After more than 40 years, the Optimist Club of Byron announced it has cancelled this year’s Canada Day fireworks. “It’s a good thing and it’s a bad thing,” said Richard Hooper with the Optimist Club of Byron. “I know that there’s a lot of people in the community who are going to be a little bit upset.” Hooper said rising costs and limited financial and volunteer support have made it difficult to continue the fireworks display, noting the City of London does not provide funding for the event. “We’re looking at $14,000 just for fireworks alone,” said Hooper. “We could spend that money as a club giving back to the community and that was one of the hardest decisions this board has had to make.” Hooper said in place of fireworks, the club will be hosting a Canada Day family celebration on July 1 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. “We’re going to have food trucks because everybody loves food trucks,” said Hooper. “We are going to have bouncy castles for the kids and a DJ.”
