Kamloops councillors to debate going back to fireworks or keeping drones for Canada Day

This week, Kamloops City Council will be debating fireworks versus drones for Canada Day festivities.

City staff say the viability of a July 1 fireworks show is being evaluated due to the increased frequency of wildfires and dry conditions in the area.

This year, Kamloops Fire Rescue did not issue any fireworks permits and the annual fireworks show was cancelled.

Instead, the city held its first-ever drone show.

However, city staff said incoming bad weather this Canada day meant the show had to start earlier and not as high in the sky as intended, leaving those in Riverside Park with a generally positive experience but people further away were left underwhelmed.

The staff report also says the 18-minute presentation, which included 200 drones, cost $42,000, which is more than double the 2023 fireworks show.

A one-time grant of $10,000 from the BC Fairs, Festivals and Events Fund helped make the cost “more manageable,” staff say.

According to the report, staff say drone shows “seem to be the future of Canada Day entertainment.”

They also point out that there is no negative impact on animals or on some people experiencing PTSD, there can be different themes and imagery, and, of course, they can operate in dry conditions.

However, the con list mentions that the first show didn’t have the same impact as fireworks, they are more expensive and the visibility is not the same as traditional fireworks,

Staff say traditional fireworks shows are more accepted by the public, they are more visible throughout the city and cost around $20,000, which is much cheaper than the drones.

However, staff say the noise can negatively impact some members of the communities and cause distress for animals. They also say fireworks can be cancelled at any moment due to the weather and are becoming less popular due to increasing fire risks.

The fireworks versus drones matter will be discussed during the Tuesday afternoon meeting.