Residents urged to celebrate Victoria Day without fireworks

WATERLOO REGION — This Victoria Day, Waterloo Region residents are urged to celebrate quietly and safely without fireworks.

Public firework displays are cancelled across the region for the May long weekend, and fireworks cannot be set off in municipal parks, sports fields or on other publicly owned properties.

Private backyard displays are also discouraged by all area municipalities to respect provincial physical-distancing protocols put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic that limit gatherings of more than five people who are not in the same household.

The region’s chief administrative officer Mike Murray hopes people take the message seriously for the May long weekend, recognizing that it may seem to be putting a damper on the annual fun.

“It’s really tricky balance to strike,” Murray said. “In the midst of all this uncertainty, people are looking for a sense of normality. I think the reality is we’re not in normal times.”

Although May 16-18 is a couple weeks away, officials wanted to get the message out early before people stock up on fireworks. Murray said local fire chiefs are always worried about people setting off fireworks in their backyard.

“Part of the message is similar to what it’s always been, which is you have to be really, really careful using fireworks,” Murray said. “It can go wrong pretty quickly.”

On top of that concern is layered the prohibition against large public gatherings, or any gathering of more than five people.

Bylaw officers will be out on the long weekend — and this weekend when the weather is supposed to be sunny and warm — enforcing current restrictions.

Murray hopes the fireworks warnings aren’t misinterpreted.

“I hope they’re taken in the spirt that they’re intended, which is basically to keep people safe and to keep our first responders safe and keep them available for other really im

portant things,” he said.

Municipalities stressed that they don’t want fireworks displays to put undue strain on frontline emergency workers.

“We don’t want to put any additional pressure on the health-care system or emergency responders, so rather than traditional fireworks, we are asking people to celebrate creatively — access age appropriate fireworks videos on YouTube, or use glow sticks, observe physical distancing and celebrate responsibly,” Fire Chief Richard Hepditch of Waterloo Fire Rescue said in a release.

Residents are asked to keep celebrations small and only to those within their household.

“Despite the dangers of fireworks, few people understand the associated risks — devastating burns, other injuries, fires, and even death,” said Woolwich Fire Chief Dale Martin. “That’s why I and other fire chiefs in Waterloo Region are urging residents to keep their celebrations low key. We do not want to put additional pressure on emergency responders and hospitals.”