Waterloo city councillor shot at by fireworks while leaving Canada Day drone show

Waterloo Coun. Julie Wright says she had a firework shot at her intentionally on Monday night.

Wright says she was returning home from the Canada Day drone show in Waterloo Park when she says she was shot in the face with a firework "intentionally."

"I am a little singed, but not significantly injured. I was shot at multiple times and hit once," Wright wrote on the social media website X.

"This firework insanity has to stop."

She says the incident happened when she was returning with her family from the Canada Day drone show at Waterloo Park. Wright had seen a man on the McGregor Senior Public School property in the process of lighting up some fireworks, surrounded by families pushing baby carriages and walking their dogs.

"So I yelled at him. I was like, what the heck are you doing? Get out of there! And he just turned on me and started firing the Roman candles right at me," she said.

"There were multiple fireworks, probably two to three of them. I got one in the ear."

The attack singed her hair but left her otherwise physically unharmed.

"To be perfectly honest, I got so lucky last night. I could have been hit in the eye. I could have been burned, significantly burned," Wright said.

The city of Waterloo sent CBC News an emailed statement saying it's relieved that Wright was not seriously injured.

"It's unfortunate that a few individuals would seek to disrupt what is intended to be a celebration of Canada and our city," the statement said. "The city does not condone any actions that jeopardize the safety of our residents."

Wright says her husband was able to snap a picture of the man, which they sent to police.

WRPS investigating multiple incidents

Waterloo regional police responded to Wright on X and said the service takes "all such assaults very seriously."

Police are also investigating after people set off fireworks in Kitchener's Victoria Park Monday night, despite a fireworks display at city hall and signs reminding people not to use fireworks in the park.

In a media release issued Tuesday morning, police said officers were called to Victoria Park at about 8:50 p.m. Monday for reports of a large group of youth setting off fireworks into crowds of people.

In one incident, police said a firework was set off underneath a baby stroller. The baby was not injured, but the incident led to a fight between two large groups of people, and police used Oleoresin Capsicum spray — or pepper spray — to disperse the crowd.

A 17-year-old male was charged with assaulting police, and charges were also laid for consuming liquor in public.

The city announced just after 10 p.m. that the park was closed for the evening.

"We understand that this closure may be inconvenient for some residents, but the safety of our community is our top priority," the city said.

Police are investigating other incidents at Victoria Park on Monday, as well, including a robbery during which a handgun was seen, and a "swatting call" for a false report of a mass shooting that would be taking place at the park.

Kitchener mayor reacts

In a statement posted on X Tuesday morning, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said he'll be meeting with staff and police about the incidents.

"Yesterday thousands of people of all ages in Downtown Kitchener and hundreds in Victoria Park celebrated Canada Day and all the things that make Canada great, without incident," Vrbanovic wrote. "I was one of them. Let's not lose sight of the awesomeness experienced by many throughout yesterday."

"Unfortunately, a small group of young people, later in the evening, chose to break the law and behave illegally, putting both people and property in danger. WRPS continue their investigation today about those incidents both here and in neighbouring communities."

Ian Misheal, Kitchener's manager of enforcement, says the city tried hard to prevent people from shooting fireworks at each other this Canada Day.

"It's very hard to predict this type of behaviour," he said.

"We worked with the Waterloo regional police, we implemented a communication strategy with the school boards. We had a park closure plan, a procedure plan that was developed. We adopted a zero-tolerance approach to addressing multiple behaviours."

He says there's a $400 bylaw fine for people caught lighting fireworks in the park and police can also issue criminal charges if needed.

Police said officers will be in the area on Tuesday as part of the investigations.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.