Canada Day fireworks, La Ronde international fireworks show cancelled due to smog from Quebec forest fires

Montreal amusement park La Ronde cancelled the first night of an international fireworks competition after concerns over air quality stemming from forest fires in northern Quebec.

La Ronde owner Six Flags Entertainment Corporation says it cancelled tonight’s show based on a recommendation from public health officials.

On Wednesday afternoon, Environment Canada issued a smog warning for the Montreal and Laval areas due to fine particulate matter from forest fires.

On a normal day, Montreal sees about 10 to 15 micrograms per cubic meter of fine particles in the air. On Thursday, it’s expected to reach between 150 and 200 and fireworks could add 200 to 300 extra micrograms per cubic meter to the air.

The department says the smog will continue for several days, but conditions will be less severe than last Sunday’s smog event.

At a press conference on Thursday morning, Dr. David Kaiser, from Montreal Public Health, explained that the recommendation was based on the already high levels of particulate matter in the air.

Holding a fireworks show would have only added to that particulate matter to the air, which could have had a greater impact on the health of the population, he explained.

“If we want to protect people’s health, yes, events that generate a pollution over a short period of time, to make them less polluting is part of the deal,” he said. “Today, we have a very particular situation where we’re expecting high levels tonight, and we felt that that was just unacceptable.”

La Ronde’s president, Sophie Émond, said that it was impossible to postpone the event due to the large number of partners involved, notably in terms of safety on the river banks and on the Jacques-Cartier Bridge – but they hope the next show, presented by Ukraine on July 6, will be able to proceed as planned.

“It’s very disappointing for the team here, the technical team  who are working multiple hours to provide those those fireworks display,” she said. “But the primary goal for us was to contact public health.”

The fireworks competition runs until Aug. 9. The consultation process with public health will be resume in the days leading up to each of the next seven events.

This is the first time the fireworks show has been cancelled for health reasons in 37 years, Émond said.

The La Ronde amusement park remained open to the public on Thursday.

With the International Jazz Festival kicking off, and many outdoor shows planned, organizers said in a statement to CityNews on Thursday morning that: “The nature of our event is completely different from that of [fireworks competition]. The air quality situation is constantly changing, and we closely monitor alerts issued by the relevant authorities.”

Canada Day fireworks cancelled

Organizers say Canada Day fireworks planned for Saturday night in Montreal have been cancelled as air-quality concerns persist because of wildfires burning in northern Quebec.

Stephane Guertin of Tandem communication, which represents the organizer of the Canada Day event, says public health officials were unable to say if smog warnings prompted by wildfire smoke would still be in place on Saturday.

But he says the organizer did not want to put another pollutant in the air.

Montreal covered with smog from forest fires burning in the province on June 29, 2023. View from Mount Royal, amid the rain. (CREDIT: Martin Daigle, CityNews Image)

View of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge from La Ronde amid smog and rain on June 29, 2023. (CREDIT: Alyssia Rubertucci, CityNews Image)

Press conference on cancellation of opening night for fireworks competition. Sophie Émond, La Ronde President (right) and Dr. David Kaïser, from Montreal Public Health on June 29, 2023. (CREDIT: Alyssia Rubertucci, CityNews Image)

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“Smoke from forest fires can be harmful to everyone’s health, even if concentrations are low. Everyone can take steps to reduce their exposure to forest fire smoke,” says Environment Canada in its warning.

“The sun can transform some of the components within that smoke into benzene and formaldehyde, so like it’s not good stuff, we don’t want to be breathing this stuff in,” said CityNews Chief Meteorologist, Natasha Ramsahai. “And so for the first half of the long weekend, I would say it is best to plan indoor activities. The smoke should start to ease up by Friday. Saturday, not great, at least by late Saturday into Sunday. We should start to see some of that smoke push off to the east.”

“People with lung disease (such as asthma) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant women, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by smoke. Speak with your health care provider about developing a management plan for forest fire smoke events and keeping a supply of necessary medications at home; always carry these medications with you during forest fire season.

“I’m having problems with asthma sometimes and then it’s not easy to breathe,” said Severin Boehm, a tourist from Germany. “Even yesterday I could feel it, so I had to wear a mask again.”

Stop or reduce your activity if breathing becomes uncomfortable or if you or someone in your care feels unwell. Contact your health care professional or local health authorities if you develop severe symptoms or need advice,” the warning from Environment Canada explains.

“For people who need to be outside, an N95 is an individual measure that can help reduce exposure,” says Dr. Kaiser.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 28 and 29, 2023.