Fireworks cap Victoria's New Year's Eve celebration
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A massive fireworks display set for the Inner Harbour tonight will highlight the biggest downtown New Year’s Eve celebration since 1997, with organizers expecting more than 20,000 people to attend.
Spirit of 150 Victoria — First Night, made possible by $224,000 in funding from the federal Department of Canadian Heritage, starts at 5 p.m. A variety of entertainment will be provided, with musical acts on the main stage near the legislature at Government Street and Belleville Street. There will be food trucks in front of the Empress Hotel and Royal B.C. Museum, and washrooms at four locations, including Tourism Victoria’s Visitor Centre and Ship Point.
The event concludes at 9:30 p.m. following a theatrical fireworks display organizers are calling the biggest in recent history.
“It’s a fireworks show, first and foremost,” said Nick Blasko of Atomique Productions, which is producing the event for the Greater Victoria Spirit Committee. “But the tweak to this one is that it is timed to [the midnight start in] Ottawa, on purpose.”
> LINK: More information on the night's festivities
Victoria and Ottawa are among 19 urban centres participating in Canada 150, a country-wide federal initiative celebrating the 150th anniversary of Confederation.
“The thing that makes this one exciting is that it is across Canada,” Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said. “It’s really something to ring in the new year across Canada at the same time. There is something symbolically important about that.”
Spirit of 150 Victoria — First Night will also kick off a First Nations initiative for the City of Victoria, with 2017 designated as a “year of reconciliation.” The program today will feature a First Nations welcome ceremony and performances by the Lekwungen Dancers and the Esquimalt Singers. Other musical acts, such as Dear Rouge and Alex Cuba, are also scheduled.
“That’s the special thing about Canada — so much diversity in each locale will be celebrated,” Helps said.
“It will be a spectacular celebration.”
The event will also feature artwork projected on buildings, a festively lit Victoria Harbour Ferry Water Ballet, roaming illuminated puppets, and a bicycle obstacle course demonstration.
B.C. Transit routes near the celebration will be affected, with some bus stops moved to temporary locations.
Transit rides will be free from 6 p.m. until end of service today; buses will be added to downtown routes to handle the expected crowds.
Car traffic will be restricted near the celebration site, with streets near the Inner Harbour closing at 3 p.m.
Victoria police said they will deploy temporary cameras in public spaces to monitor any disorder. The department said on Twitter that the cameras will be used to “help keep people and our officers safe.” It’s a tool that has been used at previous big events.
Additional officers will be on duty, checking for impaired drivers at road blocks and to staff the Late Night Task Force, which monitors bars and nightclubs.
“We will have a full contingent of officers downtown for the family friendly New Year’s Eve celebration including the fireworks,” said Victoria police spokesman Const. Matt Rutherford. “It is anticipated it will be a busy night and have staffed accordingly so that people can enjoy the night and can remain safe.”
For more information, go to Spirit150Victoria.ca.
— With a file from Katie DeRosa
Saturday’s schedule
5:00 p.m. – Welcome blessing by Elder Elmer George and Suzie Thomas
5:04 p.m. – Greetings from Chief Ron Sam of the Songhees Nation and Chief Edward Thomas of the Esquimalt Nation
5:10 p.m. – Lekwungen Dancers
5:25 p.m. – Esquimalt Singers and Dancers
5:38 p.m. – Prime minister’s address
5:43 p.m. – O Canada (École Campus View Elementary School)
5:45 p.m. – Harbour Ferry Ballet
6:00 p.m. – Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds
6:10 p.m. – Trial bike performance at Ship Point
6:40 p.m. – Harbour Ferry Ballet
6:55 p.m. – Alex Cuba
7:10 p.m. – Trial bike performance at Ship Point
7:45 p.m. – Mayor Lisa Helps reads address from Canadian Heritage
7:48 p.m. – Canadian Heritage video in English and French
7:57 p.m. – Queen’s address
8:00 p.m. – Dear Rouge
8:15 p.m. – Trial bikes performance at Ship Point
9:00 p.m. – Fireworks
9:13 p.m. – Outro video in English and French
