I got the following letter published in the King's County Record in Southern New Brunswick. It's paywalled web content, so I figured I should re-post. (I ranted pretty extensively about that paywall in the Moncton Free Press, but I can't search it any more...boo!)
What if we Rethought Canada Day in Sussex?
What if we Rethought Canada Day in Sussex?
As I watched the
fireworks crack and fizzle in Monday’s rainy skies, the fumes of burning
chemicals filled my lungs, and I had a thought. Isn’t there anything better than fireworks we
could be celebrating Canada with?
Fireworks are an
expensive flash in the pan, literally. Then consider all the gnarly compounds
they pump into the air; I had the misfortune of being downwind this year.
So what if we did
Canada Day in true Sussex fashion, with a hot air balloon moon glow?
When we spend
$10,000 on fireworks each year, that money just evaporates. With three to five
years of that funding re-directed, the Town of Sussex could buy their own hot
air balloon that could be used whenever The Town sees fit. Free balloon rides
could be given to residents at the Balloon Fiesta, and night skies of Canada
and New Brunswick Days could be lit up.
Further, a balloon
purchase could get the community engaged through design consultation and an
online vote for the final product.
I'm not suggesting
a bleak next few years celebrations; we can act now and amortize the purchase
taking advantage of hot air balloons having a depreciation value. A balloon purchase
would be an investment for Sussex.
The only thing
needed for this idea to become a reality is political will.