Spider-shaped firework. Wikipedia photo: Dainan Kaplan
In a 7-1 vote, Sackville Town Council has approved a fireworks display during this year’s Fall Fair in spite of concerns about potentially adverse environmental effects.
“It’s nearly impossible to assign a numerical value to the impact that the fireworks could have on our environment,” Recreation Manager Matt Pryde told council on Monday.
He said most of the research relates to large-scale events in the U.S., India or Australia.
“That said, fireworks are technically an explosion and when an explosion goes off, there’s smoke and when there’s smoke, there’s the potential for particles and toxins and chemicals to get into the air,” Pryde said, adding that chemicals can stay airborne for days before falling to the ground where they can get into the soil harming wildlife and plants.
Pryde said town staff also received information from the Mayor’s Roundtable on Climate Change about the potentially damaging effects of loud explosions on wildlife and domestic animals.
He said that in future, the town could consider replacing fireworks displays with light shows using lasers and drones.
Pryde’s report came in response to concerns raised at an earlier meeting by Councillor Sabine Dietz who thanked staff for conducting this latest research.
Councillor Sabine Dietz
She said she would be voting against holding a fireworks display during the Fall Fair, but acknowledged that more conclusive evidence would be needed to make a fully informed decision.
“I know our town needs to do a lot of stuff and the expense for fireworks based on my knowledge that it is an environmental problem, fireworks in general, I will vote against the motion,” Dietz said.
“I’m going to vote in favour,” said Councillor Bill Evans, “but that doesn’t mean there aren’t arguments against it.”
He added that he was glad council was discussing the issue.
“It’s not just the environmental concerns; I know people have PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] and I know people who have dogs who leave town when we have fireworks, so there are things to consider,” Evans said.
The Fall Fair fireworks display will be held at the Lorne Street soccer field on Friday, September 24th with a rain date scheduled for Saturday, September 25th.
For a detailed 2019 CBC report on how fireworks can affect human health and the eco-system, click here.
Those who voted in favour of these fireworks and who as well are always concerned for the environment, wildlife and other issues like animals and PTSD are exemplifying the definition of hypocrisy at its finest.
I agree with you Christian.
“Pryde said town staff also received information from the Mayor’s Roundtable on Climate Change about the potentially damaging effects of loud explosions on wildlife and domestic animals.”
Listening to this statement, and then watching all of Town Council, with the exception of Councillor Dietz, go ahead and vote for a fireworks display, gives one pause to wonder what the point is of having a Mayor’s roundtable on climate change if the the information gleaned from said roundtable is simply ignored by our Councillors.
Councillor Evans stated that “I’m going to vote in favour,”…“but that doesn’t mean there aren’t arguments against it.” He then went on to state that he knows people who are negatively affected by fireworks, and other people whose dogs are terrified by them, but he did not explain why, with that knowledge, he still voted in favour of allowing a fireworks display this year.
What’s next, taking away the candles on our birthday cakes, because they might give off something bad? My goodness!