"3, 2, 1," the crowd counted down as they stood on the seawall at the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Convention Centre on Dec. 31, 2022.
The last moments of 2022 ticked by and they stared into the sky, waiting for the pop and twinkle of fireworks above Burrard Inlet.
It was likely a disappointing way to start 2023, as the traditional New Year's Eve fireworks were cancelled weeks ago and the only twinkling lights the crowd saw that night came from North Vancouver.
"There were lots of people at Canada Place assuming there would be fireworks," says VPD Const. Tania Visintin in an email.
Videos from the area show the crowd counting down and then waiting. Others show the crowd dispersing. One such video has gone viral, with 500,000 views on TikTok
a very anticlimactic ending 😂
New year eve…
First NYE in Canada and no fireworks! Hahahaha Nakakamiss ang Pinas at ang maiingay na kanto tuwing New Year!!!
It appears people in the crowd at Canada Place weren't the only ones disappointed. Videos from English Bay show a crowd gathered along the shore, apparently expecting fireworks.
What a bunch of dissapointed vancouverite. Guess we didnt make the budget!!
Cancelled fireworks??
And while many on the , at least a few turned to the sky at midnight hoping for fireworks.
😂😂Happy New Year To all
While there were no official fireworks, some illegal shows did pop-off around the city.
I'm disappointed. Should've stayed in Seattle
Who else was disappointed with the fireworks this year?
Vancouverites are cravin
Organizers cancelled 2022 event, planning 2023 already
Following a pandemic hiatus, the New Year's Eve fireworks celebration was expected to take place on the last night of 2022 at the event's new location in False Creek. The display was supposed to have activations and pyro special effects that have never been seen in Vancouver.
However, the event was postponed due to "escalating costs in logistics, and challenges with securing the necessary critical labour in completing the required site-wide security and crowd control measures across East False Creek," explained event organizer .
"This new, truly world-class event concept would have made all Vancouverites proud, and rekindled a sense of civic pride, hope, and betterment during the most auspicious night of the year."
Now, the countdown is set to Dec. 31, 2023. "New Year's Eve in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»will return bigger and better," tout organizers.
With files from Maria Diment
