Unexploded Canada Day fireworks shot off Bluesfest opening night

Fans take in artist Cody Johnson, not pictured, as he performs at the Ottawa Bluesfest on opening night. Photo by Spencer Colby /Postmedia

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The unexploded fireworks from Canada Day’s dampened festivities were set off late Thursday for Bluesfest’s opening night instead, with no notice from Heritage Canada and the City of Ottawa to residents.

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On social media, some city councillors and residents expressed their frustration at what they described as an intense and unexpected display of fireworks around 11 p.m.

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The fireworks were originally planned to be set off over Ottawa for Canada Day at the LeBreton Flats but were ultimately cancelled due to a heavy rainstorm that flooded homes and left thousands without power. 

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Fireworks started at approximately 10:53 p.m. near LeBreton Flats and lasted approximately 11 to 12 minutes, according to a note from city staff shared by Coun. Jeff Lieper on social media. 

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“A no-notice fireworks show of this scale is completely inappropriate and legitimately frightened Ottawa residents,” Lieper wrote on social media.

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“Coming off the very intense storms we just had, and the general discomfort that people are feeling in a very unsettled time, the decision to take this step with no notice that I can discern is hard to understand,” Lieper wrote. 

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In the note to Lieper, the city explained that the decision not to notify Ottawa residents and councillors was made when Heritage Canada and the City of Ottawa concluded that the potential public safety risks “with encouraging additional attendance in the surrounding area” outweighed the benefits of notifying residents.

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The city went on to say that notifying residents of the existence of these fireworks would create an “event surrounding an event,” which they explained would place additional pressure on crowd management and city services.

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“Staff recognize that the display has caused concern and disturbance for residents, particularly given the absence of advance notice,” read the note.

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Lieper said he fundamentally disagrees with the city’s special event advisory team’s decision to forgo advance notice to Ottawa residents.

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On social media, Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster said councillors received no notice that Heritage Canada was going to let off the Canada Day fireworks at 11 p.m. Thursday night.

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“It seems that Heritage Canada determined that it was safer to do this than try to remove the unexploded shells from Lemieux Island. But on a weeknight, so late, with no notice = unacceptable.”

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