On the first Monday of July, the sound of fireworks accompanied the holiday some would call the beginning of summer for Canadians.
However, this year saw numerous incidents involving fireworks take place across the region. The Waterloo Regional Police were called to investigate an incident where a large group of youth set fireworks off into a group of people in Victoria Park. A similar incident occurred to Waterloo Councilor Julie Wright who had a firework shot in her face while leaving Waterloo Park’s festivities.
According to the Government of Canada, there were 210 reported cases of injuries related to fireworks between Apr. 1, 2011 and Apr. 13, 2023. Of these, 61 per cent of injuries were burns.
While not all firework injuries require medical attention, 73.8 per cent of cases across this timeframe required emergency medical attention.
With over 15.1 million unscheduled emergency department visits from April 2022 to March 2023, up 14 million from 2021-2022, it is clear that the country cannot bear the weight of further visits.
Alongside the health risks involved when setting them off, fireworks pose a threat to the environment.
When fireworks explode, they release microscopic particulate matter in solid and liquid form.
This then falls to the ground, where it is a concern for “human, animal, and environmental health,” said Monica Sidel in an article for Watersheds Canada.
But how do you replace the bright lights, sounds and joy fireworks bring?
Drone shows are choreographed shows where drones followed predetermined flight paths with the use of their coordination systems. These are often accompanied by music and serve as an alternative form of entertainment to fireworks.
Many communities, including Waterloo, have begun to replace traditional fireworks celebrations with drone shows. On July 1, the City of Waterloo closed out their Canada Day festivities with a 10-minute drone show.
The city has held drone shows for Canada Day since 2020, replacing their yearly fireworks event.
The change came from a desire to protect surrounding nature, minimize noise and ensure no “chemical fallout would reach local water systems,” said a spokesperson from the city.
While drones are still not entirely eco-conscious—they still pollute less than fireworks and can be reused each year.
Further, while drone shows still contribute to noise pollution, they are far less loud than fireworks. Fireworks displays can reach up to sounds hitting 150 decibles. According to the World Health Organization, sounds at this level are never safe for our ears. 80 decibels and below is the highest level of sound that is safe for human ears without ear protection.
While listening to music at an elevated volume, such as at a drone show, can be unsafe for hearing health, damage to the ears can be mitigated through the use of earplugs and staying away from speakers and amplifiers. Further, the volume level of music can be adjusted—fireworks cannot have their sound reduced as easily.
While the implementation of drone shows across the Region will not replace the joy of fireworks for many, they mark an important step towards more eco-conscious yearly celebrations.
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