At Monday’s Sackville town council meeting, councillors approved the purchase of fireworks for a display during March Break, to make up for cancelled Winterfest fireworks. But three councillors voted against the motion, bringing up a debate that was started this summer over the negative impacts of fireworks on people, animals and the environment.

This past summer, Councillor Sabine Dietz was the lone voice in opposition to town-sponsored fireworks, citing environmental and health concerns. But on Monday, Dietz was joined by two others in voting against the motion to purchase fireworks: Councillors Michael Tower and Bill Evans.

Tower told council that recent fireworks-related events in Nova Scotia which resulted in mental distress and the death of a dog had swayed his opinion on the use of fireworks for celebrations.

“I agree with Councillor Dietz that we have to find another way of doing fireworks displays,” said Tower.

There are numerous media reports of people, pets and farm animals negatively impacted by fireworks displays, with a recent one from CBC Nova Scotia just after New Years, when a number of households were setting off fireworks. The loud, gunfire-like sounds triggered a PTSD episode in at least one veteran, and caused a number of animals to bolt from their enclosures, including a 16-year-old horse named Navar, who broke his leg and had to be put down. The events led to calls for alternatives to the noisy but festive explosives.

The last time Sackville town council talked fireworks was this summer, shortly after Dietz first expressed concerns. Recreation director Matt Pryde reported back to council in July 2021, with a little more information on alternatives.

Pryde pointed out that the fireworks purchased by the town are biodegradable, something that was established in a previous year when fireworks were used over the Wetlands Centre.

“So that helps to reduce some of the long term damage to the environment,” said Pryde. He also suggested making fireworks more environmentally friendly by encouraging active transportation to and from the displays. Pryde said air cannons that avoid the use of explosives do exist, but are out of the town’s price range, and also not yet available in the Maritimes. “The other thing we could do is look to replace the fireworks entirely in the future with a laser show or or some kind of drone light show as well,” said Pryde.

The town has continued to offer fireworks displays, with the next one slated for Bill Johnstone Memorial Park during March Break, on Thursday, March 10, with a rain date of Friday, March 11.

Listen to the CHMA story below: