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Save The Fireworks

On February 4, 2009 the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society announced that the 2009 HSBC Celebration of Light fireworks festival will be canceled due to financial constraints as a result of a lack of funding and corporate sponsorship in the current global economic climate.

This is Vancouver's signature event.

Ask yourself, what is Vancouver without its fireworks?

Save A Vancouver Summer Tradition. Spread the Word. Spread the Light.

About

Savethefireworks.ca is a not for profit group that supports The Celebration of Light and the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society.

Savethefireworks.ca has officially launched this site to bring together all of the supporters, locally, nationally, and internationally who have expressed a heartfelt desire to contribute to the Festival.

For more information on donating please read our FAQ.

In The News. Spreading The Light.

Celebration Of Light

Since 1990 Vancouver has been the host to an international fireworks competition. Formerly known as the Benson & Hedges Symphony of Fire, competitions were held around the world, most notably in Canadian cities including Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

In 2000 the Canadian government restricted tobacco advertising and Benson & Hedges was required to pull their funding from the multi- million dollar event.

In 2001 the event was saved by HSBC Bank Canada, BC Hydro Power Smart and the City of Vancouver, renaming the event the HSBC Celebration of Light.

Since 2001, the competition has continued to light the skies over Vancouver’s English Bay each night as three countries compete for the title.

The HSBC Celebration of Light, Vancouver's annual summer fireworks festival, which has attracted thousands of people to Vancouver for 18 years running.

The Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society announced on February 4, 2009 that the not-for-profit society has been unable to retain and attract enough sponsorship to meet the event's $4 million budget.

With about 350,000 spectators per night for each of the four nights of the show, each year the event has an economic impact of over $37 million annually in direct visitor spending on the local Vancouver economy.

Culture is a key part to any city’s heart, especially during times of economic hardship. It is culture that keeps us motivated and looking forward and we hope you join us in restoring Vancouver’s cultural tradition - The Celebration of Light.

  • Information On Last Year's Event

  • Become A Proud Supporter Of The Celebration Of Light

  • Educate Yourself On This Unique Event In Our City

  • Educate Yourself On The Magic of Fireworks

How You Can Help

By donating $1 or $1000 you will be genuinely making a difference and participating in reviving The Celebration of Light in 2009 and beyond.

Donating is first step in getting this event back on track and we can't thank you enough! But there's more that needs to get done – it’s easy!

Please invite all of your friends, family, neighbors and business associates to donate and join our Facebook page to help spread the word and spread the light!

The Five W's To Bring Back
The Celebration of Light

  • Who?

    We need YOU to donate and help build up the support all over Vancouver – it can’t be done without you.

  • What?

    You will be directly involved in reviving The Celebration of Light – a Vancouver summer tradition worth saving.

  • When?

    There's no time to wait. The deadline to stage the 2009 Celebration of Light is being extended after the passionate response of the community. Executive producers for The Celebration of Light have endorsed this campaign and have agreed to extend the deadline required to source all suppliers in time for the show. We need to act now!

  • Where?

    This is the official Savethefireworks.ca page in support of the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society and The Celebration of Light.

    Savethefireworks.ca does not engage in cash collections or public solicitation.

    Donating through our website is the only legitimate online public channel to financially support The Celebration of Light.

  • Why?

    By donating and joining us here at Savethefireworks.ca you will be playing a part in restoring The Celebration of Light 2009.

    Your support has garnered the attention of the media, and most importantly potential sponsors and the City of Vancouver. We will be working with these groups to match public donations and bring this event back on track for 2009 and beyond.

Facts

The Vancouver Fireworks Society is a non-profit organization created in 2001 to produce and manage the Celebration of Light.

In the past eight years participating countries have included: Canada, USA, China, Spain, Mexico, Czech Republic, Italy, Sweden and South Africa.

Each night an average of 350,000 spectators come to view the magic over the four nights of the show.

The event has an economic impact of over $37 million annually in direct visitor spending for the Vancouver economy.

The first "Symphony of Fire" was held from July 25 to August 5 of 1990.

Media

Below are some key time and dates of the efforts that were launched in response to the February 4, 2009 announcement. We encourage the members of the media to include these facts in their reporting.

  • February 4, 2009

    • Celebration of Light cancellation press release issued
    • 9 hours after the announcement, 597 Facebook supporters
    • FACT: Enough to fill a SeaBus ferry

  • February 5, 2009

    • 33 hours after the announcement
    • 5,504 Facebook supporters
    • FACT: The population of Bowen Island

  • February 6, 2009

    • 57 hours after the announcement.
    • 10,108 Facebook supporters
    • FACT: Enough to fill the new UBC Thunderbird Winter Sports Centre

  • February 7, 2009

    • 81 hours after the announcement
    • 12,809 Facebook supporters
    • FACT: The population of the Resort Municipality of Whistler
    • FACT: Executive producers for The Celebration of Light endorse the campaign and agree to extend the deadline required to source all suppliers in time for the show

  • February 8, 2009

    • 105 hours after the announcement
    • 15,109 Facebook supporters
    • FACT: Enough to fill the Pacific Coliseum

  • February 9, 2009

    • 120 hours after the announcement
    • Official launch of Savethefireworks.ca campaign

  • Press Release

    • February 9, 2009 Press Release

For all media inquires and interviews please contact:
Patrick Postrehovsky - Director, Savethefireworks.ca

Email: Patrick@savethefireworks.ca

News

Below you’ll find all of the latest new and developments and our progress in reviving The Celebration of Light.

February 9, 2009

Savethefireworks.ca today launched their official campaign and online donation drive at www.savethefireworks.ca to revive Vancouver’s signature summer event ,The Celebration of Light.

Patrick Postrehovsky, of Vancouver based FCV Technologies and his team of designers and developers are behind the effort to facilitate public support by providing an online destination where public and corporate donations can be made in support of the Vancouver Festival Fireworks Society (The Society) and The Celebration of Light. He has also teamed up with Rachel Kane, who is a local twelve year veteran of the Canadian pyrotechnic production team to spearhead the effort.

“Like many others in Vancouver we were disappointed to hear the news that the 2009 HSBC Celebration of Light was canceled, and felt we had the drive and the resources to step up and do what was needed to channel the communities’ passion effectively.” stated Patrick Postrehovsky, Director of Savethefireworks.ca, “After speaking with The Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society it was obvious to us they had exhausted options and resources, given the current economic climate, and we felt if we did not act quickly this event might not be brought back from the brink, as it was in 2001.” Postrehovsky stated.

Kane, who has extensive experience with fireworks and special effects, and a long history with The Celebration of Light, spoke on behalf of the Canadian pyrotechnicians and production team, who work annually with each of the competing teams throughout the festival. “For many of us, this barge is where we grew up together. We’ve learned from the best in the world, and we’ve become a family. There is nothing on earth like being on the barge during the shows, and we can hear the crowds roaring, even over the biggest blasts – it’s amazing. It is genuinely heartbreaking to us to think we might not get to share our passion with hundreds of thousands of people this summer.” stated Kane.

Executive producers for The Celebration of Light have endorsed this campaign and have agreed to extend the deadline required to source all suppliers in time for the show. They have expressed surprise and delight in the scale and dedication of the Vancouver community, and have made known their support and enthusiasm.

Savethefireworks.ca allows the pubic and business community the opportunity to donate and raise the $400,000 shortfall needed to bring back this year’s event . That was the amount The Society indicated would need to be raised to keep the 2009 event on track.

To produce The Celebration of Light in 2010 and beyond will require an annual financial commitment of $4 million.

The website will keep a daily track of funds raised. Donations can be made at www.savethefireworks.ca. Donation transactions are 100% secure through the Paypal donations system. Every dollar will make a difference.

Savethefireworks.ca will not be engaging in cash collections or public solicitations of any sort. Donating through the website is the only legitimate public channel to financially support The Celebration of Light with your generous donation.

An official Facebook group has also been launched that is part of the campaign where supporters can post stories, photos and share their experiences from past Celebration of Light events.

  • Press Release



©2009 SaveTheFireworks.ca

This campaign is not officially endorsed or sanctioned by the HSBC Celebration of Light, or by the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society (VFFS)