Ottawa's Bluesfest kicked off its opening night with an unexpected fireworks display, utilizing leftover pyrotechnics from the cancelled Canada Day celebrations. The dazzling, yet unannounced, show began just before 11 p. m. on Thursday, sparking confusion and some anger among residents and local councillors.
The decision by the City of Ottawa and Canadian Heritage to fire off the remaining fireworks was made to avoid safety risks associated with dismantling and moving them from Lemieux Island. However, the lack of advance public notification has drawn criticism. Councillor Jeff Leiper expressed his frustration, calling the decision "completely inappropriate given the impact that it had on presumably thousands of residents."
City officials explained that the Special Event Advisory Team (SEAT), which includes representatives from the Ottawa Police Service and emergency services, opted against publicizing the event. Their primary concern was to prevent large crowds from gathering on streets adjacent to the Bluesfest venue, thereby avoiding an "event surrounding an event" that could pose safety and crowd management challenges. This decision meant that residents were unaware of the approximately 11 to 12-minute display.
While the City acknowledged that the surprise display may have caused concern, they stated that public safety considerations, particularly the risks involved in handling the already primed fireworks, took precedence. As of Friday morning, the city's by-law and regulatory services had received 38 complaints related to the fireworks, and a review of public feedback is planned for future event planning.
