The Big Bang

The L’International des Feux Loto-Québec started last night–an international fireworks competition that shoots off every Saturday night for the next several weeks. We can see some of the fireworks from our balcony, but to experience the whole show including the ground effects and synchronized soundtrack, you have to buy tickets for the fairground seating.

Here are some interesting tidbits:

• The jury for this competition is made up entirely of community volunteers, no expertise in pyrotechnics, fireworks design, or sound engineering required. In other words, it’s a popularity contest.

• Next week’s show is themed around Prince. I’m guessing there’ll be lots of purple rain and maybe a little red crossette.

• Loto-Québec is QC’s government corporation set up to run the provincial lottery.

• Here’s a graphic with some basic fireworks types.

• Here’s a glossary of fireworks types. Cakes! Bombettes! Brocades! Tourbillons! Willows!

Next Friday is Canada Day in the ROC, but here in Montréal it’s Moving Day, where everyone–you guessed it–moves house. It’s chaos.

Coincidentally, it also keeps most people from paying much attention to Canada Day, which is handy for a province that considers itself its own nation and not a very willing member of the Canadian Confederation.