The finale of next summer's 'Stars and Thunder' festival will now be twice as explosive thanks to a collection of local businesses.
"Obviously we're planning our biggest Canada Day celebrations that the city has ever put on, next year, with the Canada 150 and the Ontario 150, with an 8-day international fireworks competition" said Mayor Steve Black at a press conference announcing an additional $25,000 dollars raised and donated to the Canadian contingent, to make their display twice as nice.
He explained that typically there has been a local volunteer committee who organizes fundraising efforts for Canada Day fireworks each year. In recent years, Paul Woodward of The Bucket Shop has taken the reigns of spearheading the efforts.
"We wanted to make sure that if you have an 8-day international fireworks show, that Canada puts on the best show, in our home city. So I talked with Paul and kind of gave him an upped-ante, to go out and seek a little extra dollars this year than they normally provide. The target was $50,000 dollars towards the Canada Day fireworks show," said Black.
The original cost to the city was $25,000 dollars for each of the eight competing nations.
"This will allow the Canadian team to go over and above, and hit the $50,000 dollar maximum," he said.
Team Canada's fireworks will be set-off immediately following the performance of New Zealand born country star Keith Urban, on July 1, 2017.
"I think its going to be a fireworks show like Timmins, and most residents of Timmins have never seen. When you talk international fireworks shows, there are only a couple in all of Canada," said Black.
Black said not only have the sponsors financial commitments doubled, the City of Timmins now has much more buying power.
"It's a better bang for our buck. I think the city is going to be quite thrilled with the show they get to see to end Canada Day," he said.
However, this means that Team Canada is now out of contention for tops fireworks team.
"We didn't think it was going to be fair. It's pretty hard to find an unbiased judge. We decided that with the other seven countries, judge the first seven, and leave us out of it. Whether or not they're going to come up with that big of a show, I'm not sure," said perennial fireworks organizer John Curley, a member of the Fireworks Committee.
He said the list of judges will be released 'at a later date'.
Pyrotechnics teams from France, Italy, Ukraine, China, Brazil, United Kingdom, and Finland are all taking part in the competition. Curley said they all start out with the budgeted $25 grand, but can raise their own money if they so choose.
"They can go up another $25K if they wish, we might be surprised. It's up to them to raise their own dollars. The City of Timmins put so much dollars out, and that's what they have to work with, and we put it in the letters, that they can match dollar-for-dollar," said Curley.
The 'Stars and Thunder' festival has been a divisive topic within the community since the announcement of a $3.5 million dollar commitment of taxpayer dollars in early October. Black mentioned the shaky reception, but was pleasantly surprised at the enthusiasm and financial support of many local businesses.
"Obviously this festival got off to a bit of a bumpy, animosity start. I know that may have posed some challenges to Paul when he first started asking if people were going to come on board" said Black.
"I think once the festival lineup came out, the mood in the community definitely changed," he said.
Mayor Steve Black addresses members of the media regarding a big boost in Canada Day fireworks sponsors. Andrew Autio for TimminsToday Woodward said the local business community has been the driving force in improving the city's annual Canada Day celebrations, and 2017 will be no exception.
"Over the last two years, we've transformed a $10,000 dollar show into a $20,000 dollar show, with 20 non-competing sponsors at a $1,000 apiece. As Mayor Black said earlier, this year called for everybody to step up to try and match what was going on with the other countries, and it was surprisingly well received," he said, although he mentioned that some previous supporters were not on board for the city's ambitious plans for 2017.
"Yes we lost a few sponsors, but we went out and replaced them," said Woodward.
He said that there is likely no better way for corporate sponsors to give back to the community as fireworks. Each of the sponsors committed $2,000 dollars.
"Nothing happens by itself of course. I couldn't have done it without John (Curley) at my side, and Jeannine (Trudel) at work, and all the people who have helped me pull this together," he added.
According to organizers, four sea containers full of fireworks will be shipped into the city for the event.
As far as the music portion of the event goes, Black said the event is gaining momentum, but that the city isn't clear of its $3.5 million dollar commitment yet.
"Obviously we had a great launch to sales in the first couple of days. We still have a ways to go before we get to that break even point. But when we look at where we sit, relative to some of the other festivals and events going on, we're quite happy with where we are," he said.
Black said the city is hoping to hear back on some of the provincial and federal funding applications they've applied for, which would be a big help to the city coffers.
Sponsors for the Team Canada fireworks are: Debastos and Sons, Fountain Tire, Kerr Crane, Pizza Hut, PBL Insurance, Provost Roofing, Eclipse Financial, Rubino Trucking, Microtel, Mikey's General Sales, Timmins Garage, Pro Pipe, Nasco/Northern Allied, Miller Paving, Realty Networks Inc, R.A. Recyclers, Sling Choker, Toromont, CGV Construction, Panels and Pipes, Steelway, Dancey Electric, Lacroix Plumbing, Martin Fuels, John's Neon Signs, Urban Windows, Riopelle Group, The Bucket Shop.
