Edmonton councillors exploring centralized Diwali fireworks show

Edmonton city council is considering a centralized Diwali fireworks display to reduce illegal fireworks use during the Festival of Lights, after two homes burned in fires sparked by unauthorized fireworks last year.

City staff is working with Edmonton's South Asian community to coordinate events for November, including a possible invite-only celebration at city hall with no fireworks, or a community-led event at Mill Woods Park with a large fireworks display. The move comes after police charged three men with arson for the 2025 fires.

Community advocate Shaminder Parmar, part of the city's steering committee on the pilot, told council on Monday that the South Asian community needs an attractive and safe alternative that includes fireworks. "Families do fireworks to introduce their children to Diwali, the celebration, because their kids have not seen it in India before," he said. Parmar noted that Edmonton's South Asian community is growing and the city must address the issue through change management rather than enforcement alone.

City administration initially projected the Mill Woods event would cost $110,000, but councillors and Parmar said that estimate is likely high. The community already has grant money available and a strong fundraising capacity.

Councillor Jo-Anne Wright questioned whether multiple smaller displays might work better than a single centralized show, noting the city needs to recognize community needs alongside safety concerns. City staff and the community steering committee will discuss the options and next steps.

Fireworks supplier John Adria, with Uncle John's Fireworks, argued the city has made permits too difficult to obtain, pushing events underground to less safe locations. "We have lost the majority of community shows," he told council, saying that stricter permitting has reduced permitted displays at temple parking lots around the city.