Fireworks debate reignites ahead of Canada Day
While the city of London gets set for a major fireworks display at Harris Park this Friday, it’s a day some in the community dread.
Kings University College and Fanshawe College student Becca Amendola has made repeated calls for a ban on fireworks. So far, she said her pleas to the city have been ignored.
“The council here in London has declared a climate emergency,” explained Amendola. “Fireworks cause particulate matter that never disappears. It kills animals, birds abandon, deer jump into streets, animals have heart attacks, people can actually have heart attacks."
Amendola, who has studied environmental geoscience and social work, said she has researched the effects of fireworks and believes they cause more harm than good
Emma Carrasco, who manages the Kaboom fireworks trailer at Masonville, said she agrees fireworks can be harmful to the environment. She doesn’t, however, believe there should be an outright ban.
Emma Carrasco manages the Kaboom fireworks trailer at Masonville, June 27, 2022. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)“A lot of people find enjoyment in them and they use them to celebrate holidays,” she said. “So I think for this reason they should be definitely more heavily regulated, but not entirely banned.”
Amendola, meantime, wants London to consider replacing public fireworks displays with laser shows — an option she said was used successfully in London’s Hyde Park neighbourhood recently.
London is scheduled to present Canada Day fireworks on Friday at 10 p.m.
The city says it will begin gathering community input online regarding the fireworks bylaw as early as this week. There are plans to update the fireworks bylaw next year. As for this holiday weekend, people should expect enhanced education and enforcement around setting off fireworks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
B.C. child killer's lawyer walks out of review hearing
The lawyer representing child-killer Allan Schoenborn walked out of his client's annual review hearing Wednesday – abruptly ending proceedings marked by tense exchanges and several outbursts.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Juror dismissed in Trump hush money trial as prosecutors ask for former president to face contempt
Prosecutors in the hush money trial of Donald Trump asked Thursday for the former president to be held in contempt and fined because of seven social media posts that they said violated a judge's gag order barring him from attacking witnesses.
Why drivers in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada will see a gas price spike, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
It's the biggest election in history. Here's why few Indians in Canada will take part
In the Indian general election that gets underway on Friday, almost a billion people are eligible to vote, but a vast majority of the overseas Indian community in Canada won't be casting a ballot.
McDonald's customers left with 'zero value' collection of free hot drink stickers after company ends program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
Getting the lowest mortgage rates in a high interest rate world
The challenges facing home buyers mean it's all the more important to do research and negotiate on rates, mortgage experts say, though they also caution that there's more to focus on than just what looks like the cheapest upfront option.