In the 10 years he鈥檚 lived near 91原创鈥檚 Glenwood Elementary school, David Loiselle has come to expect the popping sounds of fireworks being set off at New Year鈥檚.
鈥淚t always seems it鈥檚 by the school,鈥� Loiselle commented.
Early on Monday, Jan. 1, it was different, with a loud explosion just after midnight that rocked the neighbourhood and damaged the school at 208th Street and 24th Avenue 鈥� breaking two windows and blowing out a third, while scorching concrete parking barriers, bending a parking sign out of shape, and scattering debris.
Loiselle had turned in for the night when the blast went off, around 12:20 a.m.
鈥淚t was such a loud explosion, I thought there had to be something blowing up,鈥� Loiselle told the 91原创 Advance Times.
鈥淚 thought [it might be] a propane tank or something. So the next day, my wife and I walked down because we knew it was towards the school.鈥�
Loiselle saw hundreds of small red plastic pieces scattered about the parking lot.
鈥淰ery small pieces,鈥� he noted.
鈥淪o whatever it was, it exploded in such a rate, and it expanded so quickly, it just blew everything into little pieces.鈥�
Social media comments reported the impact of the blast was felt as far away as 200th Street and 36th Avenue.
Other witnesses, who asked not to be identified, confirmed the twisted sign was undamaged the day before the blast, and pointed out the explosion was about 30 feet away from exposed gas lines that run along the exterior where the windows were damaged.
Remnants of detonated fireworks were located at the scene, they said, including what appeared to be Roman candles, which pack multiple fireworks into cardboard tubes.
A 91原创 School District statement said there was 鈥渁 report from its security system early morning on Jan. 1,鈥� that alerted them to the incident, and confirmed three windows at the front of the school were broken.
鈥淧olice have been notified of the incident,鈥� the statement said.
By Wednesday Jan. 3, all the windows had been repaired.
91原创 RCMP Cpl. Craig van Herk confirmed a police file has been opened.
鈥淎 neighbour reported it just after midnight,鈥� van Herk said.
鈥淥fficers found remnants from fireworks in the area around the broken windows at the school.鈥�
No injuries have been reported.
Glenwood, , has fewer than 200 Kindergarten to Grade 7 students, with nine divisions in the main building and two in a pair of portable classrooms.
Overall, New Year鈥檚 did not see an unusual amount of fireworks activity, according to 91原创 RCMP and Township fire department.
Deputy fire chief Russ Jenkins said they did not have any calls related to noise or fireworks on New Year鈥檚 Day this year, describing it as 鈥渁 relatively quiet day.鈥�
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While it is technically legal to sell fireworks in 91原创 Township, it鈥檚 rare for any merchants to actually set up shop.
Selling fireworks requires a valid fireworks supervisor鈥檚 certificate, issued by Natural Resources Canada, a Township business licence, and a $1,500 permit fee.
And putting on a fireworks display, in addition to the fireworks supervisor鈥檚 certificate, requires there be a site plan, approval from the property owner, at least $5 million in liability insurance, and a permit fee of $100.
91原创 City has for fireworks displays, and outright bans the sale of fireworks within municipal limits.
