There are several spectacular fireworks displays and a number of marches taking place around Toronto this holiday weekend to celebrate Canada's 140th birthday.
The biggest fireworks shows are taking place on Sunday at:
- Ashbridges Bay Park, 9:45 p.m.;
- Canada's Wonderland, 10 p.m.; and
- Ontario Place, as part of the Festival of Fire.
Toronto fire officials say their crews responded to 43 fires last year caused by the improper and unsafe use of fireworks. Firefighters have already responded to 40 fireworks-related fires so far this year, a dramatic increase.
Toronto fire is reminding residents who will be lighting their own fireworks to read all safety precautions and be very careful when handling the devices. Additional advice:
- Fireworks should be bought from vendors who have a valid permit;
- Firecrackers should be handled by adults and be buried in the ground or halfway in a pot filled with sand;
- The devices should be angled away from spectators, who should be at least 30 metres away;
- The individual lighting the firecracker should wear protective eyewear and have a buckets of water and a flashlight nearby; and
- Never re-light "dud" fireworks. It's best to wait 30 minutes and then soak them in a bucket of water before disposing them in a metal garbage can.
A number of parades are taking place around Toronto on Sunday, causing some road closures in the vicinity. Here is a list of the events:
- Queen's Park Canada Day celebration, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m;
- Scarborough Canada Day Parade, from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. (parade at 5 p.m.);
- National Congress of Chinese Canadians Canada Day Parade, Blue Jays Way and Spadina, 1:15 to 3 p.m.; and
- Bangladesh Canada Day celebration, Dentonia Park, noon to 9 p.m.
