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November 10, 2015 - 11:30 AM
'WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO COMPLAINED... WHY DON'T YOU COME OUT AND SUPPORT THIS'
VERNON - Vernon’s mayor is asking members of the public to step up and lend a hand in next year’s Canada Day festivities.
The longtime tradition of Canada Day fireworks was cancelled in 2015, but looks like it will be back next summer.
Mayor Akbal Mund says $10,000 has been set aside in the city’s budget for the fireworks display, along with $2,000 for the Polson Park festivities.
“The city has committed $10,000 as it has in past years to the fireworks,” Mund says. “That’s just moving forward and now we’ll advertise for more members to join the Canada Day committee and form their society and move this forward.”
In previous years, a fireworks committee organized the event, but chairperson Terry Schmauder said the city decided to dissolve the committee to avoid liability. Instead, the city called for a society to be formed, but that didn’t happen in time for the 2015 Canada Day fireworks event.
While the city is contributing to the event financially, Mund says it is not responsible for organizing it. That’s something he hopes members of the public will help out with.
“What I would suggest to all those people who complained, and I’m talking over hundreds, why don’t you come out and support this and join the committee,” Mund says. “This is your opportunity to help and say 'yes, I want to join the committee and help and be part of Vernon'.”
Mund says previous organizers are willing to help out and keep the event going, but can't do it on their own and need support from the community.
The fireworks display generally costs around $30,000 but Mund says some local businesses have already indicated they would help cover the bill.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
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