Les Grands Feux to light up the night sky with a patriot tribute to Canada

CTV News

2 days ago

Large firework display over the Ottawa River for the International Sound of Light fireworks competition (Les Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy). (Karen Hogan/iStock/Getty Images)
Another fireworks showcase is set to light up the sky tonight over the Ottawa River at Les Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy but this time, it's Canada's time to shine.
The annual summertime festival is back for it's 28th year.
'It's the culmination of years worth of preparation,' said Les Grands Feux CEO Julie Moffatt.
'We work year-round to create those magic moments, so my team getting together, having ideas and seeing them take place and become real is really what drives us.'
This year, the international friendly competitions feature light shows from Japan, Australia, Mexico, and for the first time since 2022, Canada.
'It was important for us specifically this year with everything that's going on in terms of the social and economic situation,' says Moffatt. 'It was a decision that Royal, our pyrotechnic firm, and ourselves took very seriously.'
Canada's team is excited to showcase their talents to the nation's capital.
'Canada is home to some of the best designers in the world…We have a tendency of matching our fireworks very well to the music. We have generally very lively and entertaining soundtracks and great products,' said Fireworks Spectacular president and Canadian team member Brad Dezotell.
Les Grands Feux
A barge where fireworks will be launched from at Les Grands Feux festival. (Kimberley Fowler/CTV News Ottawa)
Canada's showcase will also come alive with an original soundtrack composed entirely by two local artists, Julien Provost and Mathieu Donais from Gatineau, Que.
It's the first time the team has collaborated with Canadian musicians for this competition.
'When Brad from Fireworks Spectacular called us, we were super excited,' says Provost.
'We base our show really like a movie so there's an intro, there's a trigger moments and ups and downs. It's really like a roller coaster of emotions.'
Donais says organizers gave them four days to put the show together.
'As music producers, we love the challenge,' Donais said
'We do our best to queue around synchronized kind of moments, and then we let them pick the moments where it blows up.'
Each team sets up about 5,000 fireworks for their show on a barge in the middle of the Ottawa River that's wired to a computer board.
'At the festival, they actually will have some things already pre-installed, not the fireworks themselves, but the mortars and the equipment in certain positions, which helps us out a lot so we're not starting from scratch,' says Dezotell.
'In the first day, they drop all of the shells at this festival and then we begin working on the lower-level fireworks that you see across the front of the barge… Once we get to day three, each and every firework are tested beforehand to be sure that it's talking to the board. After that, the computer does all the work for us.'
The dazzling displays thrill audiences in Gatineau and Ottawa with Parliament Hill in the backdrop.
'We're happy that our show can be seen from other places around the city,' says Moffatt.
'That's the beauty of such a magnificent show, but really the site (at the Canadian Museum History) is the best place, because you get to hear the music and the combination that goes with the fireworks.'
While the fireworks are the pinnacle of the experience, the festival also has special entertainment at the museum grounds, including tasty culinary experiences, live music, light installations and family-friendly activities.
Les Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy wraps up with The Grand Finale on Saturday.