1 fireworks

Annual Canada Day event being postponed until August

In a masterful public relations turn, Festivals Kelowna has declared Canada Day’s fireworks postponed, not cancelled.

Since Canada Day is almost synonymous with pyrotechnics, it came as a crushing blow to many this week when it was announced fireworks would not be part of extra-special sesquicentennial celebrations July 1.

Persistent flooding conditions in Waterfront and City parks, where 30,000 usually gather for the fireworks over Okanagan Lake, is to blame.

The fireworks have been rescheduled for Aug. 5 at 9:30 p.m., the Saturday of the B.C. Day long weekend, after high waters have receded.

“This was a conversation we had to start a month ago when flooding was serious,” Festivals Kelowna executive director Renata Mills told The Okanagan Weekend.

“In the end, there was no way to safely and comfortably accommodate the 30,000 people that regularly line the lakefront in City and Waterfront parks to watch the fireworks.”

Big orange aquadams to prevent high waters from soaking Waterfront and City parks are still in place, as is fencing in Waterfront Park.

The beaches in both parks are also under water.

“We can’t risk a crowd damaging the aquadams,” said Mills.

“But rather than a cancellation, this is a postponement. It made sense to wait and do it right.”

Some sort of modified fireworks was considered with crowds held farther back from the lake.

“We decided not to do half a show on Canada Day, but a full show on Aug. 5,” said Mills.

“There are high expectations for Canada’s 150th, and we’ll deliver on the August long weekend. After all, the sesquicentennial is a yearlong celebration.”

Coast Capital Savings is sponsoring the fireworks and has naming rights, so they will be known as the Coast Capital Savings Fireworks. As a financial institution new to Kelowna, its keen on getting its name out in the community.

Coast Capital will continue to sponsor parts of the show that do go on July 1. It’s name is on the youth stage that will see four bands perform from 6 to 10:15 p.m. on Canada Day.

There’s also a full day of other activities and entertainment downtown to mark the sesquicentennial.

“However, most of the action has been moved away from the lake to the Water Street side of downtown,” said Mills.

There will be five stages throughout downtown with live music.

The Taste of Canada Food Fair runs along Water Street from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

The 44th annual Folkfest from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Prospera Place features dancers, performers and food from 17 ethnic groups.

The massive 150th birthday cake will be cut at 1 p.m. at Prospera Place; the Made in Canada Marketplace will be in Rhapsody Plaza; and the Kelowna City Band puts on a 150 Celebration Concert 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Prospera Place.