I am a 53-year resident of St. Albert, and my family has been here since 1964. For as far back as I can remember, we always enjoyed New Year's Eve fireworks on Seven Hills, way back when there were actually seven hills. As kids, yeah, we knew the risks, but what a thrill it was. We all lived, by the way.
I understand in 2020, the necessity to cancel fireworks due to the pandemic; vaccines weren't yet available. It was prudent. We all understood.
But recently, I started researching New Year's Eve fireworks and found a flimsy announcement from the city, that fireworks would be set off from the Meadowview ball diamonds.
Are you kidding me? Canada Day fireworks were cancelled because the "woke" didn't feel it was appropriate. Truth and Reconciliation? The truth is that no unmarked graves were found on the former Youville Residential School, and we need to reconcile with facts versus hysteria. There's nothing stopping the city from doing fireworks back on Seven Hills, where they've always been, knowing they aren't doing them on top of unmarked graves.
Oh, and did I mention, I'm Indigenous? I'm treaty. Council needs to grow a backbone and realize, by trying to appease everyone, they're actually pleasing no one.
W.J. Tomash, St. Albert
