Team Nova Scotia wins 2025 Celebration of Light fireworks show

People watch Team Nova Scotia during the Celebration of Light on July 26. (Courtesy: @celeboflight/Instagram)

Judges have declared Team Nova Scotia the winner of the 2025 Honda Celebration of Light fireworks competition,

The Maritime province, represented by Fireworks FX, also took the People’s Choice Award in this year’s event, which was the first all-Canadian showcase in its 35-year history.

In a news release, organizers said Team Nova Scotia’s “stunning, tightly choreographed performance” earned a score of 633 points, topping Team Yukon’s 598 points and Team Quebec’s 592 points.

“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Fireworks FX team and Nova Scotia for their remarkable win,” said Paul Runnals, Celebration of Light executive producer, in a statement.

Meanwhile, the long-running competition – which has suffered from unpredictable funding over the years – is once again facing an uncertain future.

According to organizers, costs have increased more than 30 per cent since the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching approximately $3 million this year.

Those were offset by roughly $550,000 in revenue generated from ticketed VIP areas at the event.

And government support has been shrinking as well. BrandLIVE, which produces the event, said organizers received $700,000 in combined funding from the federal and provincial governments in 2023, then $500,000 in 2024.

The B.C. government provided $250,000 of this year’s funding, but is expected to contribute only $100,000 next year – and the federal government has not made any commitments for 2026.

“Given these challenges, we can’t confirm whether the event will return,” said Runnals, who is calling for a “sustainable and predictable funding model.”

“We’re hopeful we can sit down with private and government partners soon to discuss what that support could look like.”CTV News reached out to B.C.’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport for comment on the event’s funding trouble, but did not receive a response by deadline.

Police said there were no major safety incidents during this year’s Celebration of Light, which was subject to heightened security following April’s deadly Lapu-Lapu Day attack.

A 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death in downtown Vancouver on the night of the first fireworks show, though authorities have not made any connection between his killing and the event.