It’ll once again be a rather quiet Canada Day in downtown Vancouver.
The Port of Vancouver, which puts on Vancouver’s Canada Day fireworks display each year, announced on Wednesday that they “decided in 2022 to permanently discontinue the evening fireworks display for July 1 at Canada Place primarily due to rising costs”.
In a statement, Port of Vancouver states organizers “decided last year to take our July 1 event at Canada Place in a new direction following national conversations about how to best celebrate Canada Day in light of the tragic findings at residential schools”.
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“The event was re-named Canada Together and is planned collaboratively with representatives from the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations under the theme of “weaving together the fabric of a nation,” said Port of Vancouver’s Alex Munro.
Munro mentioned that last year’s event was a huge success, attracting an estimated 150,000 people.
The decision to cancel Vancouver’s Canada Day fireworks was disappointing to many, including Mayor Ken Sim.
“Fireworks have long been a part of Canada Day in Vancouver and we’re incredibly disappointed to see them cancelled this year.”
“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.”
Munro says that this year’s Canada Day event will have the same theme as 2022.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2023 under the same theme—chosen to honour Canada’s diversity and set an intention for the day to gather, celebrate, learn and share.”