Coquitlam Mounties have launched a criminal investigation after some Canada Day party-goers breached a security fence to see the fireworks display, prompting officials to postpone the pyrotechnics until the next night.
On Tuesday, RCMP Cpl. Jamie Chung said police are interviewing several people but he declined to say if any arrests had been made in connection with the July 1 incident that left some 20,000 spectators wondering why there was no Town Centre Park light show as planned at 10:30 p.m.
According to the city, which was forced to reschedule the fireworks to Monday at 10 p.m., the show was halted by Archangel Fireworks - a Winnipeg-based company that won the HSBC Celebration of Light competition in 2007 and '08 - when several revellers jumped into the restricted fall zone on the east side of Lafarge Lake.
"Archangel prides itself on safety for our people and our audience, and sometimes that means the show doesn't go on," Candice Mitchell, Archangel's general manager, said in a news release.
"Entering a secured zone is reckless and dangerous and has potentially serious consequences."
Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart also thanked the audience for "their patience and understanding while technicians and staff focused on trying to reset the system," he said in the release.
On his Facebook page, Stewart further explained the PA system was linked to the music, which was the source of the fireworks sequencing; that was shut down when the secured zone was breached. As a result, no broadcast could be made about the fireworks being stopped.
Despite the problems, about 12,000 people turned out in the pouring rain on Monday night for the 20-minute finale, which was publicized via traditional and social media networks (and at tricitynews.com). As well, security staff and Mounties were onsite patrolling the fenced-off area to ensure there was no repeat, a city spokesperson said.
As for the cost to reorganize the $20,000 light display and some entertainment, a city spokesperson stated in an email: "Our suppliers, vendors, the RCMP, volunteers and local business all pulled together to pull off the second show with a lot of goodwill services and positive attitudes. Because the tents, sound, lights and logistics were already in place, the costs were minimal."
