Council defends call to postpone Carbonear Days fireworks

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Members of Carbonear council are still dealing with a few sparks over the decision to postpone the fireworks display during the Carbonear Days festival earlier this month.

At the time, communities around the island were dealing with an on again – off again Provincial Fire Ban because of hot weather and tinder box conditions in many areas.

The decision to call off the display was actually made by members of the town’s Special Events Committee along with the Volunteer Fire Department.

At last week’s public council meeting, councillor Danielle Doyle, who serves as the Town’s liaison with the special events committee, raised some of the negative feedback she’s learned about that has apparently been on social media.

By way of example, Doyle said some people are asserting the Town now owes residents lots of fireworks in return.

“I just want the general public to be aware that the Special Events Committee is a volunteer group within this community,” said Doyle, citing the many hours of time the group’s members volunteer to plan and put off events in the town.

Doyle said that when it comes to setting off fireworks, the Special Events Committee relies heavily and solely on the Carbonear Volunteer Fire Department, another very important group of volunteers who have their own families and homes but devote time and effort to the town.

“I think much respect needs to go out to the volunteer fire department,” said Doyle. “If they deem it’s not safe due to wind or any other safety concerns that it is not an appropriate time for those fireworks to go off then they have to make the decision.”

Doyle said the department makes such choices based on what it best for the community.

Deputy Mayor Sam Slade, who led the August 14th meeting in Mayor Frank Butt’s absence, agreed with Doyle. “If there’s a fire ban on it’s certainly not going to happen,” said Slade. “The town of Carbonear abides by the provincial guidelines and sometimes, if Carbonear feels so, they will put on their own fire ban.”
Slade said the volunteers involved deserve much appreciation.

Councillor Malcolm Seymour thanked Doyle and Slade for their words about the fire department, adding some people also do not always understand the actions and decisions of council.

“We do it for the safety of everybody,” said Seymour, noting that not only do spectators need to get home safely from such public events, but volunteers do, as well.

No new date has been set to for the fireworks display as of yet, but Doyle is hoping to tie them into another community event in the future.