According to the city, the seller who provided the fireworks for Ashbridges Bay Park, Stan Wadlow Park and Milliken Park informed officials on Thursday that “they did not intend to fulfill their contractual obligation to conduct fireworks exhibitions”.
“City staff worked day and night to secure new vendors who could make fireworks at the three locations. “It has contacted companies across Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and the United States,” the staff said in a press release issued Friday morning.
“The city was able to secure the services of a new vendor to allow the Ashbridges Bay fireworks display to continue tonight. The vendor was also able to book a fireworks display on July 2 for Stan Wadlow Park. “
However, officials said a potential vendor for Miliken Park in Scarborough, near Steeles Avenue and Middlefield Road, confirmed Friday morning that they did not have the funds for the event. These fireworks have now been canceled.
“They just pulled out of a contract we had with them,” Toronto Mayor John Tori told a news conference ahead of the Canada Day parade. “The city staff was mixed up. They literally talked to 20 different sellers. “
City officials said they used the vendor, whom they identified as David Whysall International Fireworks Inc., several times, including on Victoria Day weekend. They say staff only contacted the company on June 20 to confirm details of Canada Day fireworks.
“We will consider, so that everyone knows, for sure this seller is responsible for any costs and damages that the city will eventually suffer as a result of this last minute warning that they are not going to meet their obligations,” spokesman Brad Ross told CP24 on Friday morning.
Fireworks at Ashbridges Bay Park, Mel Lastman Square and Downsview Park will continue as scheduled tonight at 10 p.m.
“We apologize to residents for some of these cancellations and rescheduling, but hopefully people will be able to enjoy Canada Day weekend, definitely tonight at Ashbridge’s Bay and Mel Lastman’s Square,” Ross said. city will “meet Scarborough residents in the near future.”
Ross said he has not seen the fireworks scheduled for Friday night, but still hopes it will be a great show.
The city also reminds residents that fireworks are allowed on private property without permission until 23:00 Canada Day, but are not allowed to be fired into city parks, beaches, balconies or parking lots.
Tori, for his part, urged residents who went to the city to watch the fireworks to do so with respect – referring to the Victorian Day weekend where two people were shot, one person was stabbed, two others were robbed at gunpoint and seven police officers were injured after being hit by multiple fireworks.
“It was a very small group of people, you know really hooligans, on Victoria Day that weekend that ruined it for everyone,” he said. “They had a very reckless behavior, it could literally result in someone dying because they were firing fireworks at each other and at the police and there is no excuse for that.”
“It’s just not the kind of behavior we believe in in the city of Toronto.”
