F i r e w o r k s !
Fireworks for sale on Spadina Avenue Downtown in Chinatown during the Victoria Day Long Weekend.
The Victoria Day Long Weekend is the unofficial kick-off to Summer in Toronto with fireworks lighting up the sky in both big public gatherings as well as get-togethers in people's back yards and also in neighbourhood Parks.
This year however, some new rules that City Council brought in last year has changed that. It used to be that fireworks could be bought almost anywhere, at corner stores, bigger department stores, and even out of people's car trunks in parking lots next to the beer store.
Citing safety concerns, the new rules mean that a convenience store had to pony up a $500.00 fee to get a temporary sales permit to sell fireworks. For $500, stores get the right to sell no more than 25 kilograms at any one time in the seven days leading up to Victoria Day and Canada Day.
This has resulted, according to the City's Licensing department, to just 59 places across Toronto where fireworks can be bought for Victoria Day. 11 those 59 are bigger chain stores like Canadian Tire and Costco who each paid $2,500 for more expensive permits.
There are also temporary mobile-vendor licences for $1,500 but so far, no one has applied for one for this weekend.
Fireworks locations during the Victoria Day Long Weekend
- Ashbridge's Bay Park - Sunday May 18, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. Free.
- Ontario Place - Sunday May 18 2008 at 9:30 p.m. and Monday May 19 at 9:30 p.m. Included with admission.
- Canada's Wonderland - Sunday May 18 2008 at 10 p.m. Included with park admission.
