Criticism continues over Calgary’s choice to can Canada Day fireworks
Posted May 24, 2023 9:24 am.
Criticism over the City of Calgary’s decision to do away with fireworks this Canada Day continues.
Last week, the city cited a number of reasons for the choice, including noise, overcrowding, and cultural sensitivity related to Truth and Reconciliation.
July 1 also marks the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Immigration Act. Also known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, the legislation banned the entry of all Chinese immigrants to Canada for more than two decades.
The city said it will now have an “enhanced pyrotechnic show” rather than fireworks at Fort Calgary on July 1.
The decision, made by city staff and not city council, has come with significant backlash and even sparked a petition which continues to gain momentum.
Coun. Sean Chu has concerns about how the decision was made.
“I have spoken to many leaders in the Chinese community and everybody says the same thing, ‘Oh we didn’t know anything about it,'” he said.
“If we’re going to use the 100 years of the Chinese Exclusion Act as a reason, at least we tell the community or ask them, ‘Is this appropriate?'”
The decision even prompted a petition from Common Sense Calgary, with the group calling the decision “a stunning display of virtue signaling.”
“What wasn’t mentioned was consultation with Calgarians because it didn’t happen, and that’s the bare minimum that we expect and that we ask for is for elected officials to consult with constituents,” said the group’s executive director Kristy Koehler.
The city says it spoke to a number of groups on the issue, however, over 9,000 people have so far signed the petition wanting the decision reversed.
Read more: No Canada Day fireworks for Calgary this year
“People just want to get together with their families and enjoy something that brings them joy and brings them together,” Koehler said.
“I think Calgarians — people in general — are just tired of these activist situations,” she added. “I think that people just want to get together, they want to celebrate with their friends, their neighbours, their family.”
Coun. Kourtney Penner is in favour of the decision, saying in a Twitter thread that “reversing this decision would be upholding colonialism and racism.”
1/ A day that marks 100 years of the Chinese Immigration Act and calls from the Indigenous community to note that Canada Day historically is for and by white people and Indigenous people weren’t acknowledged as Canadians for years, does warrant a look at how we celebrate. #yyccc https://t.co/mkWepCK3LC
— Kourtney Penner (@kourtpenner) May 22, 2023
City staff provided justification for the decision Tuesday.
“This was not a political decision, this was not something we brought to council, this is something that myself and the executive leadership team listened to the reasons why we should consider something different,” city manager David Duckworth explained. “This is an opportunity to try and do something different — we’re not trying to cancel Canada Day celebrations.”
Coun. Sonya Sharp said since the announcement was made, her inbox has been filled with complaints.
“I think we need to consider those that are also really excited for the fireworks and recognize that in some cultures that’s what they wait for, the excitement at the end of the night,” she said. “I’m a little disappointed that we’re not seeing them this year — maybe next year we can do both.”
Calgary-Nose Hill MP Michelle Rempel Garner has also called on the city to reverse the decision.
