Editor:
Dear Mayor Cote and council:
Let’s ban fireworks in the City of New Westminster as they have done in Vancouver.
Please. How can we do this? Should I start a petition?
In my Sapperton neighbourhood (Ward Street near Royal Columbian Hospital), fireworks were being set off on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
On Friday, loud explosions lasted from 6:30 p.m. straight through until 1:30 a.m. That’s seven hours.
They were being set off in the back alley, putting acrid smoke into the apartments in my neighbourhood.
This is not a few families having a nice time in a safe environment. This is multiple people in a densely populated area near a hospital being a nuisance for days.
It terrifies the domestic animals. My cat threw up because she was terrified. Times this by hundreds of animals cowering in fear.
It can traumatize refugees and veterans and others with PTSD. Why subject them to seven hours of explosions.
It’s terrible for the environment. The parking lot at my work is littered with fireworks casings. I imagine so is most of Sapperton. Some of these chemicals are cancer-causing.
It’s a fire hazard and a safety hazard. An elderly lady in the west end of Vancouver got hit in the head with a firework that came in her window.
We can do better than this in our community. If this is to remain a tradition, it needs to be upheld in a responsible way, perhaps by issuing permits and limited to use by adults in open areas. If we can’t do better, let’s just ban them altogether.
Heather Sanders, New Westminster
