Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Published Friday, December 21, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - This New Year's Eve, the City of Yellowknife will be firing $15,000 worth of fireworks into the air, up from last year's cost of $5,000.

Last year's New Year's Eve fireworks display was planned at the last minute and was not as grand as it could have been, said Brian Kelln, program manager with Community Services.

"This year we put more thought into it, so it's going to be a better show than last year," said Kelln.

The fireworks are planned for Dec. 31 at 9:30 p.m.

The location has not been decided yet, though Kelln said the city is considering the same spot as last year, with the fireworks being shot from the Caribou Carnival site near city hall on Frame Lake.

Don Helfkirk, who has been commissioned to do the fireworks, said he would prefer the Caribou Carnival site due to set-up considerations.

"You need to clear all the snow, you have to haul in a gravel truck full of sand, you have to haul in a three-quarter inch plywood box to hold all your mortars, which is about 50 sheets of plywood," said Helfkirk.

It's a day-long process for setting up.

"We've got a ton of explosives," said Helfkirk.

He said he's working to ensure that the fireworks are impressive.

"It's going to be big, it's going to be high, you're basically going to think we're shooting illegal shells," he said. "We're putting in longer mortars which extend the height, and we're putting in double the breakers."

Helfkirk, who is a certified fireworks display supervisor level two, has a day job working with hazardous waste.

He described his work with fireworks as "therapy."

"To be on site when I'm pulling the triggers or pushing the buttons there's nothing more powerful or more exciting because you're that close to death, but I make sure everyone's safe."