2009 Celebration of Light will go ahead as planned; Keg becomes new sponsor

[djh]

What X2 said probably explains a LOT to why so many great things die in this city. Too many people working AGAINST the success of projects, because of their own special interests.

My experience in this city is that I have never seen so many groups willing to rally AGAINST any initiative that springs up, no matter how good or bad. Then I learned that the province has a real history of "anti-" protesting - against government injustice, against pollution, against corruption, etc. I think that mentality has carried-over to everything now. There is always an articulate special-interest group that will kill momentum to change things or to improve things. So sad.

Given that, I still see lots of hope. Young people without those drilled-in biases are going to be the people that save this city. X2 - This Keg's On You.

[mr.x]

After the Province's damaging article which included contradictory and negative comments by the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society, it was quite clear that our donation drive wouldn't have a chance at all.

Immediately after the article's publication, it was agreed upon by both parties that we would have a week long media blackout....and we collaborated and merged our efforts after that week.



I should also mention that while the Keg is the most significant sponsor in this new lifeline, there are also two other sponsors: Edgewater Casino and Shore 104 FM Radio.

Not only should you eat at the Keg, you should also gamble your money away at Edgewater and listen to Shore 104 FM.

This also means that the syndication music is no longer on Rock 101.



Operational Partner:
- City of Vancouver

Title Sponsor:
- HSBC Bank Canada

Presenting Sponsor:
- Shore FM [new sponsor]

Evening Sponsors:
- London Drugs’ CANADA Night – July 22
- ‘TBA’ SOUTH AFRICA Night – July 25
- The Keg’s UK Night – July 29 [new sponsor]
- Concord Pacific’s CHINA Night – August 1

Corporate Sponsors:
- Tourism Vancouver
- BC Hydro
- Edgewater Casino [new sponsor]
- YVR Airport Authority

Community Sponsors:
- Super Save
- Waste Management
- Radiant Communications


Official news release: http://www.celebration-of-light.com/_pdf/release_2009-03-11_2009_fireworks.pdf

[touraccuracy]

powder keg

[LeftCoaster]

Great news, thanks to all who donated their time to get this great event back on track for this year.

[clooless]

This is excellent news.

Hats off to mr.x and the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society. Well done.

[djh]

I think we should pay for X2 to go to this - and get the Keg to host it...
(I think he'd like it)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=44992559537

[EdinVan]

Originally Posted by djh

Sniff...

Well I see you point, it's just we'll end-up with two conversations about the same thing and information having to be posted twice, two threads to monitor to make sure we didn't miss anything, two places to look for updates...blah blah blah.

But congratulations though! Just need to sort out long-term stability

Oh look - somebody said the same thing in the OTHER THREAD

Ugh, the horror of it all.

[mr.x]

^ no thank you :p , i don't exactly fancy girls.



I can only shake my head at these comments being posted at CTV and Canada.com:

whoa deja vu - doesn't this happen every year? fireworks canceled or close to it, then surprise donor!

I guess it's more like the boy who cried wolf, but truth is this year they were tired of having to beg for sponsors and quit.

Paul
What a waste of money -- use it for the homeless in the city instead.

Classic Vancouver response to anything and everything.

PJ Jehosophat
Oh well, too good to be true, I guess. Was looking forward to some peace and quiet in the West End this year.

Peace and quiet in one of the most densely populated areas north of Mexico?

Jim barry
Like most other west enders I was elated to hear of the death of the fireworks. I'm all for them, but feel they should not occur in the west ends English Bay. How about holding them in Surrey so most of the spectators won't have to skytrain it in. Or maybe we could hold them in Richmond. Tow those barges right down close to the airport so all can see from the various buildings and bridges. Why hold them in the same spot every year. That should be done with the Olympics.

Just...wow. Won't have to SkyTrain in? At the airport???

I too was elated to hear that this annual invasion of the west end had finally come to an end. Now I can look forward to having my neighbourhood used as a huge garbage dump and outdoor toilet again. Thanks, Keg restaurants.

Hold them in Gordon Campbell's front yard.Tell him only 500 people will be there and then have 20,000 show up.Oops sorry Gordon I guess our estimate was incorrest just like your Olympic budget.

Vancouver and district people would COMPLAIN if we had too much sun during the Summer . What a dower lot we have in this province . If you do not like it here and complain about everything and anything then go and live on some island and rust .

Couldn't agree more.

just so everyone knows, I'm not against all the money this event brings into the city. What I'm against is the 300,000 people that invade the west end for this event and use it as their personal garbage dumps and urinals and hoot and holler until 3:00 in the morning. This event does not belong in the most densely populated area in Canada. And to all of those who are for it - how many actually live in the west end and have experienced the insanity? my guess is not too many of you. Let's bring it into your neighbourhoods and see how you likei it

You live in downtown in an area that is one of the most populated in the continent. As well, the event lasts for 4 days and there are 365 days in a year....

Re Fireworks: What about the carbon footprint and all the junk from burnt powder etc falling in the water? And municipal gov dont want us to have a fire in our fireplace for warmth because we might destroy the environment. The million dollars to be spent on this foolish display could better be spent for hungry people at food banks in these tough times.Why not try to help some of the smaller communities in the interior that are in real bad need, instead of everything for the lower mainland's pleasure.