Canada Day fireworks sales are seeing a boost, and the strike may be the reason why.
With a number of city-run firework displays cancelled, the manager of one fireworks store says Torontonians are buying their own in order to get their fix of Canada Day eye-candy.
"We've been swamped," says Tom Jacobs, the President of Rocket Fireworks.
He says sales at his Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue store is up 10 to 15 per cent over previous Canada Days.
"We're just running trucks back and forth to our locations," he says.
"Whether it's just to celebrate or because the (city-run) shows are cancelled, people think they need a few (fireworks) of their own," says Jacobs.
Lori Ward, owner of Fireworks Superstore in Mississauga says she thinks her sales are booming because people want to watch the lights in the comfort of their own backyard.
"By the time you pay for parking the kids are bored, and they want to go home. It's just easy to have them in the backyard at home . "
She says neighbours pool their money to buy higher-end displays, with some customers this Canada Day spending up to $1000 in one visit.
But safety officials warn that putting on your own display can be dangerous.
And the cancellation of city-run fireworks displays, in combination with fewer bylaw officers to enforce laws because of the strike, could be a recipe for more injuries.
"There are more people going to do it in the last minute and probably injure themselves in the process," says Ontario Safety League President Brian Patterson, who says that in addition to unsafe handling, he's seen people aim fireworks at each other.
"You wouldn't take a flare pistol and fire it at a car passing on the road, but there'll be lots of Youtube video at midnight tonight of fireworks being used in the same manner."
"If you see people using them inappropriately, call the police, don't wait until somebody uses an eye," says Patterson.
The City of Toronto's firework safety guidelines say people putting on their own show should follow the directions on the package, and never touch a firework that appears to be a dud because it could explode in your hand.
It says you should never let children handle or light fireworks and audiences should stand far away from the spectacle.
Fireworks should also be buried at least half their length in a bucket of sand before they are lit and keep a hose handy just in case.
You can still check out public fireworks displays in the city, put on by organizations that are not affiliated with the strike.
