Organizers of the annual “Honda Celebration of Light” fireworks competition have cancelled an event set for Tuesday, in solidarity with communities threatened by wildfires.
“In light of the current wildfire threatening the community of Fort Nelson, the annual press conference scheduled for tomorrow, announcing competing countries in the Honda Celebration of Light — has been cancelled,” it said in a release.
Catherine Runnals, BrandLIVE President says this is their way of paying respect.
“During this challenging time, we believe the public’s focus should be on providing whatever level of support they can to assist those who have been forced from their homes,” she said.
“The community of Fort Nelson and Vancouver may be separated by more than 1,500 kilometres, but we are all British Columbians.”
Runnals says her thoughts are with those that are impacted, and fire crews working tirelessly to protect the community.
Organizers say a formal announcement of participating countries in the fireworks competition for this year will be made “shortly.”
The Honda Celebration of Light is B.C.’s largest public event and the longest-running offshore fireworks competition in the world with more than 400,000 spectators attending English Bay each night.