‘High volume’ of fireworks-related calls during Diwali celebrations: police
Posted Oct 21, 2025 07:32:29 AM.
Last Updated Oct 21, 2025 04:25:39 PM.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated when firework displays are allowed in Kitchener and Cambridge on Oct. 21.
Regional police are reminding the public of the consequences for breaking fireworks bylaws after a number of incidents across Waterloo Region on Monday night.
Municipalities and the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) issued warnings over the past week, reminding the public of when fireworks displays are permitted, as people prepared to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.
In Kitchener and Waterloo, fireworks were allowed on Oct. 20 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on private property; in Cambridge, they’re allowed from dusk until 11 p.m.
Before 11 p.m. on Monday, regional police took to social media to remind the public that fireworks displays are not allowed on public property.
“We are receiving a high volume of calls relating to fireworks being set off in neighbourhoods and areas that are not permitted,” said WRPS in a post on X. “Please respect the municipal bylaws for fireworks.”
Waterloo regional police reported a large increase in complaints for fireworks on Monday.
In an email, they say that “we received 116 bylaw complaints for noise.”
This is a 241.2 per cent increase from the day prior, where only 30 complaints were reported.
“I cannot say for certain if all 116 calls were fireworks-related; however, from my scan, it appears that is what the majority were,” Melissa Quarrie, Public Information Officer, said.
Diwali celebrations continue on Tuesday evening, but displays are largely prohibited, except in Waterloo, where they’re permitted from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Staff from Waterloo told CityNews in an email that bylaw officers are responding to unsafe firework use and providing education. This year, they have had 19 calls for service and laid one charge for improper use. This, staff noted, was lower than last year when there were 30 calls for service and one charge laid.
Similar statements were ecohed by staff in Kitchener who said they have “experienced fewer complaints related to fireworks over the Diwali celebrations than in previous years.”
From Saturday to Monday, the municipality received 111 complaints and issued just over 20 charges, which is less than half of the complaints received in previous years, the email reads.
“To support the increase in call volume, we had eight additional bylaw officers working on Monday evening to assist with fireworks-related service calls,” staff from Kitchener said.
Earlier this year, councils in Kitchener and Waterloo decided to ban the sale of fireworks starting in January 2026, following a number of incidents on Canada Day and Diwali in years prior.
