Canada Day is just around the corner, and with it the dazzling display of fireworks Lac du Bonnet has grown a reputation for.
This year, to commemorate the 25th year of fireworks, the display will be even more spectacular than usual. Themed, "Light up the Night", the show will be preceded by a boat parade.
There will be three divisions for the best lighting of a watercraft: commercial (any type), pontoon only, and all other boats.
The parade will start at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 2, from Brincheski Dock (by Watertown) and will pass by the town dock twice for viewing and judging. Prizes will be awarded to the best three boats in each division. Boats can be launched at Hwy 502 in Lac du Bonnet or the Winnipeg River Bridge Launch prior to the parade.
"If it turns out well this year, we might continue to do it in following years," Bob Lesko, fireworks coordinator said.
"We hope all the boats that participate will stay to watch the fireworks which will follow the boat parade," Mike Roi added. He is assisting Bob Lesko in preparations. "We estimate this event will be watched by 25,000 people in Lac du Bonnet on land and water."
The first fireworks in 1987 had 125 shots in their display at a cost of $1,700. Today approximately 6,100 shots are fired and the budget has increased to $30,000.
The Lions Club purchased an electronic firing system several years ago for safety reasons. The fireworks are now choreographed to music and can be heard on a speaker system in the town beach area.
The fireworks are purchased from Kelly Guille at Archangel Fireworks in Winnipeg. Archangel has won international fireworks competitions in 2007 and 2008 at the HSBC Celebration of Lights in Vancouver plus their award winning design team brought home top honors at the Grand Feux du Lac Loto, an international competition in Quebec City. The Archangel crew was also busy helping Vancouver with their fireworks at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
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