No fireworks for Vernon

Photo: Contributed

While the Central Okanagan will celebrate Canada Day with a bang, Vernon's festivities will end on a much quieter note.

Kelowna, West Kelowna and Penticton all have numerous activities planned for the birthday bash, as does Vernon, but the biggest difference will happen in the evening, when Kelowna and Penticton light up the night sky with colourful fireworks displays.

The skies above Vernon, however, will remain dark on Canada's 148th birthday.

Polson Park will once again be the epicentre of Canada Day events, featuring entertainment, food vendors activities and, for the first time, a car show.

Ken Barker, Canada Day Committee chairman, said his committee and the fireworks committee split years ago. City officials said there is no fireworks committee this year.

Barker estimates up to 6,000 people will attend the Polson Park celebration which will include a variety of children's activities, live music, cutting of the birthday cake following a 1 p.m. ceremony and for the the first time, a show and shine.

“Canada Day is free to everyone. We have lots of giveaways as well,” said Barker.

Barker was coy on answering if local municipalities do enough to support Canada Day, but he did point out Coldstream made no direct contribution.

Coldstream will not be hosting its own Canada Day events and Coldstream Coun. Pat Cochrane was the lone voice asking the municipality to chip in money to the Polson Park event.

The regional district will be giving $2,000 toward the event – the City of Vernon will chip in $1,000 – but Cochrane said the Coldstream share of the regional donation amounts to $300.

In previous years, Coldstream has donated $500.

“I think that is a more suitable contribution,” said Cochrane. “Vernon is the regional centre, but they should get the support of the region to put on the best Canada Day we can and I think that should include fireworks.”