‘I don’t think there’s a right answer here’: Victoria Day lights up debate over fireworks bans across Waterloo Region

Residents in Kitchener and Waterloo are marking the first Victoria Day long weekend since both cities introduced bans on fireworks sales, while neighbouring Cambridge continues to permit licensed vendors to sell the products.

The bylaws, which took effect Jan. 1, prohibit the sale and display of consumer fireworks in Kitchener and Waterloo, though residents are still permitted to set them off during designated holiday hours.

The restrictions were introduced following years of complaints and several incidents involving the misuse of fireworks.

“The more available they are, the more people will find them and use them,” said Waterloo Ward 7 Coun. Julie Wright. “The ban that we introduced in January was one part of curbing that sort of impulsive purchase behaviour.”

Between 2021 and 2024, the City of Waterloo received more than 280 fireworks-related complaints, while Kitchener received nearly 670 complaints over a similar period.

In 2023, two Kitchener bylaw officers were struck with fireworks while responding to Canada Day celebrations. One year later, Wright said she was hit in the face with a Roman candle while walking home from a drone show with her family.

“It’s one of those circumstances where in the last few years, we’ve seen just really egregious behaviour with fireworks,” she said.

Wright said the restrictions are intended to reduce impulsive fireworks purchases and improve public safety in densely populated areas.

“The fines are steeper. A thousand dollars for the first infraction, two thousand for the second,” she said.

Still, opinions on the restrictions remain mixed.

“I’ve been [at Victoria Park] when I was like eight or nine years old, and I’ve seen [fireworks] right behind the clock tower here, they would be set off” said Cambridge resident Sofia Kelly-Vanin. “It was a great memory, but I also have a memory in my adulthood of being down here and just seeing chaos of young people, especially just all over the place...honestly, I don’t think there’s a right answer there. It’s really hard to say, how someone or something may react to a certain situation and everyone’s going to have their own opinion.”

Despite the bans in Kitchener and Waterloo, fireworks sales remain permitted in Cambridge with a licence, and some vendors say they are seeing increased traffic from neighbouring municipalities.

“We’ve not only had the amazing support of the local Cambridge families, but we’ve also had Kitchener- Waterloo kind of coming over here and trusting us with giving them fireworks for their setup,” said manager at Rocket Fireworks, Samantha Webster.

Webster said customers from Kitchener and Waterloo have been travelling to Cambridge over the long weekend.

“100 per cent due to them not being able to buy the fireworks but still being able to set them off...I’ve had to restock because I got rid of a ton of my stock. So, it’s doing well enough that I’ve had to bring it all in again.”

She said staff verify customers are at least 18 years old and provide safety information with purchases.

Officials across the region are reminding residents that fireworks are only permitted on private property and during designated holiday hours. Residents are also being urged to keep fireworks away from buildings, dry grass and trees and to avoid use during windy conditions.

While Kitchener and Waterloo moved ahead with sales bans, other municipalities in Waterloo Region have not adopted similar restrictions, but many of those in favour of the ban said they hope to see more cities and townships get on board. Regional council has previously indicated a region-wide ban is not currently under consideration.