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Wednesday, June 5, 2013 PM40008236
Vol. 55 No. 23 Sicamous, B.C., • 1.25 (GST included) • www.eaglevalleynews.com
Seeing red (and white): People gathered outside the District of Sicamous Civic Centre Monday afternoon to protest municipal council’s decision to schedule the community fireworks display, normally set off on Canada Day, for the August long weekend. Photo by Lachlan Labere
Council to reconsider bumping Canada Day fireworks By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
Sicamous council will reconsider their decision to move the Canada Day fireworks display to August following a red and white uprising at town hall. In a sight Sicamous residents may have never before witnessed, a large crowd of people, representing all ages in the community, appeared in front of the municipal civic centre Monday afternoon to protest a failed motion in council, and the ramifications it would have on local tradition. That motion, made at council’s May
22 meeting by Coun. Charlotte Hutchinson, was to move the $20,0000 fireworks display, funded through taxation, back to Canada Day. Couns. Hutchinson, Joan Thomson and Fred Busch were in favour, while Couns. Terry Rysz, Don Richardson and Mayor Darrell Trouton were opposed. As per B.C.’s Local Government Act, when there is a tie, the motion fails. The vote has sparked criticism and dissent in the community, and through social media and email list servers. And it compelled people such as Beth Braun to bring her children to Main Street on Monday and join the chorus of protest.
“I think it’s not about Sicamous, I think it’s about Canada,” said Braun about the importance of the July 1st fireworks “I think it’s important that we keep tradition,” said 11-year-old Amy Wiebe. Sharon Reed was of like mind – that the Canada Day fireworks display is part of a local and national tradition. “It’s about family, it’s about country, and fireworks draw people to join together to have a good time and to have some camaraderie,” said Reed. “I know many of the people here and we take pride in Sicamous, we take pride in our country. It’s important.” The demonstration’s high degree of ci-
vility took a bit of a dip when Rysz chose to address the crowd. With Richardson by his side (Trouton was in the Lower Mainland attending the Federation of Canadian Municipalities convention), Rysz took some jeers amongst the calls to put the display back to July 1st. “OK, so that’s why we’re here, because we want to talk to you about this,” said Rysz. “There’s no doubt that with this turnout today, we as council, we have to make some serious decisions… and when we made the decision the other day, myself personally and Don as well, we felt we See Legitimacy of on page 3