As Canada Day approaches, the police are warning people not to set off fireworks at Kitchener’s Victoria Park. In a social media post, the Waterloo Regional Police Service said there were no organized fireworks displays scheduled at the popular park on July 1, 2026. “Do NOT attend the area to set off personal fireworks. This poses serious safety risks and may damage park property. Fines may be issued for non-compliance,” the post said. Police said if you don’t follow the rules, you could be fined or charged and arrested. “It all depends on what you’re doing and what risk you’re putting to the public as well,” said Const. Chris Iden, with WRPS. He said this year police will be keeping an eye out of bad behaviour. “We will be having a very large, increased presence in Victoria Park and we will be enforcing the laws heavily. So we’re just asking people to go there, be respectful, be responsible, be safe,” Iden said. Celebrations at Victoria Park have been a source of frustration for local law enforcement for many years. Just last month, over the Victoria Day long weekend, multiple complaints came in between 4:30 p.m. and 12 a.m. as people gathered at the park to set off fireworks. Police ultimately closed public access to Victoria Park around 9 p.m. “to ensure public safety and the dispersal of the crowds.” Last year, Victoria Park was closed at 10 p.m. on Canada Day and police tried to disperse a large crowd. Fireworks were seized from multiple young people and a 17-year-old was arrested for possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Several trespassing charges were also laid. Once people left the park, problems were reported on Schneider Avenue as a large group of teens and young adults gathered there. Fireworks were seen skimming over the neighbourhood. In 2024, a 14-year-old was charged after fireworks were shot at people in the park on Victoria Day. Police said hundreds of people in the area and some had started intentionally shooting fireworks at each other and innocent bystanders. In 2023, two Kitchener bylaw officers were hit with fireworks while they were responding to Canada Day celebrations. City councillor weighs in Debbie Chapman, the councillor for the ward the park is in, said in the last few incidents, it was teenagers gathering in large crowds. She said parents should be taking note. “If your kids tell you there are fireworks in Victoria Park, there are not,” Chapman said. She said her constituents have been telling her about how upsetting the last few incidents have been with mayhem on the streets. “What ends up happening is we get this mob effect and kids come down and chaos breaks out,” she said. “The fact that people are shooting explosives at each other - somebody could really get hurt.” She said people need to steer clear of public parks for the holiday if they plan to set off fireworks. “So, please stay away. Or come and enjoy the park, but not with your fireworks in hand,” she said. Where can I set off personal fireworks in Kitchener? During the Canada Day festivities, fireworks can only be set off on July 1 from 9 p.m. until 11 p.m. Anyone who wants to organize a display on a different day needs to get a permit from the city. Fireworks cannot be used on public property, which includes Victoria Park. They also cannot be set off on any street or highway, in a woodlot or on a public trail or ballpark, in any city park, within 10 metres of any building or structure or in areas with dead undergrowth or trees. Anyone who wants to see a light show to celebrate Canada Day is invited to the city-organized event in Downtown Kitchener. A pyrotechnic light show will be taking place at 10:40 p.m. Fireworks sales banned The sale of fireworks has been banned in Kitchener and Waterloo since Jan. 1, 2026. Between 2021 and 2024, The City of Waterloo received more than 280 fireworks-related complaints, while nearly 670 complaints were filed in Kitchener during a similar time period.
