Vernon’s Canada Day celebrations to be without light show

May 13, 2025 | 12:22 PM

There won’t be any light shows over Vernon to mark Canada Day this year.

At the regular meeting Monday, May 12, Vernon City Council heard from the organization that runs the nation’s birthday celebrations in town, and learned that it would not be feasible to have either fireworks or a drone show in 2025.

“Due to climate change risks, we are still suspending any interest in doing fireworks,” Mayla Janzen, of the Vernon Okanagan Inspired Community Events Society (Voice Society), told council.

“Last year we were lucky in getting a deal on doing the drones, we only had about four weeks to plan it so we were given a pretty hefty discount on that.

“This year they wanted about $38,000 to be able to do the drones again, and our group was unable to secure that amount of money, so we had to decide to let that go for the year.”

Council grants

Vernon to distribute over $50k in Council Discretionary Grants, $20K to the food bank

18h ago

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

Dec 13, 2025

Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

Dec 13, 2025

Despite this, Janzen said the celebration on July 1 would go off with lots of activities and features, including a Sharpie Wall where people can write about what it means for them to be Canadian; live music; a local vendors market; a skate competition; Fruit Fest; and a bouncy castle and slide.

The representative for the VOICE Society did note that parking would be limited at the park to vendors and food trucks, and council directed the organization to approach area businesses that would be closed for the holiday and ask that they allow people to park in their lots. Council advised Janzen that the group create signage that could be posted at the businesses that agree to allow people to park. She also asked people use alternative modes of transportation to visit Polson Park on Canada Day.

Additionally, the VOICE Society asked the city to provide tables, chairs and an event trailer for the Canada Day celebration, waive the park rental fees, provide six port-a-potties, have staff on hand to assist with issues and control traffic and parking, and grant temporary permits for entertainment.

Council accepted the presentation at Monday’s meeting and asked staff to report back with further details about the requests for discussion at a future meeting.

by Liam Verster

View Comments