Security will be beefed up around the fireworks control stations for this year's Canada Day celebrations in Coquitlam.
Last July 1, the planned pyrotechnics were postponed to the next night after some people entered a restricted zone. Tens of thousands of revellers were in Town Centre Park waiting for a 20-minute display that was stopped early.
Last week, the city's council-in-committee was told the fencing around the "fall-out zone" will be raised by two feet and will be linked with wires; as well, signs will be posted to warn the public about the risk of entering the area and RCMP patrols will be boosted with auxiliary members, security teams and event volunteers to prevent another breach.
Meanwhile, the city is also working around the Evergreen Line construction around the Evergreen Cultural Centre (ECC) to help the expected 60,000 revellers get to the festival site on Canada Day. Building for the new SkyTrain line has already cut the ECC parking lot by 35%.
Heavy construction around ECC is set to begin after July 2.
Last year, city council budgeted $145,000 for the July 1 event, which will run from noon to 11 p.m. and will include a street hockey tournament, a dance program and a food tasting section.
