Gatineau Fireworks Festival

[rocketphish]

Casino du Lac Leamy fireworks and music show moving this summer

By Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa Citizen February 15, 2014



OTTAWA — Casino du Lac-Leamy’s annual fireworks show will move to a new location this summer, as it sets up for the first time at the newly renamed Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau — with fireworks being launched over the Ottawa River.

The event, being held on Aug. 2-16, has typically brought international teams to the region for the fireworks-set-to-music show.

Event president Claude Hamelin said that after 18 years of hosting the event at Leamy Lake organizers believed it was time for a change of venue. Casino du Lac-Leamy has renewed its title sponsorship of the event for three more years, a release noted.

“As a gateway into Quebec, the Outaouais region needs to develop its potential,” Hamelin said in the statement. “The Sound of Light team wants to brighten up this gateway while providing new opportunities for the tourism industry in the area. By participating in the revitalization of downtown core, we will increase the event’s appeal by making it more inviting to individuals from here and abroad.”

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/...284/story.html

[J.OT13]

I thought it was actually the casino's fireworks. I didn't know they were just sponsors.

Location, tourism perspective, the new location is better, but as a business perspective...

[gjhall]

Great for me, I like to watch them from Nepean Point, so my view will improve!

[S-Man]

Oh, I like this idea = so many better spots for viewing.

I do loves me some fireworks...

[bikegypsy]

The choice of downtown is better as it as more impact on visitors.

[monkeybongo]

If the location is going to be the same, it's really going to show how bad the Canada day fireworks are!

I really liked the Casino location as I could get a great view from the parking lot, but I could see how more people would enjoy this and draw more tourists. Would this type of event have to be involved with the NCC? Any potential problems?

[teej1984]

This is great news! I wonder if the NCC saw this as part of their waterfront redevelopment plans!

I think this will attract much bigger crowds, especially given the Casino location was annoying to get to via bike/public transit.

[kevinbottawa]

Tree spat threatens plans to move fireworks festival to Museum of History

By Don Butler, Ottawa Citizen April 9, 2014 12:52 PM

OTTAWA — Four trees along the Ottawa River could potentially derail plans to shift the annual Sound of Light fireworks festival from the Casino du Lac-Leamy to the Canadian Museum of History grounds this summer.

Organizers announced the plan to relocate the 19-year-old fireworks event in February and have gathered more than $1 million in financial support to facilitate the move.

The plan calls for fireworks displays to be presented over five nights in August from a barge in the Ottawa River.

Though spectators would be able to watch the display from various sites along the river, festival organizers plan to earn revenue by providing VIP seating for up to 15,000 people on the grounds of the museum.

For the plan to work, four trees planted to commemorate the opening of the museum that block spectator sight lines will have to be removed.

That’s a problem, some National Capital Commission directors said at a board meeting Wednesday.

Removing those trees “isn’t going to fly,” board member Eric MacKenzie told Sound of Light organizers. “Forget that part.”

But Claude Hamelin, chair of the fireworks festival, said if the trees aren’t removed, only about 2,000 people would have unobstructed views from the museum grounds.

Removing the trees, Hamelin said, is “a matter of life and death. If not, no more fireworks. We’re going home.”

NCC staff will work with Hamelin’s group and report back to the board at its next meeting in June.

NCC chief executive Mark Kristmanson said he was optimistic that an acceptable solution can be found.

dbutler@ottawacitizen.com
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/ot...026/story.html

[S-Man]

Lame. I want fireworks! I want to view it from the many locations that a Museum launching point would offer me.

[Kitchissippi]

Looks like a job for this machine

• Video Link

[Aylmer]

Yeah, no. The fireworks are for a couple of day of the year, but those trees are used every day by countless people who eat, sit and play in their shade. I don't care if it doesn't allow for 'optimal viewing', people can watch them from a million other places, just as we've been doing for every Canada Day for decades.

[Radster]

Originally Posted by Aylmer

Yeah, no. The fireworks are for a couple of day of the year, but those trees are used every day by countless people who eat, sit and play in their shade. I don't care if it doesn't allow for 'optimal viewing', people can watch them from a million other places, just as we've been doing for every Canada Day for decades.

Wonder if the Eastern tip of Victoria Island will be a good spot? Also, behind supreme court, behind Parliament buildings, Ottawa River pathway....so many possibilities.

What I don't get is how will they make money off this? They can only provide 5,000 general admission spots at the Museum and less reserved seating than at Lac Leamy. And one of the reasons they changed locations was due to financial losses. So now general admission will be $5 instead of $10. If they were smart they would charge general admission at Nepean Point, and also Ottawa River pathway, hehehe.

[rocketphish]

Fireworks festival will proceed even if trees remain at Museum of History site

Don Butler, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: June 10, 2014, Last Updated: June 10, 2014 7:56 PM EDT

The popular Sound of Light fireworks festival will take place at its new Canadian Museum of History site this August even if four trees that could interfere with spectator sight lines are not removed, organizers say.

“Our event will happen one way or another as too much prep has gone into this to give it all up,” Anny Spooner, the festival’s general manager, said Tuesday.

“We’re simply not willing to let go such a wonderful summer event — especially considering the potential of the new site for both sides of the river,” Spooner said in an email.

The festival is moving to the museum grounds because organizers say it’s no longer financially viable to hold it at the Casino du Lac-Leamy, where it has drawn 1.5 million spectators since 1996.

But its future was cast in doubt in April when the National Capital Commission’s board balked at a proposal to cut down four trees planted in 1989 to commemorate the opening of what was then called the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

At the time, Claude Hamelin, chair of the fireworks festival, called the removal of the trees “a matter of life and death” for the festival, saying only about 2,000 of the hoped-for 15,000 paying spectators would have an unobstructed view of the fireworks if the trees remained.

Since then, NCC officials have held discussions with their counterparts from the museum in an effort to find a solution. “We’re confident that it will work out,” museum spokesperson Patricia Lynch said Tuesday.

The museum is developing a master plan for the site to accommodate festivals, Lynch said. “We would like to attract more and more events like this, because we’ve just got such a fabulous location and we really want to maximize its use.”

According to Spooner, the museum has proposed an interim solution while it develops the new master plan. NCC officials are reviewing the proposal and will present a recommendation to the board at its next meeting in late June.

“At this point, we’re taking all the necessary steps to be smart with our planning until the final decision is made,” Spooner said.

dbutler@ottawacitizen.com
twitter.com/ButlerDon

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-...f-history-site

[rocketphish]

NCC debates ... wait for it ... a willow tree

By Susan Sherring, Ottawa Sun
First posted: Thursday, June 26, 2014 07:05 PM EDT

It’s now being dubbed the Willow Accord.

Yes, at a meeting of the National Capital Commission, with more than a dozen staffers on hand — and board members from across the country — the fate of one single willow tree was debated ad nauseam.

“In the history of the NCC, this will now be called the Willow Accord,” laughed NCC chair Russell Mills.

If you hate bureaucracy, you’d have hated this debate.

Seems everyone had an opinion.

As the story goes, there are two willows blocking the vista at the Canadian Museum of History, where the Casino du Lac-Leamy Sound of Light Fireworks wants to access.

The information is found in a 14-page report.

After 18 years at Lake Leamy, that model is apparently no longer profitable to continue the event because of large and costly visitor infrastructure. Of all the sites on the river, only the Canadian Museum of History can accommodate the potential number of spectators.

So back to the willows.

Turns out one is actually owned by the Quebec government, which adds to the layers of confusion.

“And the Quebec Assembly isn’t about to meet to debate this,” quipped one board member.

Shouldn’t that tell the NCC something?

The staff recommendation was to have the NCC take down the willow it owns as long as the Quebec government agrees to do the same.

Simple enough.

Apparently willows are relatively fast growing trees, and, of course, everyone loves the Sound and Light show.

Not so fast.

Board members had lots of questions and lots of ideas.

And yes, this was for one willow.

One board member thought the Sound and Light people should take down the tree, though staff said it would be better for the NCC to take care of it themselves.

Another wondered why they would only take the NCC willow tree down if Quebec took theirs down.

And finally, some sanity.

Board member Denys Rivard called on his board members to stop the chatter.

“Stop, enough,” Rivard said following the meeting. “I couldn’t believe it.”

From Rivard’s point of view, there was clearly an early agreement to agree to have the tree taken down, no need for the endless debate!

Twitter: @susansherring

http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/06/26/...-a-willow-tree

[rocketphish]

Gatineau unveils top-secret plan for Saturday night fireworks visible across city (and into Ottawa)

Staff Reporter
Publishing date: Aug 12, 2020 • Last Updated 31 minutes ago • 1 minute read

The usual five-weekend Casino du Lac Leamy Sound of Light show has been condensed into one huge show Saturday, visible through most of the Gatineau area, and into Ottawa.

Just don’t ask where the actual launch sites are.

Starting at about 9 p.m., the eight launch sites will fire off enough rounds to be visible over a 380-square-kilometre area, organizers say.

The new show is a co-production of the Casino du Lac Leamy and the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival.

The event is designed as a stay-at-home affair. Organizers said it was a major challenge finding potential sites that would allow as many people as possible to see the blasts.

To respect public health concerns, the launch sites will remain secret to prevent large-scale gatherings.

Organizers have released maps to show where the best viewing regions are. “Test shots” will be fired off about 15 minutes before the main show to allow viewers to orient themselves and find prime local viewing spots.

For people who’d like a musical accompaniment, a special program of Quebec music will be played on Rouge FM 94.9 radio.

More information is available at the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GrandsFeuxCasino





https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...-03fcf9a36b9a/

[Dundas]

I wonder if this is worth the hassel of bringing my kids to Major Hill Park from the suburbs to see the fireworks? Would that be a decent spot to go to for the unspecified locations?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Dundas

I wonder if this is worth the hassel of bringing my kids to Major Hill Park from the suburbs to see the fireworks? Would that be a decent spot to go to for the unspecified locations?

Could probably see the Hull-Wright and Pointe-Gatineau fireworks from Major's Hill.

[harls]

Top secret? Pretty much give away where they will be with the little firework infographics.

I will eat my hat if they set it up at my kid's schoolyard.

[wingman]

I watched from the south parking lot of Les Promenades (near the Homesense entrance). That area was busy with watchers. We could clearly see the Pointe-Gatineau display and could see the Hull-Wright display in the distance.

Nice show, little something normal in these not-so-normal times.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by wingman

I watched from the south parking lot of Les Promenades (near the Homesense entrance). That area was busy with watchers. We could clearly see the Pointe-Gatineau display and could see the Hull-Wright display in the distance.

Nice show, little something normal in these not-so-normal times.

Too close for comfort! I was there too! If you walked straight on the sidewalk outside the Home Sense to the edge of the parking nearest the road, that was my car.