Igniting Our Spirits Summer Fireworks

Okay. Like many Vancouverites, I was deeply disappointed to learn that the celebration of lights would not return this year. You know, and this one's deeply personal. As a kid, I think everyone knows that my family struggled financially. I'm not sure, but I might be the only person on this council with lived experience of our family getting kicked out of multiple homes because we couldn't make rent. In fact, I went to five elementary schools in five years. because our family moved from place to place. And, you know, as an immigrant family, we struggled to make rent to feed the family, and we really looked forward to free community events, you know, like the P&E Parade, the Chinese Lunar New Year Parade with the fireworks and the lions. The free events were literally the only events that we could go to, and... Look, my parents would come up with reasons why we couldn't go to other events, you know, timing or we had family commitments or a whole bunch of other things. But you grow up and as an adult, you realize that, you know, my parents were proud. They just didn't want to say that we couldn't go to these events. And unfortunately, my family story is becoming an increasingly common story in our city, in our province, and in our country. And so at a time when major events are increasingly expensive, losing one of our few large free summer events is a real loss for the city. And once they're gone, they're incredibly hard to get back. I want to stress, think about the Peony Parade or the Santa Claus Parade. So my motion is simple. First, it approves up to $2 million for a one-night city-enabled fireworks event this August. This one-time event to ensure Vancouver still has a major free family-friendly fireworks celebration This summer, staff will pursue sponsors and partners for cost recovery without delaying delivery or limiting public access. Staff will report back by the end of Q1 with an event plan. Second, the motion urges the federal and provincial governments to reinstate and increase funding to bring back the celebration of light. This recognizes its cultural significance, its tourism and economic impact, and its importance as a free public experience. So we're bringing the fireworks back this summer, and we're working to bring the celebration of light back next year.

Yeah, thanks. I have a long history with this event, probably longer than any other, and back to the time when it was the Symphony of Fire, and I have served in different capacities over the years as marketing chair for the event, tried to support sponsorship. brought different partners on at different points in the day. And there's always been challenges and ebbs and flows in this event, but it always managed to sustain and hang on. It's such a very explicit example of what happens when senior levels of government pull their funding entirely. I think that in addition to being a beloved festival and a free event that's so iconically Vancouver, there is nothing like sitting and watching the fireworks with that spectacular view of English Bay. people don't necessarily realize the significant economic impact and that includes to different levels of government the local businesses people are spending hotels are full folks are coming down they're getting they're buying food in the local restaurants and the tax revenues support it when we start to lose those parts of our city it's it's very significant i will note that i think the mayor has mentioned previously in previous comments about this that We had funding set aside for the city's significant contribution to this event, which is some cash and in kind in terms of offsetting policing and other things. And so this isn't really a significant amount of incremental. It does put the onus on moving the sort of the. different partners stepping up and coming up with a sponsorship model that's sustainable. I will sort of drop here that I had some good conversations with other cultural partners, including one as recently as yesterday. I brought forward different events in the past also, like in my time at Park Board, such as starting the Symphony at Sunset with the when the summer infrastructure goes in, to look at sharing costs across a number of existing events who are looking to reduce some costs where they might be able to share stages or something runs over multiple days in a week. And so I'm looking forward to sort of contributing with community to some of those conversations. I'll also note I see an amendment coming up which speaks to, I can speak to that in more detail when it's tabled, but a lot of that work is already happening. This is about a laser focus for delivering this event in 2026 and delivering one night of fireworks in the height of summer for Vancouverites that love that. And I think people need to have a little bit of hope.

in times of affordability that some of our beloved Vancouver traditions are, that we are fighting for them and we're not quietly just sort of letting them slip away. So I wholeheartedly support it and I will be coming back to speak to the amendment that is coming. Thanks. Thanks, Councillor. Councillor Maloney.

Thanks. If I could be put on an amendment queue, please.

So please add yourself there. Okay. Please go ahead.

Thank you. I very much appreciate the intention behind the motion that's been brought and I very much agree with the underlying purpose. But this amendment expresses a slightly different vision that doesn't have to be an either or. It could be an as well or in addition to. But I believe it better supports the goal of creating a vibrant, fun Vancouver if we do have to choose between the two of them. and providing opportunities for ongoing stimulation of the local economy and supporting the breadth of arts and cultural activities in our city rather than just a one-off event. It's designed to give us more bang for our buck.

There are conflicting views about fireworks and in particular having to make a choice between investing in the celebration of light while the Canada Day fireworks are cancelled and choosing between one big event versus investing in the festivals, events and organisations that do so much to enrich our city, both culturally and financially. Vancouver currently has major events that are struggling and reinvesting in them right now would leverage the economic impact of homegrown festivals and events. Thank you.

Thank you. We need a seconder. Seconded by Councillor Orr. Okay, Councillor Kirby on the amendment. Yeah, thanks, Chair. I'm just going to preface this by, I know that we often hear from some of our new councillors, and I think Councillor Mulaney often says, and I appreciate the honesty in the statement that she's new here. There is a lot of this work that is already being done, so much of it. And again, I'm probably deeply connected to this coming from the tourism sector, but I myself moved a motion making it easier to host outdoor festivals and events. We have our FEST committee and our FEST work. We are maintaining our grants. We're looking at ways to work together already. There's an actual FEST committee of industry that have been meeting and talking about recommendations and in terms of how the city can do that work and support them. A lot of this work is driven in partnership. We have an ongoing relationship and we fund with the Vancouver Hotel. Destination Association, VHDA, as well as Destination Vancouver. There is a table and a partnership agreement that already exists with the city. This council has advanced funding to support that as one of the financial partners. And they utilize some of that hotel tax in order to stimulate new events that can come in and complement the calendar, to stimulate and look at how they can support existing events. to help leverage them up and sustain them. And so we see a lot of that work happening. It's things like, you know, everything from the Ferris wheel popping up to trying to incubate Lumiere and different events that happen at different times of the year. So the city is sort of deeply involved in and supportive of this work. A lot of this, I think, doesn't recognize the work that's already happening. It doesn't recognize the partnerships with Destination Vancouver, Vancouver Hotel, Destination Association. and others. And I think we've had different motions such as the street festival on Davie that we've been investing in thanks to Councillor Miser and resuscitating and doing that work, supporting Pride. So we've had a lot of different motions already, I think, in supporting and lifting up a number of these events. And we just need to keep doing that work with the existing structures that they have. So I'm not seeing anything new here. And for that reason, I will not be supporting it. Thank you. Thanks. Mayor Sim.

Yeah, really quickly. So, Councillor Maloney, thank you. And, you know, I see where the intent is coming from. Also, Councillor Kirby-Young, thank you for highlighting all the additional work that's happening behind the scenes on a bunch of other events that are, you know, going through this current economic crisis or environment as well. I just want to be very clear. We're talking about the fireworks, which is the largest community event in the province. It's free. It's family friendly. It's safe. And like I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of individuals that are dealing with affordability challenges. So events like this give access or accessible to people who wouldn't actually have access to other things. We are focused on saving this event. As I mentioned earlier, When these events go away, they're so hard to bring back. And so I think we really, the purpose of this motion is to provide focus on saving a fireworks celebration in the city of Vancouver that's free, family-friendly, and safe. And time is of the essence. And so with that, I will be respectfully not supporting the amendment to my motion. Thanks.

All right, Councillor Orr. Thanks. Yeah, I appreciate that there is a lot of work going on and there's a lot of organizations, you know, working behind the scenes in this. But what is new in this amendment is an influx of $2 million to support. these events and festivals. That is absolutely new. That is a lot of money. And as we heard from numerous speakers in festivals like Bard on the Beach and Mural Fest and other groups, when we tried to bring forward a hotel tax to support those festivals, which was ultimately struck and replaced, that this funding could go so far And for every dollar I think we heard, it's $10 in return back to the economy. So, I mean, that's $20 million in benefits that would arise from this amendment alone to support the arts.

Thanks, Councillor. Okay, before I advance the next speakers, I'm looking at the time. I need a motion to extend this meeting, just in case.

Complete this item. Okay, moved by Councillor Meiszner, seconded by Councillor Davenato. All those in favour, say aye. Opposed, say nay. Okay, thank you. The motion carries. Councillor Maloney.

Yeah, thank you, and thanks to Councillor... for running me through all those things. I reassure her that I am very much laser focused on what we do and don't do for arts and culture in this city. And as Councillor Orr mentioned, the new thing here is the $2 million. I was very careful to draft this to emphasise the benefit to... ..the ongoing benefit to our local businesses from attracting visitors to our city, but not just once, not just a one-off day, throughout the course of the season to make sure that there's an ongoing source of funds so that... Different people get the opportunity to engage in different events that might interest them. And we really do benefit so much from the unique festivals and events and cultural organisations. And they contribute so much to making Vancouver vibrant and interesting and wonderful and unique. So I'm regretting that I'm thinking that this won't be supported. However, I would really encourage council to consider doing it as well as a one-off contribution or investment in the Festival of Light. Thank you.

Councillor Claston.

Just really briefly, just first of all, the original motion, which is asking for an additional $600 million or so thousand dollars to top up a typical grant of over $1.4 million is, I think, appropriate. This event obviously looms large in the hearts of people of the city. We know that it generates a significant amount of economic activity around it. And so I'm going to be supporting the original motion. I do sort of take heed to Councillor Kirby Young's words around the fact that a lot of this work is happening right now. I think we just need to think of this exactly for what it is, which is an ability to bridge through 2026 to make sure that we can revive and strengthen a festival of lights for future years to come. Thanks.

Thanks. Councillor Meiszner.

Yeah, thanks, Chair. I won't be supporting the amendment either, but I'm strongly in support of the original motion to bring back the celebration of light this summer. As mentioned, this is the largest free event in the province, and it's worthwhile to do this. I've been coming to the show since I was a teenager. My family used to take the ferry over from... from the island to attend the fireworks, back when it was sponsored by Benson & Hedges, and it was called the Symphony of Fire. And I still attend to this day. So as mentioned, there's already funds allocated for this year, and this is just a small top-up to those funds. And this is going to bring back the celebration of light for one night this summer. a year that's really pivotal for our city with FIFA in town. It's right before the Pride Festival, which I'm happy to have supported and will be supporting again this year with bringing back the block party to Davie Street. But this will secure this marquee event, and I know that we can work hard to get sponsors interested for 2027 next year and bring it back in its full form as it used to be. I think this is a fantastic motion and I'm really excited to support it. Thanks.

Thanks, Councillor Meiszner. So seeing no one else on the queue, let's go to the vote on amendment.

Okay, so the amendment did not pass with Consular Joel, Kirby Andominato, Montague, Klassen, Meisner, and Mayor Seney in opposition. Consular Bly absent. Consular Fry abstain.

All right, so coming back to the main queue, Councillor Domenato.

Okay, Councillor Fry.

Microphone.

Thank you. Yeah, I don't support this motion, and I do appreciate the lamentation for the celebration of life, or I'm sorry, the celebration of light. It's a celebration of life for the celebration of light. I appreciate that it has been a beloved event since the time Councillor Meiszner was traversing the Georgia Strait to visit the Benson and Hedges. And it's a regional joy. I get that part. But the reality is that it was a business model that was not sustainable. And the reason it's not continued to fund is because they couldn't make it work for a variety of reasons. So I think, you know, including the lack of federal funding... But we need to recognize that we are in this austerity budget. And the reason I really don't support this and why I didn't support Councillor Maloney's amendment either is because we're talking about the allocation of $2 million at a time when this city has talked about a zero means zero austerity budget. We are letting go hundreds of city staff, the people who we like to say help make this place a great place. place to live, work, and play. And we allowed our staff to that extent, but we are at the same time denuding the funding for that. And I recognize also that there are other events in this city that are struggling and could use that funding support. that aren't receiving the kind of support. And fundamentally, where I disagree with this approach from the mayor is that there is no business plan here. There is no comprehension. We've tasked staff to come up with staff who are beleaguered and overworked, and we've been hearing nonstop that the budget constraints mean we can't get stuff done. We keep hearing that the inevitability of FIFA means that we have limited staff resources to get stuff done. Yet here we are... with this advancement of $2 million to come up with a last-minute plan to deliver fireworks, which I get, people love it, but at the same time, it deserves a little bit more thought than what I think the Roman satirists referred to as bread and circuses, because at the end of the day, this is on the eve of an election, and it's a great gimme, but we have... consistently heard from this council that we are in the dire need for austerity to deliver a zero percent budget. So the idea that as we're letting folks go from the city of Vancouver that we can magically come up with two million dollars to throw a fireworks show in the summertime that hasn't really been planned out, I don't think is responsible or consistent with what's been spoken about in these chambers. And I will add that the city of Vancouver continues to afford a great deal of fun family activities and our city remains a wonderful place to visit in the summertime. We have fantastic parks and beaches, and we have a vibrant tourist scene, and we have great shops and shopping districts. We have lots to enjoy in this city. $2 million for a fireworks show that hasn't been planned out is not the time, and certainly... I understand that Minister Bailey will be coming back with a very harsh budget that won't be a very popular one. So it doesn't sound like the province has got cash to throw at this anytime soon. If we really want to be serious about bringing back some kind of fireworks festival on the shores of English Bay in the future. It may or may not involve pyrotechnics, or maybe it could involve drones. Who knows? But it needs a little bit more thought. It needs a little bit more partnership that's confirmed rather than just sort of throwing it as a Hail Mary pass on the eve of an election. So a hard pass on this. Thanks. Thanks, Mayor Sim.

Yeah, I do want to clarify a couple of things and then get to the point of why we're doing this here. So first of all, the city of Vancouver's financial commitment has never wavered. Before senior levels of government and sponsors pulled their funding, we were already committed to $1.4 million in in-kind support. and that has been budgeted for so we're talking about a top up of about six hundred thousand dollars also um our administration has been um getting our financial house in order which includes over the last four years we've uh replenished the reserves um by 150 million dollars with the view when there are unique uh situations with extenuating circumstances we can react and still be financially stable

This council, you know, I know there are individuals that will say this is hard to do in an area where we're trying to, you know, make life more affordable by reducing property taxes that everyone bears, regardless if you're a renter, homeowner, business owner, what have you. When property taxes go up, guess what? You pay for that in your cup of coffee or the sandwich you get at the local restaurant or in your rent or in your property taxes in general. But as mayor, and I know a bunch of councillors here, have not voted down very pragmatic projects that would bring tens of millions of dollars of additional revenue to this city that are not taxes. We are being very prudent. Others will vote them down. And so that's the battle we're fighting. We are fighting. We choose to address this very unique situation.

The economic impact is pretty significant as well. Think of it's the largest event in the province and the effect that it has on restaurants, all the local shop owners, the taxi drivers, Uber drivers, you name it. And it's not just the gross economic impact and the tax revenues that actually go to the province and the federal government, not the city of Vancouver. I want to humanize it. If you own that little shop, you know what, that one day, and make or break your month or your summer. It is that significant. And I think that's what we should be fighting for. On top of that, we know we're going through an affordability challenge here. A lot of people in this city, this province, and this country are struggling with affordability challenges. They're struggling to put meals... on the table to feed their families. And I think it's okay that we have been fiscally prudent. We built up our reserves for a rainy day. Well, the day's raining today. And you know what? If it's $600,000 of the $150 million that we have been prudently putting away for that, this is exactly... why we do what we do. So when an event like this happens, the most iconic event in the summer, in my opinion, on an ongoing basis, and we're at the risk of losing it, and they're so hard to bring back, I think it's okay to choose this. And so I choose to support this to make sure that people can enjoy the summer in a... family-friendly, fun, safe way, regardless if, you know, or, you know, economics aren't going to be a roadblock for someone to enjoy the summer with their family on a special night. Thanks, Mayor. Okay, Councillor Kerbiel.

Yeah, thanks, Mayor. I feel like I'm in an episode of Christmas Carol with Scrooge, and I'm hoping that people will wake up and realize that this is just something that brings people joy. It makes them smile. It causes people to kind of... get excited about making plans. It brings all of our city together, a huge proportion, about 400,000 people coming from Vancouver and the surrounding region over the night, and having a shared collective amazing experience. And affordability is a very real issue. I mean, to the comment that the model just doesn't work, arts and culture in general doesn't work as a model, but we don't stop investing in it. We don't stop putting in the 13, $14 million in grants. We don't stop in terms of our affordable cultural spaces grants. They charge for tickets. This is free. And people need things to do in the city. They need highlights. The point of keeping property taxes low, which was, I think, well explained earlier by the mayor, is to support affordability. But people still need to have joy and things to do in their city. And so... To me, the argument sort of falls flat. To me, if you're arguing about affordability, because this is one of those things that allows a family to go and have a night out without costing anything. They can go into the local shop if they want, or they can go and they can take a picnic. You know, Councillor Fry mentioned shops as things to do. Those are not free. So I think that this is a good use of expenditure. There's an economic impact if you take away, if you want to go there and sort of go through all of the different tax revenue, all the small business revenues generated, but you cannot put a price on how beloved this event is. It has been going for a long, long time. So let's give a little bit of breathing room. Let's have one this summer and let's know that we did everything we can, just like we're trying to keep the white caps in Vancouver. These are quintessentially Vancouver things, and they are worth fighting for. Thank you.

Thanks. Councillor Orr.

Yeah, thanks. I was happy to support the mayor's previous motion, but I don't think I can support this. $2 million for one hour. If this was a single staff person working 40 hours a week, it would cost $4 billion. Noting that $1 billion would fix all of the city's private SROs. At $90,000 a year, $2 million is 22 staff positions we could keep. $2 million would allow things like the equity office, the renter's office, libraries to stay open seven days a week. The mayor had a chance to look at taxing the rich to pay for things like this, like exactly like this, but mocked it by asking if people would need a T4 to go to the pool. Council had a chance to keep property taxes at 0% for homes under $3 million, but chose not to. And I'll recognize Councillor Kirby Young's comments about Scrooge. Scrooge was someone who hoarded wealth at the expense of his working class employees. And that's exactly why so many are in this affordability crisis. So the mayor also said in regards to public grocery stores, we are in the business of filling potholes, not selling tomatoes. So wouldn't the same logic extend to being in the pyrotechnics business? So I welcome attempts to hold this event. I would hope they could find a philanthropist who could maybe chip in. But considering the financial reality of the city, I don't know any millionaires. So with that, I don't think I can support.

Thank you. Councillor Maloney.

Yeah, just briefly. I'm very, very supportive of creating and investing in opportunities to create joy and happiness and social connection in our city. And I am very focused on affordability as well, which is why I incorporated affordability into my amendment that unfortunately didn't pass. But if it comes down to a choice between spending $2 million... on one night of fireworks versus a city full of arts and culture festivals, events and organisations, I would choose to get more value for our limited budget. Thank you.

Councillor Clausen? Just really briefly, I just, again, happy to support this and, you know, a vision for a city that is not austere, that has the opportunity to bring to life and to be able to showcase a marquee event like this and And I appreciate that there was a really strong visceral reaction from the public when they learned that this event potentially would not continue on. This is a chance for us to bridge and try and work with the community to try and make sure that we can keep this event going for years to come. And people that visit our city have a chance to have a great time as they have for the last several years with Festival of Light. So happy to support this. Thanks.

Thanks. All right. Seeing no one else on the queue, let's go to the vote for this motion. Councillor, please register your vote. We are voting for the original motion from Mayor Sim.

The motion passed with Councillor Frye or Anne Maloney in opposition and Councillor Bligh absent. Thank you. That completes item two on the agenda. We're going to come back at 1 p.m. for the previous report on the remaining motions.