Sunday, June 30, 2019 ~ SOOKE
~ Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
Every year on July 1 people come from around the Sooke region and beyond to take part in Sooke Canada Day.
Elected officials start off the official part of the day around 11:30 am with a bagpipes parade and speeches on stage.
This year there will be a commemoration of Councillor Brenda Parkinson who passed away this week (separate article on this, to come).
The loudest attraction each year are the fireworks at dusk, after a day of family fun on the field in the sun.
“We are launching at the same location we did a few years ago,” says Fire Chief Kenn Mount. That’s alongside the Sooke River. People often watch from the Sooke River Bridge as well as from within Sooke Flats.
Last year the firing location was moved for safety reasons with respect to fall out from embers and misfiring, Chief Mount explained.
In 2015, fireworks for Canada Day were cancelled due to drought conditions and the dry forest floor as a result. They were held at Hallowe’en that year instead, in John Phillips Memorial Park near the District of Sooke municipal hall and Fire Station #1.
It takes expertise and person-power to do a good fireworks display. The services of firefighters are utilized.
“There is about a dozen of us that have done our prep planning already and will begin setup tomorrow,” says Mount. “This year we are using an electronic ignition firing system with a control board to support the launch. That’s part of newer safety requirements.”
As well, more members of the Sooke Fire Rescue crew will be on a fire watch. “We remind spectators to stay away from the launch site and be aware of wildlife being spooked,” he adds.