A look at the drone show held during National Indigenous Peoples Day in Kamloops. (Photo via Victor Kaisar)

Kamloops Council will receive a presentation on Tuesday outlining options for future Canada Day displays.

In 2024, the City utilized a drone show for Canada Day instead of the traditional fireworks show due to dry conditions and the potential of not having a show at all.

The 2024 drone show cost $42,000 and included 200 drones for an 18-minute presentation. By comparison, the 2023 fireworks show cost $20,000.

Dusan Magdolen is the city’s Cultural Services & Events Manager. He says major factors into a decision are cost and the potential fire risk in a given year. “Due to the increased frequency of wildfires and dry conditions in our area, event organizers have been evaluating the viability of a July 1 fireworks show. The uncertainty of weather and environmental conditions requires the organizers to assess the risk of fireworks based on best available data and predictions several months in advance of July to prepare for the event. ”

“That’s the benefit of drones, right? Where, you know, if it’s a really dry spring while fireworks are going to be a no go, but drones can still happen, right? But then there are other, you know, other aspects to consider, cost being one of them.”

The City had a one-time $10,000 grant from the BC Fairs, Festivals and Events Fund, which made the increased cost of the drone show more manageable.

Magdolen says it is about laying out both options for council and letting them make an informed choice. “To be honest, like I myself, fairly torn it. There are benefits and downsides to both. In 2022 fireworks didn’t get to happen because the weather wasn’t right. But, they’re more classic. The community sort of connected to them in a lot of ways.”