• For many years, the KLA has organized, paid for and operated a central fireworks display, launched from Umbrella Island, to celebrate Canada Day. We know that many people enjoy these displays. However:

• The display consumes a significant portion of the KLA social/events budget, and volunteer time to set up and clean up;
• There is no question that fireworks negatively impact wildlife and the ecosystem at large, and that they pose risks of injury, property damage and wildfires - an increasing problem across Ontario.

The purpose of the KLA is both to protect the lake and to enhance our lake community. The historic intention of the KLA fireworks was to balance these goals by bringing people together for a single, large and carefully-executed display, reducing the risks associated with multiple private displays around the lake. The question we have is whether the central display fulfills this expectation, and thus whether continuing the display is worth the financial and environmental impact on our lake community. Further information about the costs and benefits of our display can be found below.

To be clear, the KLA does not have the authority to ban the use of fireworks on the lake - this discussion is solely about whether the KLA should sponsor a fireworks display.

Before making a decision about the future of a KLA-organized fireworks display, and/or what activities may be better suited to fulfilling the KLA's purpose, we want to hear what you have to say about it. Please join us for a moderated discussion at a Virtual Town Hall on March 19, 7:00pm on Zoom, to hear and discuss opinions on the matter. 

If you would like to attend the Town Hall, and/or to make a short presentation regarding fireworks or other KLA activities, please contact us at koshlonglake@gmail.com by March 15. We hope to see you there!

FURTHER INFORMATION ON FIREWORKS

In recent years, the relative merits and dangers of fireworks has been the subject of conversation, not just in cottage country but around the world. Successive summers of wildfires across Canada, and the smoke blowing into our communities, have increased awareness of the very real harms of air pollution and wildfire risk. Recent summers have seen fire bans extending from May into June or even July, and fireworks have been associated with some deadly, costly and high profile fires in the province:

Jurisdictions have reviewed their fireworks by-laws and opted for tighter restrictions, while major cities in Asia, Europe and North America are opting to ban fireworks entirely due to air pollution, water contamination, wildfire risk and/or the threats posed to wildlife. Some lake associations in Ontario have decided to prioritize their role as environmental stewards and end their displays. Others have opted to continue, but to raise funds for the displays through independent donation, so they can dedicate more of their annual budgets to other activities.

In 2022, the KLA published an article in the Wavelength stating that the board intended to phase out its central fireworks display over the coming 2-3 years, and replace it with other activities such as the Canada Day concert on the dock. Toward that goal, the KLA executive has reduced expenditure on fireworks from over $1500/year to about $1000/year (not including ~$200 in insurance to cover volunteers operating the fireworks). With inflation, this yields fewer fireworks and a smaller display, which may impact members’ enjoyment of and/or support for the display.

In addition, we also need to ensure we have qualified people to run the display (as Joel Raskin has stepped down) and volunteers to clean up the next day.

To be clear, the KLA has neither the jurisdiction nor the intention to “ban” fireworks; residents are free to use fireworks in accordance with local by-laws. But the question before members in 2024 is whether the social benefits of our fireworks display are worth the financial and environmental costs? The table below summarizes some of the possible outcomes of continuing vs. discontinuing the KLA display.

Continuing the KLA Fireworks	Discontinuing KLA fireworks
Introduces toxic chemicals into the air & lake, and leaves garbage on land & water	KLA supported activity is no longer directly contaminating the lake and impacting wildlife
Negatively impacts wildlife the KLA should be protecting, as well as pets and service animals	Aligns with the KLA mandate to protect the lake and wildlife
Poses some risk to volunteers, and require more volunteers to run the display and clean up in future	Lowers KLA’s risk & responsibility
~10% of the KLA’s annual budget goes to 20 minutes of entertainment	Frees up $1200 of budget, which could be used for alternate Canada Day or social activities
Carries a lower risk of fire when launched from Umbrella Island than from private property	Does NOT “ban” fireworks on the lake
May deter more private displays and associated risks (fire, injury, property damage, pollution, etc.)	May result in an increase of private displays and associated risks (fire, injury, contamination, garbage, and disturbance of close neighbours)
Is popular with both members and non-members & guests	Will disappoint some members & non-members

Fireworks By-Laws around Ontario

Fall 2023

KOSHLONG VICINITY

Highlands East

https://www.highlandseast.ca/en/explore-and-play/fireworks.aspx

• ·       Only permitted on the weekends of Victoria Day, Canada, Civic Holiday and Labour day, AND if Canada Day falls mid-week, then on both adjacent weekends
• ·       Only permitted between dusk-11pm
• ·       Never permitted during Fire Ban ($500 fine)
• ·      

Dysart et al

https://www.dysartetal.ca/en/living-in-our-community/fireworks.aspx#Consumer-Fireworks--When-They-Can-Be-Lit

• ·       Similar to Highlands East: restricted to holidays between 8-11pm

Minden Hills

https://www.mindenhills.ca/en/living-here/burn-and-firework-permits.aspx#:~:text=Fireworks%20requirements%20are%20outlined%20in,as%20an%20undue%20fire%20hazard

• ·       Permit required to discharge fireworks from Chief Fire Official; $50 fee and inspection required
• ·       “Hosted in a place or in a manner that does not cause danger or constitutes a nuisance to any person or property, clear and open away from buildings, overhead wires and tree branches and away from livestock, animal shelter or wildlife sanctuary or conservation area”
• ·       Never permitted during a fire ban or winds exceeding 25 km/h
• ·       $150 fee to respond to nuisance complaint
• ·       By-law 20-104 (2020)

Others: Algonquin Highlands, North Kawartha, Kawartha Lakes, Hastings and Bancroft… all restrict consumer use to designated holidays, though specific holidays and weekend allowances vary.

BEYOND KOSHLONG

(an incomplete sample)

FOCA tracks updates around Ontario: https://foca.on.ca/fireworks-flying-lanterns/

Toronto: limited to Victoria day and Canada day, private property only

York Region: private use restricted to Victoria day and Canada day in most municipalities except Markham, where fireworks are not permitted without a permit costing in excess of $200

Peterborough: does not restrict fireworks on private property other than a loose guideline to respect 24-hour a day noise by-laws; complaints abound

Durham: In fall 2023, is surveying the public and considering options for further restriction of fireworks sale and use: https://www.durhamregion.com/news/oshawa-looks-to-change-fireworks-bylaw/article_dca8a684-4af8-5a1e-acb1-0f02316b23a0.html

Halton Hills: Rejected a total ban on fireworks in the spring of 2023 in favor of expanding the dates on which fireworks are allowed to include Lunar New Year, Diwali and New Year’s Eve

Mississauga: currently prohibits except major holidays, but conducted a review in 2023 and on November 8 approved an increase in fines for illegally setting off fireworks of up to $100K: https://www.mississauga.com/news/council/mississauga-council-votes-to-fine-worst-firework-rule-breakers-100k/article_52035019-219f-5059-a5a6-ce1bb8b3ef65.html; additional restrictions may be coming: https://www.mississauga.ca/projects-and-strategies/city-projects/fireworks-by-law-review/

Brampton: all fireworks are prohibited https://www1.brampton.ca/EN/residents/By-Law-Enforcement//pages/fireworks.aspx

London: has proposed total prohibition of private use, and will address at Council Fall 2023: https://getinvolved.london.ca/fireworks

Simcoe: small variations between townships, but generally restricted to major holidays and/or surrounding weekends

It should be noted that Highlands East has reported increasing their enforcement of, and penalties for non-compliance with, fire and fireworks by-laws