Wilmot council approves $1,000 fine for anyone setting off fireworks outside prescribed days and times

By Galen Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Anyone found to be setting off fireworks in Wilmot Township outside of newly prescribed days and times will soon face fines of as high as $1,000.

Following an in-depth discussion of several proposed changes to Wilmot Township’s fireworks bylaw at the township’s June 2 committee of the whole meeting, council officially approved three amendments to that bylaw at its regular meeting Aug. 25 that will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

The new amendments include decreasing the number of permitted days each year when fireworks can be set off from 12 to four, the inclusion of set times for when fireworks can be set off on those days and an increase to the set fine for anyone found to be setting off fireworks in contravention of the bylaw from $250 to $1,000.

“In general, it’s meant as we’ll allow the use of fireworks during the prescribed times, however, should you break the rules, you should expect a hefty fine,” Coun. Kris Wilkinson said during the June 2 meeting.

Under the amended bylaw, fireworks are now only permitted on Victoria Day, Canada Day and Diwali from 8-11 p.m., and on Lunar New Year from 7-10 p.m. Previously, fireworks were allowed to be set off on all four holidays, as well as the day before and after each holiday with no prescribed times.

“In the research that was done, in the discussions I had, especially in some of the larger centres, without times, people were setting fireworks off at any time during the day,” Wilmot supervisor of municipal law enforcement Erin Merritt told council during the June 2 committee of the whole meeting.

“Some people were setting them off at 12:30 a.m. and going throughout the night, and it’s allowed on that day because we allow it for that day. So, my thought was if we had specific times when they were allowed, then residents who may not be in support of fireworks know this is the time that they may be hearing them.”

The move to amend Wilmot’s fireworks bylaw, as well as recent amendments made to fireworks bylaws in Waterloo region’s other municipalities including Wellesley, North Dumfries, Cambridge and Kitchener-Waterloo, came following a joint effort between all seven of the region’s municipalities to improve safety around the use of fireworks across the region.

Of the four recommended amendments proposed for Wilmot Township’s bylaw that came from that collaborative effort, Wilmot council chose not move ahead with one – prohibiting the sale of fireworks in the township altogether.

While other rural townships in the region like Wellesley and North Dumfries opted not to ban the sale of fireworks outright, Kitchener-Waterloo has banned the sale of fireworks in the city effective Jan. 1, 2026, a move Aleem Kanji, the chief advocacy officer for the Canadian National Fireworks Association told Wilmot councillors on June 2 could have the reverse effect to what is intended.

“A sales ban doesn’t really do much because people will be purchasing online in your community or from other communities – they’ll hop over to Guelph or other communities like North Dumfries, which recently rejected a ban. … Only a few days after the sales ban was enacted to go into effect in neighbouring Kitchener and Waterloo, we saw immediate consequences. … We saw an assault and a theft at a fireworks retailer.

“What I had warned council about was that criminal activity would be omni-present and would be welcomed to the community with a ban in place,” Kanji said, suggesting municipalities that permit the sale of fireworks can do more to educate residents and advocate for the safe, responsible use of fireworks than those that implement sales bans.

“If we’re going to permit something, it makes sense that we allow our businesses to benefit from it,” Coun. Steven Martin added at that meeting.

To help educate those who purchase fireworks in Wilmot Township about the relevant rules and regulations, both locally and federally, township staff will be reaching out to businesses that sell fireworks to educate retailers about their responsibilities under the newly amended bylaw, such as posting a copy of the bylaw for customers to read.

Township staff are also proposing the creation of postcards that can be left at the point of sale with important facts for consumers on Wilmot’s fireworks bylaw, including permitted dates and times as well as a QR code consumers can scan to access a copy of the fireworks bylaw.

Going forward, bylaw officers will be scheduled to work during times when fireworks may be used to help address any questions and deal with complaints residents may have. Officers will also be out in the community before holidays to educate the public on the rules and regulations regarding fireworks within the township.