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Canada Day is a chance to express your patriotism for the Great White North, but it is also the day best known for its conglomeration of colourful explosions that announce another passing birthday for the nation.
But, how much money goes into putting on the iconic nighttime celebrations that conclude Canada Day with a bang?
The fireworks display in Osoyoos is marketed as the largest in Western Canada and volunteer coordinator Frank Zandzliet says that it is not without a price.
Zandzliet explained that while the show is valued at $65,000, their costs are significantly reduced due to volunteers and donated equipment — much of the equipment being his. For Osoyoos, they spend about $45,000 on firework products alone.
Volunteers fundraise for about two months before the show, with events and other means taking place throughout the year; additionally, they receive financial help from businesses, service clubs, grants and donations.
"All the money raised . . . goes into product and goes into the air," said Zandzliet, who promised that he would be "going big" in 2020 for his 25th anniversary as coordinator.
Renata Mills, executive director of Festivals Kelowna, said that the Kelowna Canada Day celebration as a whole is probably one of the largest in the province.
The festivities in total can amount to a bill of between $100,000 to $130,000, but this year the fireworks alone accounted for about $32,000, Mills said.
Those funds come from numerous places — including municipal and federal grants, sponsors, suppliers and Canada Day festivity revenue — and is put toward the fireworks, support staff, and other operational costs.
In neighbouring Penticton, the City spent about $22,500 on the fireworks, and had Trademark (a crane rental company) donate the barge.
Vernon's show is put on by North Okanagan Canada Day Society. Dave Frost, organization president, said the fireworks cost about $21,000, but another $4,000 covers costs like security, road closures and other necessary expenses during the celebration.
Their show is coordinated by a competitive firework specialist, he added.
"We had a different guy doing the actual show design and he does a lot of the larger competitions — fireworks competitions — and even goes into Europe and other areas. I thought it really showed well."
Firework shows in larger Okanagan cities appear to range anywhere from $20,000 to $45,000 — but that money sure does look pretty when it explodes in a flashy array of colours.
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