‘Uncontrollable kids’ force cancellation of Ontario town’s Canada Day plans

Young people shooting fireworks into crowds, buildings, at police, and each other has led a southern Ontario town to pull the plug on Canada Day celebrations this year.

Councillors for the Town of Oakville, located 40 km west of Toronto, say they had no other choice but to cancel the annual July 1 lakefront event because unruliness was getting out of control and becoming too dangerous.

Town officials say that since the end of the pandemic, large groups of young people have swelled and blended in with families and regular onlookers who gather for the nighttime fireworks display at Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park.

However, the trouble begins when the official festivities end, and people leave the park.

“That’s when all hell breaks loose,” said John Hickey, who has attended the park on Canada Day for several decades but was shocked by what happened at last year’s event. “It was crazy. These kids, these uncontrollable kids, were running around and using fireworks like weapons, shooting them off everywhere, at each other, into crowds; they just didn’t care, and they couldn’t be stopped. If it wasn’t already cancelled, I did not plan on going back.”

According to accounts, typically, the young people bring their own fireworks to the event. But instead of planting the explosives into the ground, they are dangerously lit while being held in their hand. The flares are then fired off like a gun at their target. When it first started to occur a few years ago, they aimed at each other; now the shooting is more indiscriminate.

Arrests have been made, but the young mob has outnumbered law enforcement.

In a joint message posted on social media, Oakville councillors Jonathan McNeice and Sean O’Meara said they have both witnessed the mayhem, pointing out that seniors, families, children, and first responders have come under fire and that cars, homes, and businesses are used for target practice.

They point to a survey taken after Canada Day last year that revealed 40 per cent of respondents felt unsafe leaving the event.

“Despite increased presence and new tactics each year, we have not yet seen meaningful improvement — conditions have continued to escalate,” the statement by the councillors reads, adding they do not have confidence that public safety can be ensured at Bronte in the future.

Oakville council decided to take the step and cancel the event after years of complaints. A plan to make the event a daytime celebration at another park was also rejected for many reasons, including fears that the trouble would follow no matter where it is held.

Even though council has made its decision, some members are hoping to reverse the decision and come up with an alternate plan.

McNeice and O’Meara will hold a public meeting in the Bronte community next week, and another councillor, Jeff Knoll, has started a petition urging Halton Regional Police to bring in stronger safety measures and for the town to reconsider its decision and go ahead with the celebration on July 1.