Saturday’s Celebration of Light fireworks show a peaceful event: VPD

It was an explosive night in the sky, but not on the streets of Vancouver’s West End Saturday night.

Despite thousands of people packed into the area for the Celebration of Light fireworks show Saturday night, there were “no major problems,” according to police.

It was the biggest event in Vancouver since the COVID pandemic began, and the VPD had extra officers in the area of English Bay.

Sgt. Steve Addison says police had to break up a couple of conflicts and reunited a few lost children, but did not report any more serious issues.

We’ve had several reports of children being separated from parents @CelebOfLight

A quick reminder:
– have a family safety plan.
– establish a meet point if you get separated.
– put your phone number in their pocket.
– find a police officer if you need help finding someone.

— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) July 24, 2022

Addison had previously issued some suggestions to parents, with regard to the possibility of becoming separated from kids:

“[Write] a phone number on your child’s hand, slip a note in their pocket that has a phone number … or commit to memory or take a picture of the clothes that they’re wearing, in case you get separated.”

Revellers were able to perch themselves on logs, which were recently returned to English Bay, as well as other Vancouver beaches.

The logs had been removed “in response to the pandemic and need for social distancing,” the Vancouver Park Board said in an earlier statement, adding it kept them off the beaches for longer than originally expected because staff found “fewer needles, broken glass, and other hazards.”

This weekend’s fireworks show was performed by Japan’s Akariya Fireworks. Canadian team Midnight Sun Fireworks competes Wednesday night, and Spain’s Pirotecnia Zaragozana’s team rounds up the festival Saturday, July 30.

With files from Hana Mae Nassar, Monika Gul, and Andrew Cowie