The City of Ottawa says it chose not to publicly announce a late-night fireworks display on the opening night of Bluesfest because officials were concerned about public safety and crowd control.
The fireworks, which were left unused after the Canada Day show was cancelled by bad weather, were launched shortly before 11 p.m. at LeBreton Flats, surprising nearby residents and angering some councillors.
Fireworks Set Off Without Public Notice
The City of Ottawa said the fireworks began at about 10:53 p.m. and lasted approximately 11 to 12 minutes.
There was no public notice from the city or Canadian Heritage before the display took place.
The surprise fireworks led to confusion and frustration among residents who were unaware a show had been planned.
Councillor Jeff Leiper Criticizes Decision
Councillor Jeff Leiper said he was angry that the public had not been informed.
He called the decision inappropriate, saying the fireworks likely affected thousands of residents.
Leiper said he understood officials’ safety concerns but did not believe that justified holding a late-night fireworks show without warning the surrounding community.
City Says Safety Risks Shaped Decision
In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, Ryan Perrault, general manager of Emergency and Protective Services, said the decision was made by the city’s Special Event Advisory Team.
That team includes representatives from the Ottawa Police Service, emergency services and Canadian Heritage.
Perrault said officials were concerned that if the fireworks were broadly promoted, large numbers of people might gather on streets near the ticketed Bluesfest site to watch the display.
Concern Over “Event Surrounding an Event”
Perrault said the city feared that advertising the fireworks could create an additional crowd outside the main event area.
That could have increased pressure on police, city services and crowd management teams.
He said officials decided the public safety risks of encouraging more people to gather outweighed the benefits of giving broader notice.
Bluesfest Opening Night Crowd
Thousands of people were already at LeBreton Flats for the opening night of Ottawa Bluesfest, one of the city’s largest music festivals.
The fireworks were launched after country artist Cody Johnson finished his performance.
According to the city, Bylaw Services received 38 complaints about the fireworks.
City Acknowledges Resident Concerns
Perrault said city staff recognize the display caused concern and disturbance for some residents, especially because there was no advance warning.
He said public safety remains the city’s top priority when making decisions about special events.
He also said feedback from the incident will be reviewed during the post-event debrief process and used to improve future planning.
Canada Day Fireworks Were Cancelled
The fireworks were originally intended for the Canada Day celebration at LeBreton Flats on July 1.
That show was cancelled because of heavy rain and storms in Ottawa.
Leiper said staff told him Canadian Heritage determined it was safer to use the fireworks rather than dismantle and move them.
Canadian Heritage Explains Safety Issue
Canadian Heritage said the fireworks had already been prepared for launch, and disarming them would have created a safety risk for the fireworks crew.
The department said it worked with public safety and event partners to arrange for Ottawa Bluesfest to use the fireworks at the end of its opening night.
Canadian Heritage said the decision not to advertise the display was made after consultation with several partners, including the City of Ottawa’s Event Central, Ottawa police, Ottawa fire, Gatineau police and Bluesfest organizers.
Officials said the goal was to prevent crowds from exceeding the safe capacity of LeBreton Flats Park and nearby areas.
Councillors Say Lack of Notice Was Unacceptable
Leiper said on Newstalk 580 CFRA that he woke up to many messages from residents upset about the fireworks.
He said a no-notice fireworks show on a weeknight was not acceptable because of the impact on nearby communities.
Councillor Ariel Troster also criticized the lack of communication, saying councillors were not told the Canada Day fireworks would be launched at 11 p.m.
Troster said it may have been safer than removing unexploded shells from Lemieux Island, but doing it late on a weeknight with no notice was unacceptable.
Catherine McKenney Calls It Mismanagement
Ottawa Centre MPP Catherine McKenney said the city’s failure to inform the public was a sign of serious mismanagement.
McKenney said downtown neighbourhoods should not be treated like temporary event spaces, but as communities where people live.
NAV Canada Was Notified
While the public was not informed, NAV Canada said it was notified about the fireworks display.
The agency said it published a notice on Monday at Transport Canada’s request.
Under the Aeronautics Act, airspace around the Lemieux Island launch site on the Ottawa River was restricted from the surface up to 2,000 feet above sea level.
The restriction was in effect from the morning of July 9 until shortly after midnight.
Airspace Restrictions Applied to Aircraft and Drones
NAV Canada said the restriction applied to all aircraft, including drones.
Exceptions were made for police and medical evacuation operations.
The agency said it is informed about fireworks displays when they may affect air operations and publishes a NOTAM to notify pilots and aircraft operators.
If a temporary airspace restriction is needed, the request goes through Transport Canada.
Ottawa officials say the Bluesfest fireworks display was not publicly announced because they feared large crowds could gather outside the ticketed festival area and create safety risks.
However, residents and councillors say the lack of notice caused confusion, disturbance and frustration, especially because the fireworks happened late on a weeknight. The incident is now expected to be reviewed as part of future event planning discussions.