Canada Day is one of our City’s busiest summer celebrations. As the day approaches, the Kelowna Fire Department and the City’s protective services teams urge all residents and visitors to prioritize safety and share in the efforts of our frontline services to keep Kelowna safe as we celebrate.
“Canada Day is one of our City’s most exciting and busiest days of the year,” said Kevin Mead, Acting Community Safety Director. “Our City’s community safety operations teams and community partners will be working together to ensure we can all safely enjoy the celebrations.”
During Canada Day, Kelowna RCMP and Bylaw Services teams will increase patrols for a combined enhanced presence in our downtown and neighbourhoods across the city. Bylaw Services teams will increase the number of foot, bike and vehicle patrols, while Kelowna RCMP will also add foot patrols in key areas, and bike, boat and ATV patrols in hard-to-reach spots. Also, business improvement area patrols in Kelowna’s downtown and Rutland will be on call to respond to concerns.
The Kelowna Fire Department (KFD) is also boosting support for Canada Day celebrations. KFD personnel will be on-the-ground providing event operations support with a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV), bush truck and an Operations Support trailer. Fire crew will also be out in the region’s marine rescue boat to support responses to shoreline wildfires, boating accidents and water rescues.
As in previous years, our Fire Department has approved a fireworks permit for Canada Day celebrations hosted by Festivals Kelowna in Waterfront Park. However, the KFD will continue to monitor weather conditions, particularly wind and drought, to assess the risk of wildfire and determine if fireworks displays should be cancelled. If conditions are deemed too risky, especially due to potential wildfires, fireworks displays may be postponed or cancelled.
Dennis Craig, Assistant Fire Chief, Mitigation and Prevention for the City of Kelowna, reminds residents that, “Even though we have experienced a cooler, damp spring, we are still in drought conditions. Under these conditions, potential fuels such as trees and woody debris can ignite quickly and have devastating consequences.” He further notes that, “Campfires are not permitted within City limits and fireworks, binary explosives and sky lanterns are currently prohibited in the Okanagan under the Category 2 ban that was put in place on June 13th by British Columbia Wildfire Service.”
Citizens and visitors can do their part too. We all have a role to play in keeping Kelowna safe during Canada Day and throughout the year. Kelowna’s protective services teams are ready and on-the-ground to do their part to keep our city’s residents and visitors safe.
Concerns reported to Kelowna’s Bylaw Services team and the RCMP help track crime trends and identify areas of the city where additional resources are needed. Here are some quick tips to help you understand who to call and when to call:
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Emergencies
In case of an emergency, always call 911
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For non-emergency police matters
Contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300 or report online at kelowna.ca/police
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To report a City bylaw infraction
To report a violation of municipal bylaws, you can register a complaint with Kelowna Bylaw Services at kelowna.ca/bylaws, in person at City Hall (1435 Water Street) or by phone at 250-469-8686
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If you know something, say something
If you have knowledge of criminal activity in your community, you can anonymously submit a tip to Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online
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Learn more about how to keep yourself and your community safe year-round, by visiting kelowna.ca/safety. For tips on how you can better protect your home and neighbourhood from risk of fire, visit kelowna.ca/firesmart. For ongoing updates on this year’s Canada Day celebrations, visit festivalskelowna.com for the latest details, including plans for the City’s official fireworks display.
