Symphony of Fire

The Symphony of Fire is an annual multi-day fireworks exhibition and friendly international competition held around the world, most notably in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Toronto, Ontario Canada. The fireworks are choreographed to music, and are presented at English Bay in Vancouver, at the Lake Ontario waterfront of the "Exhibition Grounds" in Toronto, and in Victoria & Alfred waterfront in Cape Town.

History

The event had been previously sponsored by British American Tobacco (with the branding "Benson & Hedges Symphony of Fire"), but once tobacco advertising restrictions were legislated by the Canadian federal government in 2000, there were fears that the event would fail to receive sufficient funding to continue operations.

The Vancouver event, sponsored by HSBC is branded as "HSBC Celebration of Light". The title is often hyphenated with "Symphony of Fire" as it is still widely known by that name.

British American Tobacco informed Ontario Place Corporation, the hosts of the Toronto exhibition, that they could continue holding the annual event, but under a different name, as the "Symphony of Fire" trademark vested with Benson and Hedges. The Toronto event has since been renamed "the Canada Dry Festival of Fire".

In South Africa, the event is still marketed under the name "Symphony of Fire" and is sponsored by a local radio station.

The Cape Town events took place in 2000 and March 2006. Spain, Canada and South Africa took part in the 2006 event with South Africa winning on the 8th of April.

First events

*Vancouver: July 25 to August 5, 1990
*Montreal: 1985 - took place at La Ronde
*Toronto: 1987 - took place at Ontario Place

References

* [http://www.tobacco.org/news/54397.html tobacco.org: Tobacco firm ends funding of Symphony of Fire]
* [http://www.waterfront.co.za/profile/media_releases/guide/2175/ Symphony of Fire in South Africa]
* [http://www.ontarioplace.com/en/events/festival.html Ontario Place: Canada Dry Festival of Fire]
* [http://www.symphonyoffire.co.za/ KFM Symphony of Fire] in South Africa