THUNDER BAY – Editorial – Fireworks are fun. Across the City on Canada there were official fireworks shows one at Marina Park put on by the City of Thunder Bay. Fort William First Nation also puts on a fantastic display from the viewpoint of Mount McKay.
Across the city, residents and some neighbourhoods also put on their own fireworks displays. Some go on well into the night. Having fireworks go off in your neighbourhood at all hours of the night however is not a great experience for everyone.
Some are calling for the City Council to amend the by-laws and restrict the general public from putting on their own fireworks.
That is an idea that sounds good, but only until you look at some of the realities.
Last week at City Council, the issue of enforcing noise by-laws came up.
Council was told, once again that there are no by-law officers working after 4:30PM from Monday to Friday. Council was also told that Thunder Bay Police are not By-Law Officers.
So unless there is a change in how By-laws are enforced in the City of Thunder Bay, a move to restrict fireworks to certain hours would be fairly pointless.
What it really comes down to is likely a matter of respect. Respect for one’s neighbours and respect for the rights of others to their late night enjoyment of summer.
On Canada Day there were fireworks going off from just after dark to in some cases as late as 04:00AM. These personal shows were going off from the Friday night all the way through to the following week.
This demonstrated a lack of respect for our fellow residents.
Perhaps until the City of Thunder Bay can figure out a way to enforce the existing by-laws, and have that enforcement go beyond standard office hours and Monday to Friday was is needed is greater education rather than new and mostly unenforceable by-laws.
James Murray
