FIRE IN THE SKY
Tonight marks the opening night of Vancouver’s Celebration of Light, sparking over the waters of English Bay. It’s the annual event at which, over four nights, 1.4 million Greater Vancouver residents cozy up together to take in fireworks displays from around the world. This year’s competition boasts colourful presentations from Canada (July 23), the United States (July 26) and China (July 30) with a grand finale on August 2.
Photo: Duane Storey on Flickr
I will not be one of those 1.4 million. While the fireworks themselves can be a marvel to see, I can’t say that 500,000 people invading my neighbourhood each night, police helicopters circling overhead, dump trucks full of littered garbage and suburban jackasses getting into street fights are overly appealing factors.
“But Keira, you chose to live in the West End.” Sure, and I can also choose to leave the West End on the nights in question. If the City of Vancouver were to, say, move the event to the shores near Point Grey, you can be damned sure the locals would cause an up-roar. It’s my quiet little neighbourhood. That being said, after work and a half hour of laying in the sun (fingers crossed), I’m grabbing sushi from my favourite joint and venturing across town to hunker down in Gastown for the night.
All’s not lost on fireworks evenings. Last year I had the pleasure of spending one such evening in the company of lovely friends, such as Rebecca, and meeting new ones, like Tony. And oh my, the fun we had that night!
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8 Comments
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I must admit to being quite pleased that I’m out of the West End for the fireworks tonight too. Enjoy your Miko…I’m so jealous. I wouldn’t even dream of eating sushi out here.
Funny thing is I’m working downtown tonight. Then I’m outta there. I dislike the fireworks crowd. A bunch of drunken yahoos if you ask me. Enjoy your sushi, and see you tomorrow!
The funny thing about fireworks is that they are beautiful in the sky but the chemicals used to react and provide the lovely light show are actually harmful to the water below.
I’m going to watch from my balcony in Kits with my kitties in my Care Bear jammies. I hear ya - escape the crowds and apparently, the Godzilla water feature from tonight’s show!
this suburban jackass will be heading down to check out the purty lights. it’s a shame that the drunken yahoos get all the attention but i find that they are in the minority. i love to ‘ooh & aah’ like i did when i was a kid and i’m not going to let those that don’t know any better to spoil it for me.
And in case no one knows, each fireworks event wreaks havoc on the wildlife living in Stanley Park and surrounding areas - some are displaced from their nests fleeing frightening booms, some have fragile eardrums burst and some are even found dead of apparent heart attack due to the stress of the impacting vibrations.
Wildlife Rescue records this the day after each event, so I myself have seen enough fireworks in my life but the animal kingdom isn’t so lucky.
Sorry, Debbie Downer
I think the city of vancouver could have spent its money a little better by say… having Folk Fest be free or offering up more free events that don’t impact the community and environment in this manner. that being said, i used to love coming downtown for the fireworks when i was a kid and im sure that same reason motivates a lot of the spectators.
I would have to say I would be out of there too.. who needs all that commotion when you just want to come home from work and chill… and what better place to hunker down in than Gastown!
you missed out.
they were rad-tastic.