The City of Kitchener says it received dozens of fireworks-related complaints while celebrations were underway for Diwali. Sometimes referred to as Dipawali or the Festival of Lights, Diwali is considered one of the most important holidays of the year for Indo-Canadians and the South Asian community. The city said personal fireworks could only be set off Sunday between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Even with that limited window, bylaw officers responded to approximately 130 complaints. The city said that was consistent with last year’s call volume. On Tuesday, remnants of fireworks could still be seen scattered across a parking lot along Fairway Road. The city confirmed that it was one of the locations visited by bylaw officers on Sunday. Ian Misheal, manager of municipal enforcement for the City of Kitchener, said safety is their key concern. In those cases, distance can make all the difference. “Not too close to homes to ensure that they’re not close to anything combustible, and also to ensure that there’s a proper means of putting it out, like a water source,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure that they’re done in a safe manner, and that’s what the bylaws are structured around.” Misheal noted the majority of Sunday’s complaints were for improper use. Fireworks are only allowed on Diwali, Victoria Day and Canada Day, and can not be set off on city streets, public parks or commercial properties without explicit permission from the owner. The city said bylaw officers will continue to educate the public about the rules and follow up on some of the outstanding complaints.
