Fireworks at 11: Tourism Trumps

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

Andrew's picture
Andrew on June 4, 2002 - 23:41 Permalink

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?

Charlie's picture
Charlie on June 5, 2002 - 15:24 Permalink

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!

dave moses's picture
dave moses on June 5, 2002 - 15:36 Permalink

yeah, grandpa, come on.

Andrew's picture
Andrew on June 5, 2002 - 17:02 Permalink

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.

Alan's picture
Alan on June 5, 2002 - 17:11 Permalink

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.

Peter Rukavina's picture
Peter Rukavina on June 5, 2002 - 18:12 Permalink

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

Alan's picture
Alan on June 5, 2002 - 18:22 Permalink

ok — so I exaggerate…

Kevin O's picture
Kevin O on June 5, 2002 - 21:30 Permalink

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


What’s not to like?

Lana's picture
Lana on June 5, 2002 - 21:56 Permalink

What about that 11pm noise bylaw?

Dan James's picture
Dan James on June 6, 2002 - 17:42 Permalink

Maybe we should move New Years up a couple of hours so the kids can enjoy it too.

Alan's picture
Alan on June 6, 2002 - 18:17 Permalink

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.

Rob MacD's picture
Rob MacD on June 7, 2002 - 14:20 Permalink

Another renaming to consider: Holland College to Hogwarts Academy

Alan's picture
Alan on June 7, 2002 - 18:32 Permalink

Brilliant Rob — and change the names of the counties to the Shires from the Lord of the Rings

Olivia Rukavina's picture
Olivia Rukavina on June 4, 2022 - 11:46 Permalink

20 years!