Karen Hardy, Ron Bordeleau and Annette Star are approaching businesses in their efforts to raise funds for this year’s July 1 fireworks display. The Osoyoos display, now in its 23rd year, is one of the best in Canada. (Richard McGuire photo)

Canada Day is almost two months away, but this week the Osoyoos Fireworks Fundraising Committee has started approaching businesses for financial contributions.

Annette Star, Karen Hardy and Ron Bordeleau are going door to door seeking donations to help make this year’s fireworks display one of the best in Canada once again.

Last year the fireworks were extra special as Canada celebrated the 150th anniversary of Confederation.

“Last year it was all red and white for Canada Day,” said Star, noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of Cherry Fiesta, previously known as Cherry Carnival.

“This year it’s going to be major colours,” said Star. “Like major. We’re trying to do bigger and better of course every year. With the red and white, to me it was kind of repetitive, but now this one is going to be amazing.”

This year is also the 23rd year the fireworks have been held.

Star said the three fundraisers will deliver a letter in person to every business. She’s glad Bordeleau has joined the team this year because that cuts down on the work that she and Hardy will have to do.

There have been several fundraising activities already this year including a Valentine’s Day dance in February and a bottle drive in January. But this week the fundraising kicks into high gear.

Star said the Osoyoos fireworks display continues to be the second largest in Canada after the display in Ottawa.

This, she said, is based on the cost of the fireworks as well as what it would cost if Osoyoos had to pay Frank Zandvliet, the pyrotechnical wizard and town employee, who volunteers his time.

“We actually made largest one year,” said Star. “Then Ottawa upped their budget.”

The Osoyoos display typically costs around $45,000 just for supplies. This doesn’t include the volunteer hours contributed by Zandvliet and his crew of volunteers.

The fireworks display starts after dark on July 1 and lasts just under half an hour.

“Frank [Zandvliet] found that if you go over 30 minutes, people get bored, so he tries to pack in as much as possible,” said Star. “Usually it’s about 26 minutes.”

The spectacular show over the lake draws people from up the Okanagan Valley as well as people from the United States and communities to the east and west.

Star estimates that between 30,000 and 35,000 people usually attend.

The hour or so after the display is the one time of the year when Osoyoos experiences the equivalent of big-city rush hour traffic as cars line up bumper-to-bumper to inch out of town.

The fireworks committee receives some funding from the Osoyoos Festival Society, the Town of Osoyoos and Destination Osoyoos. Most, however, comes from donations from businesses and individuals.

Star said donations range anywhere from $20 to $5,000 and any donation is welcome as even small ones add up.

Individuals can contribute at collection jars at many businesses, including big canisters that once contained fireworks at Home Hardware, Buy-Low Foods and AG Foods. People can also donate at the town hall.

Another bottle drive will be held on Saturday, May 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Elks Hall.

Volunteers also go around collecting donations at the event.

Star said that in past years the community “has been wonderful” about contributing to the fireworks.

There are several places around town to watch the fireworks, but all of them become crowded.

Star said Gyro Park closes in the area of the beer gardens and bandshell because of proximity to the fireworks, but the most popular spot for viewing is in front of the Watermark Beach Resort.

“At the Watermark, you can usually see where the fireworks go into the water and come out of the water,” she said. “You can see the spray and everything coming out.”

Cottonwood Park is another popular spot as people look out over the water.

Some people drive partway up Anarchist Mountain, but the pull offs tend to fill quickly and the fireworks appear distant without the use of binoculars or other magnification.

Viewers are advised to be aware of wind direction as the fireworks can produce a lot of smoke.

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times