M-90 Salute
July 27, 2008, Matthew Good It seems that getting to the festival this weekend in Pemberton isn’t going to be without its problems – the main one being bumper to bumper traffic only to be confronted with $90 parking fees and no shuttle buses for concert goers. Of course, I don’t plan on going within 100 miles of it, which still leaves me a decent radius within which to operate.
The CBC has some questions about the fireworks here in town posted on their website. So, being that I was a long time resident of the West End, I thought that I would tackle them.
Do you have pictures or video of your friends celebrating?
Celebrating what?
The fact that you have to produce identification to pass through police checkpoints to gain access to your own home because half of the downtown core has been shut down?
Perhaps the fact that you get to listen to drunks yelling at the top of their lungs until five in the morning as they maraud through the West End without a single care for those who actually inhabit the neighbourhood?
Or maybe it’s the pleasure of waking up to streets strewn with garbage; flowerbeds and landscaping trampled, and bewildered residents examining damage to their vehicles and property?
In truth, my favourite thing to do is to film the police helicopters that patrol the skies. I then watch the footage for hours at a time celebrating the fact that tax payers are flipping the bill for them to be up there when that money could have been used for something purposeful.
I came across this ‘morning after’ photograph on a local website called Beyond Robson.
What did you see on the street?
For the last several years – not a thing. The reason? Because I stay as far away from it as is possible. Though during the seven years that I lived three blocks from English Bay I did see my fair share of interesting things.
1) Roaming groups of testosterone and alcohol fueled morons looking to start trouble with whoever was unlucky enough to catch their eye.
2) A lot of vomit on the streets, sidewalks, and grassy areas that front the neighbourhood’s apartment buildings.
3) Billowing clouds of dope smoke rolling around as if a fog had come in off the water.
4) Smashed bottles, discarded coffee cups, pop bottles, and a variety of other enjoyable litter.
5) That special brand of imbecility that only occurs when hundreds of thousands of people gather in the same place to watch explosions that produce colourful lights.
Did you see anything unusual on the beach?
In all the years that I lived by English Bay not once did I entertain the idea of showing up eight hours prior to the event to find a piece of beach or grass to sit on. But I will say that I have seen what the beach looks like the morning after, and it’s not a pretty sight. Mind you, that may have changed. It’s been a while since I went down there the morning after the fireworks. They could be employing cleanup crews to work through the night. If they are, I hope that they’re wearing boots, because there’s nothing better than walking on sharp objects and glass pushed into the sand.
Do you have a story to tell about the fireworks?
I have a novel.
It includes tales of tires being slashed, of underground parking lots being broken into and vehicles vandalized and robbed, of fights breaking out in the middle of streets at 4am, of loud music being blasted from cars, of dumpsters being lit on fire, of bottles being thrown against apartment building walls, of yelling matches in back alleys beneath the windows of residents at 5am, of sirens blaring in the night, of masses of people walking up from the beach trampling everything in their path, of stabbings, of vomit covering the front steps of buildings, and even a few of passed out bodies laying on lawns and benches the next morning.
To be honest, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
One point I will stress, and this is something that goes entirely overlooked, is the affects that the fireworks themselves have on animals living in Stanley Park.
As some of you are aware, Stanley Park is the largest urban park in North America, larger than Central Park. That being the case, it is home to a variety of wildlife, mostly small animals. Unfortunately, their experience during the fireworks is quite different than ours, as my friend Angela points out…
“Each fireworks event wreaks havoc on the wildlife living in Stanley Park and surrounding areas - some are displaced from their nests fleeing frightening booms, some have fragile eardrums burst, and some are even found dead of apparent heart attacks due to the stress of the impacting vibrations. Wildlife Rescue records this the day after each event.”
We get it Matt, you hate the fireworks. So what do you suggest?
Ship them off to a location on the other side of the river that can accommodate the number of people that want to view them.
That won’t happen, of course, because no one over there would tolerate the overwhelming influx of people. So one has to ask – why do the residents of one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in North America have to? Don’t get me wrong, Kits gets it just as bad. In fact, most of the communities along the water have to tolerate it on one level or another. But the fact remains that given the headache the fireworks cause, even if only on four days of the year, the residents of the communities affected should have the right to at least hold a referendum with regards to their continuation. Unfortunately, business concerns have far more to do with it than the concerns of residents, which is why the fireworks will be back next summer and the same shit show that occurs every year will, once again, go off without a hitch.
Yes, yes. I’m just a downer in a sea of contentment. I think we can all agree on that.
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“5) That special brand of imbecility that only occurs when hundreds of thousands of people gather in the same place to watch explosions that produce colourful lights.”
One could conclude that there’s a direct correlation between the behavior in the West End on these nights and the fact that these people are assembling simply for bright colours and sparkly things. Simple minds…
Meh, I’d be irritated, too. That might be because I’m lame and prefer quiet and a good book over getting smashed. Hell, I’d even take a bad book.
The poor animals :(
But….but…I like shiny things.
When are you going to buy yourself a rocking chair and a cane to shake at the young whippersnappers?
As lovely as fireworks may be to look at ,the baggage that comes with them is not worth it. I cringe every time there are fireworks in my neighborhood especially when
I think about the many terrified animals subjected to our “fun”.
Just got back from spending time visiting family in Cannes where the city held its own fireworks shows. Beautiful sight, that was. People lined up along the Croissette and chock-o-block full of people on the beach. Not just one barge for the fireworks but three, dammit. I have seen my share of fireworks displays and say whatever you want about the French but they know how to put on a show - it was definitely a sight to be seen.
I don’t recall anything uncivilized or dirty about the whole experience. Something we could aspire to, I suppose. Don’t think I will be checking out any more of Vancouver’s shows, though. Cannes ruined it for me.
I live in Windsor and fireworks have been a timeless event that apparently is meant to bring together the two parts of North America. And, although it takes experience; you have to really live in a border city town to appreciate it. Millions of people gather to the waterfront from amazing destinations in order to be part of the festivities. However, in Detroit, there always seems to be some disturbances that always end in death. Some one called someone else something and all of the sudden the guns come out and senselessness ensues.
It’s funny because when I was a kid that was the only place I wanted to go. When the last Wednwsday in June came around, I begged my parents to take us to the fireworks and each year my father refused as he, ostensibaly, thought that they were useless ploys by the government to turn the citizen’s minds away from the real issues at hand. I, however, can remember hearing them as I peered out of my bedroom window. We were not to far from the river. And all I could imagine were those twinkley little sparks making so much noise as to drown out all the existing confusion.
I guess, within that confusion, lies the dichotomy. There are always 2 points of view.
I don’t go and will be glad when/if they shut them down (like they did the small Canada Day ones off the beach in Steveston). I agree GF - my dog used to cringe and hide under the table and I always think of the poor birds. :(
They do attract shit disturbers, who like to roam in drunken packs at these events because they crave attention when they’re acting like asses. It isn’t fun if no one’s looking. Reminds me of Stuart on MAD TV….”look what I can do”.
They do disturb entire neighborhoods of people who aren’t interested. My story:
Dad had just finished chemo, was weak, depressed and facing the prospect of death. My mother was also dying at the time. The only sanctuary for them was in their beautiful garden, that Dad toiled in from morning until night before he got sick. It was his pride and joy (well, second to his grandchildren).
The fireworks always had Dad on edge because every year something in his yard was vandalized, as drunken assclowns staggered by his place in the wee hours (after they’d pee’d on themselves and fallen in the blackberries. Yahoo - PAR-TAY).
Anyhow, Dad watered his beloved (yes, they were) flowers and went to bed early, as he wasn’t feeling well. Usually, he sat up on the deck and watched for trouble makers…this year, he just couldn’t do it.
The next morning he woke up to find the flower baskets that he’d been SO proud of (we’d bought them for him for Father’s day) gone! His tulips and lilies (which he unplanted/replanted each year) had also been ripped out and were strewn all over his driveway. We later found the busted up baskets down the street, adding insult to injury. Dad was completely devastated - it hit him beyond someone wrecking his flowers. It was deep - he nearly gave up on everything at that point - these assholes had no idea how this affected my father at the lowest point in his life.
He later said to me that it wouldn’t have bothered him so much if someone had stolen them to enjoy their beauty or given to their sweetheart. He could live with that. But to see them senselessly destroyed, after he’d worked so hard on them, crushed him.
Keira…you nailed it. They’re special, aren’t they?
What a peach of a post!!! I’m off to bed now, in my peaceful, English countryside village, before I go to work in a peaceful countryside village. Smug? You bet. I fucking hate cities. ‘a downer in a sea of contentment”? A guy in urgent need of a holiday more like… Night night all ;0)
Laughs! I love how you put the Matthew Good spin on the CBC’s ‘We want to see the fireworks from your perspective!’ and I certainly hope you are submitting ‘Your story’ to the site.
Amen to your comments on the vomit laden post-celebration streets. It’s never a good time without public peristaltic pyrotechnics! And let me tell you, I enjoy nothing more than a morning jog through other people’s bodily fluids…
Fireworks use heavy metals to produce many of their brilliant colours and the smoke that’s left behind is toxic. I doubt many people are aware of the hazardous materials they take home on their skin and clothes after a large fireworks display. Not to mention all the crap that goes into local water, air and soil.
Both of my late grandfathers hated fireworks. Reminded them of artillery barrages & dead friends.
I thought these idiots only lived in Pennsylvania. I guess they must have migrated north.
My last apartment in Van was West end & every year I would leave during the fireworks weekend, if only to save my sanity. Besides the extreme disruption, it sickens me to see countries that have overwhelmingly high rates of poverty spend all that money on shiny things in the sky to the beat of Cher cranked full volume. It’s ridiculousness at it’s urban best.
Holly McNarlandd’s PornoMouth”
“Unfortunately, business concerns have far more to do with it than the concerns of residents, which is why the fireworks will be back next summer and the same shit show that occurs every year will, once again, go off without a hitch. ” mg
Cha ching! Money makes the world go round and round, round and round, round and round… at ALL costs!
Our dog Shakes was recently been prescribed acepromazine for his anxiety over RAIN, thunder and storms generally ~ you can imagine how much he enjoys fireworks. To get a visual: as you may already have guessed, yes, he shakes from head to toe incontrollably, salivates puddles [literally] and pants one breath away from a certifiable heart attack! It breaks my heart to see after 1/2 a dose of his meds that he is unable to walk properly, but the alternative is to watch him terrified.
BUT HEY…let’s celebrate!
Is there any chance that we as a society will ever come back????
So am I a shallow jerk if I like fireworks? Because I do. A lot.
But, I will admit that what goes on in English Bay is obnoxious and almost a bit terrifying. I was there two summers ago and I was shocked to see armed police standing on the roofs of trucks on Davie. I had no idea about the toxic chemicals and I had never even thought of the poor little animals…I guess fireworks go on the list with smoking and unprotected sex and all the other things that are relegated to happy pleasant but now impossible memories…
I live right in the thick of things. (Pendrell & Chilco, for those who know the area)
Thankfully, myself and the better half got the fuck outta dodge and went into Gastown for dinner and drinks with some friends.
After the cab dropped us off 10 blocks away because the roads were blocked, we had to walk the gauntlet of Beach Ave to get back to our place. I was pretty disgusted by what I saw…
The city puts up temporary, extra garbage containers in the hundreds for this event. I literally saw dozens completely empty, but totally surrounded by trash on the ground! WTF? Are people so lazy and ignorant that they feel it acceptable to just throw their crap at the foot of the garbage bin rather than in it?
Friggin pigs.
But I’ve got to give the city a thumbs-up for the job they do cleaning up after all these slobs. I leave for work at 5am and they are already out there in full force. Including actually raking the beach with a tractor.
Cheers to them.
One other note….
I have nothing against Surrey and it’s residents.
But I don’t go out there on a Wednesday night, get shit-faced, and walk around the residential streets screaming “WESTEND!!!!” until the wee hours of the morning.
(Did I mention that I leave for work at 5am?)
It could be worse though…. I could live in Pemberton.
Poor bastards.
Meh, I’ve been a downer about this Pemberton thing since Day 1.. my first question was “has anyone drive there before”? There is one way in and one way out………. I just laughed when I read the paper this morning… DOH.. you mean, you just realized now that getting out is going to be the same as it was getting in? KAOS? REALLY? FRICKIN DUH……
If someone could have taken me in on a helicopter to just see Tom Petty, I would have gladly gone and took the chopper home… but I wouldn’t do that to the tax payers…
So, no Pemberton for me….. Fireworks on Saturday though!!!!! oops, me bad?
Deb that story makes me cry. Can you say boobie trap for the next time those simple minded f’ers try and pull a stunt like that. I think you are right though Matt their needs to be some democracy involved in the desicion making process for these kind of events, including Pemberton. Money alone, is not worh it.
I’m not sure what a typical fireworks display costs - i suppose it depends a lot on the length of the show etc. I read somewhere that the Benson and Hedges “Festival of Lights” cost around $355,000 in 1995 so in 2008 you can figure it would not be too shy of the 1/2 million dollar mark.
Too me, we are literally burning money that could be spent somewhere else that would have a significant, positive, and lasting impact - not over in 20 minutes and nothing to show for it but a lot of smoke.
Back to my rocking chair now - have to rest up for shuffle-board this afternoon.
Ah, my beloved West End. A place one could easily love and loathe in the same breath. I moved there in ‘92, so pleased to escape the ‘burbs (Coquitlam). What a beautiful place it was then; I couldn’t have been happier.
But as time went on, things like the Molson Indy (sounded like a hive of angry bees from my condo) and those freaking fireworks changed everything. My favorite season (the only one where you’re not constantly having to carry an umbrella) became one of my least favorites. I couldn’t wait until fall, when the tourists would leave and all of the idiotic events were finally over.
I live in Montreal now. It may not be beautiful like Vancouver (oh how I miss the ocean), but the rent is so much cheaper, I barely ever have to carry an umbrella and despite the fact that I live downtown, even huge events like the JazzFest don’t seem to be an issue. In fact, I live near the stadium where the Alouettes play and even the football fans aren’t that bad! Shocking!
Perhaps it all comes down this line from one of my favorite books - Fight Club: I felt like destroying something beautiful.
Sounds like shit indeed. And of course you’re a downer…why would anyone want to discuss the shitty aftermath of their version of a good time when it may compromise them having it? Why would anyone want to even attempt to have a conscience in regards to their actions or the fact that they support an event that leads to such things?
“Ear plugs for the birds and the animals”…indeed.
Happy fucking capitalism…doesn’t it just wash away all our sins?
“Ear plugs for the birds and the animals”…indeed.
OH my god, good ref, Freens..
[quote comment="59605"]“5) That special brand of imbecility that only occurs when hundreds of thousands of people gather in the same place to watch explosions that produce colourful lights.”
One could conclude that there’s a direct correlation between the behavior in the West End on these nights and the fact that these people are assembling simply for bright colours and sparkly things. Simple minds…[/quote]
wow…can’t help but be insulted when some random person paints entire swaths of the general population as simple-minded. I’m one of these ppl who enjoys fireworks and, maybe I’m wrong here but, I’m not simple-minded. A fireworks is a powerful audio/visual show on the same principles that make thunder/lightning storms impressive. Sure, there are downsides but what doesn’t have them these days?
Considering how much of the population in BC skis/snowboards, I guess BC is just full of morons because I’ll be damned if alpine skiing/snowboarding is any better for the animals (groomers motoring along in the middle of the night, massive trails cut through forests), better for the environment (http://www.hilltrip.com/wax.html), or any less full of moron ppl who make asses of themselves on the slopes and in the villages.
[quote comment="59663"][quote comment="59605"]“5) That special brand of imbecility that only occurs when hundreds of thousands of people gather in the same place to watch explosions that produce colourful lights.”
One could conclude that there’s a direct correlation between the behavior in the West End on these nights and the fact that these people are assembling simply for bright colours and sparkly things. Simple minds…[/quote]
wow…can’t help but be insulted when some random person paints entire swaths of the general population as simple-minded. I’m one of these ppl who enjoys fireworks and, maybe I’m wrong here but, I’m not simple-minded. A fireworks is a powerful audio/visual show on the same principles that make thunder/lightning storms impressive. Sure, there are downsides but what doesn’t have them these days?
Considering how much of the population in BC skis/snowboards, I guess BC is just full of morons because I’ll be damned if alpine skiing/snowboarding is any better for the animals (groomers motoring along in the middle of the night, massive trails cut through forests), better for the environment (http://www.hilltrip.com/wax.html), or any less full of moron ppl who make asses of themselves on the slopes and in the villages.[/quote]
If you re-read my initial comment, you’ll see that I was not painting all fireworks goers with the same brush; rather, those that feel the need to create public disturbances, litter and generally disrespect the local residents and neighbourhood in which the fireworks are held.
I had heard that the colony of Herons that live at the end of Nelson near the tennis courts will abandon their homes at a moments notice and not return if they deem their habitat is not secure…this is a consideration of the SunRun and why organizers make sure the route bypasses them…I am surprised they are still around, they must have gotten used to the firework chaos four times a year. Nature is amazing that way…although to be totally truthful I dont think I would miss them….stinky birds…that smell festers in the nose for hours…
As for the fireworks, well, I live in English Bay, so yeah, I hate them. I hate the damage the crowds do and its not just the assholes…its the lack of proper toilet facilities, garbage facilities, its the mess that that many people leave in their wake that gets dumped in the ocean just out of the reach of cleaning crews. This area and Kits just cant sustain that kind of environmental pressure. I am not against fireworks…I would just enjoy them way more if they were held in Surrey. There. Said it. Sorry but I pay pretty high rent to have to do an exodus so that I dont have to listen to helicopters all night long, and face it, that is where the majority of the crowds are coming from. And I am sick of walking in my neighbourhood watching a line of men peeing in the bushes, or wherever and on whatever they can.
Speaking of peeing in bushes, there was always an upside to the night…my Dad would stand on his balcony from the 5th floor with a huge bucket of water, and when the male crowds would stop to urinate in the bushes below the balcony, he’d soak them. Just before it would hit he’d yell and they’d look up. Timing is everything. Probably the most fun he would have all year…I should have continued the tradition now that he’s gone, but I went to Pemberton instead…so that I could go pee in their bushes… ;-)
If you re-read my initial comment, you’ll see that I was not painting all fireworks goers with the same brush; rather, those that feel the need to create public disturbances, litter and generally disrespect the local residents and neighbourhood in which the fireworks are held.
Oh, okay, so long as we don’t litter we’re allowed “assembling simply for bright colours and sparkly things” and not have “simple minds” apply to us?
hah nice back-peddle there ;)