Fireworks at 11: Tourism Trumps

Peter Rukavina

The final victory of our new demographically programmed Dominion Day celebrations can now be proclaimed by the tourismocrats: fireworks in Charlottetown will go off at 11:00 p.m. this July 1 to accommodate the needs of a national television broadcast.

In other words the national audience will be treated to a television show from the birthplace of Confederation that, in the end, has more to do with glitz and pomp and the pretend PEI than the lives of actual everyday Islanders, many of whom will be asleep at home.

I imagine the next step will be to move the holiday festivities to another date: probably be more convenient for the RV crowd or something.

Comments

Submitted by Andrew on

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I wonder if the fireworks display will be wild this year seeing how we’re hosting the spot light party for the rest of Canada. What do you guys think?

Submitted by Charlie on

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Funny, I’ve never assumed that people from Ottawa attend nightly fireworks and concert celebrations just because I see it once a year on TV.

Do you really think that because the National celebration that is being held in Charlottetown for the first time ever will be an hour later that most Islanders won’t attend? Is 11PM really that scary? Most years after our 10PM fireworks I get home around 11 and flip on the TV to catch the end of the celebration from Ottawa, sometimes I’m even up till midnight! The witching hour!

Submitted by Andrew on

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I stay out on Canada day till around 3am, how hardcore Canadian am I? From the amount of traffic running around downtown on Canada Day it leaves me to believe most people don’t head out of the core till 1 or 2 in the morning.

Submitted by Alan on

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I am with you on this, Peter. A local celebration that is so maliable and prone to the whim of that breakthrough media of the 1950’s, CBC TV, points out that weakness in the local interest in the event. The general appropriation of the land mass as a tourist mall is become so common place that pointing out its absurdity is now objectionable. Tied to the policy of replacement of contentious actual history and culture with tourist-pleasing phoney history and culture, it is amazing that we haven’t yet all become sponsored - heck, owned - by Disney Co. That is the next logical step.

Submitted by Peter Rukavina on

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Don’t I recall that the fireworks company that works for Charlottetown is, in fact, owned by Disney? I may be wrong.

Submitted by Kevin O on

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BOOM!!! crackkkkkkle, wshooooostT -T -T -cRRRaK… fizzzTBOOOM-[scream]BBOOOMMMM- [sCREEEEEAMMMM] pOp….


What’s not to like?

Submitted by Alan on

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Maybe we can rename all the offices of the members of provincial government after either the apostles or Snow White’s Dwarves. That would increase tourism.

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Photo of Peter RukavinaI am . I am a writer, letterpress printer, and a curious person.

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