Canada Day celebrations go ahead in Saskatoon despite smoke

Although there may be some smoke in the air, Canada Day celebrations in Saskatoon are going ahead as planned.

Diefenbaker Park will be filled with music, food, rides, displays and of course, a giant birthday cake.

“It is four feet by eight feet on a piece of plywood. It’s very big. About a thousand people can have cake there,” Brad Sylvester, chair of Optimist Canada Day 2015, said.

The day will end with a bang with a fireworks display planned for 10:30 p.m.

“The only thing that would stop fireworks would be a wind of over 35 (kilometres),” Sylvester said.

Last year, some cars stopped on the Circle Drive South Bridge to watch the fireworks display. Saskatoon Police said they were concerned about the safety risk it posed and will make sure it doesn’t happen this year.

Police will also be in and around Diefenbaker Park during the celebration as well as directing traffic once the fireworks are over.

While fireworks are banned north of Prince Albert, low-hazard fireworks are allowed in Saskatoon from dusk until 11 p.m. on Wednesday night, but only on private property.

The Saskatoon Fire Department said low-hazard fireworks include some Roman candles, sparklers, fountains, wheels, volcanoes, mines and snakes that travel less than 160 in the air. The fire department advises extreme caution when setting off fireworks.

tkolojay@rawlco.com

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