Nearly 70 fireworks complaints made to local bylaw over Canada Day long weekend
Posted Jul 5, 2022 04:31:07 PM.
The Canada Day long weekend has come and gone and whether you love them or hate them, there were plenty of fireworks being set off around the region.
The City of Kitchener fielded the most calls in the tri-cities as bylaw received a total of 37 fireworks complaints, although no tickets were issued.
In Cambridge, there were eight fireworks complaints and 11 noise complaints. Two of the latter resulted in $300 tickets.
“Tickets were issued following a progressive enforcement approach, i.e. when the home owners did not comply with a request to turn the music down or we were called again to the property for the same violation,” read an e-mail statement from a City of Cambridge spokesperson.
Waterloo bylaw received a total of 22 complaints but the city wasn't able to confirm whether any tickets were issued as of Tuesday morning.
Nicole Papke is director of municipal enforcement with the City of Waterloo and explained 22 calls is actually a relatively low number.
“There have been upwards of 100 calls in that same time period in previous years. It depends on the year, but we certainly have had more than 22.”
Papke said she thinks there may have been some more 'mindfulness' around setting off fireworks this year, and that she understands there are conflicting feelings about them in general.
“[It's about] balancing people's desire for fireworks, versus those that tend to be bothered by them; sometimes they're very challenging for people and some people's pets as well … it's kind of trying to balance the needs of the entire community.”
Papke added that public safety is always top of mind for city enforcement officials and that fireworks are something that have to be used with care.
Waterloo Regional Police already confirmed they charged a 20-year-old Waterloo man with several offences for reportedly setting off fireworks on a roadway near pedestrians, businesses, and vehicles on Saturday night in the King Street and Spring Street area.
The service is also still investigating several grass fires that are believed to be caused by fireworks at McLennan Park in Kitchener on Saturday afternoon.
You can read more about fireworks bylaws in the tri-cities by clicking the links below.
