Vancouver council commits up to $2 million for one-night summer fireworks

Mayor Ken Sim and six ABC Vancouver councillors voted 7-3 to allocate up to $2 million for a one-night fireworks event in August to replace the cancelled multi-night Celebration of Light, and a staff report is expected in the next couple of months.

Mayor Ken Sim and six councillors from the ABC Vancouver slate voted to commit up to $2 million for a one-night fireworks event in August as a replacement for the cancelled multi-night Celebration of Light. The council motion follows the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society's November 2025 announcement that the long-running event was being cancelled due to rising costs, lost federal funding and reduced private sponsorship. The motion asks that the funds come from city reserves, contingency funds and other available sources and directs staff to explore sponsorship and partnership opportunities. A staff report back to council on event planning and funding is expected in the next couple of months. Key facts: - The council vote was 7-3 in favour of committing up to $2 million for a single-night fireworks event in August. - The Celebration of Light was cancelled in November 2025; organisers cited higher production and operating costs, the loss of federal funds, reduced provincial support and declining private sponsorship. - The motion requests that the $2 million come from city reserves, contingency funds and “other available sources,” and lists costs such as fireworks production, event infrastructure, public safety, traffic management, sanitation, permitting, insurance and contingency planning. - The motion directs staff to seek sponsorship, partnerships and cost recovery, and to engage tourism agencies and other orders of government where feasible. - Green Party Coun. Pete Fry, COPE Coun. Sean Orr and OneCity Coun. Lucy Maloney voted against the motion; Vote Vancouver Coun. Rebecca Bligh was absent. - The mayor plans to write to senior governments to request reinstatement and increased funding to support the long-term viability of the Celebration of Light. Summary: The council decision allocates city funds for a one-night fireworks event this summer and prompts further planning and reporting from staff. A report to council is expected in the next couple of months, and the mayor will seek senior-government funding to support a potential return of the multi-night Celebration of Light.