Halloween Tips and Firework Permits in Sooke 2021

Wednesday, October 20, 2021 – With Hallowe’en festivities around the corner, here is what you need to know in Sooke:

Firework Permits

The determination of the issuing of permits is made the week of Hallowe’en. Pending weather (wind in particular), firework permits will be sold for $20 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on October 27^th and 28^th, and 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on October 29^th at the Sooke Municipal Hall, located at 2205 Otter Point Road (debit or cash payments accepted at the municipal hall; cash only accepted at the fire hall).

Firework permits are issued as per the District of Sooke Fire Regulation Bylaw, bylaw no. 286.

In the event firework permits will not be issued due to weather for Hallowe’en 2021, this page will be updated.

Drive-in Movie hosted by Sooke Harmony Project on October 30th

With support from The District, Sooke Harmony Project presents Casper, a drive-in movie experience at SEAPARC on Saturday, October 30th. Tickets must be purchased in advance, details are available at www.harmonyprojectsooke.ca/.

Halloween and Pets

Fireworks, people in costumes, the sensory overload on our pets can be challenging with Hallow Festivities. See 4 tips to keep your pet safe on Halloween from the BC SPCA for helpful considerations for your pets during the festivities.

Follow advice from public health

No matter how you are celebrating, always assess your personal level of risk, and take the following actions to help protect yourself and others:

Stay at home and away from others if you or someone in your household:

has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is waiting to hear the results of a lab test for COVID-19
has been in close contact with someone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19
feel sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19
returned from travel outside Canada within the past 14 days
are in quarantine or isolation

Reminders from your local RMCP detachment

Dress to be seen if trick-or-treating – wear lighter coloured clothing, add reflective clothing or tape to costumes
Sunset will occur around 5:45 p.m. Make use of flashlights or glow sticks is highly recommended
Motorists are reminded to use extra caution with additional pedestrian traffic

Trick-or-treating – advice from public health

keep the festivities outdoors
when appropriate, public health suggests wear a non-medical mask or face covering
be creative and build the mask into your costume – public health advises that a costume mask is not a substitute for a non-medical mask or face covering, and that a costume mask should not be worn over a non-medical mask or face covering because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe
trick-or-treat with your consistent in-person bubble
don’t gather on or crowd doorsteps
keep interactions brief with those giving out treats
avoid using your hands to ring doorbells or knock on doors, and avoid high-touch surfaces and objects
don’t sing or shout for your treats
only trick-or-treat at places that are clearly celebrating (signs of participation include a lit porch light, a lit jack-o-lantern or decorations)
clean your hands often, especially before and after handling your non-medical mask or face covering, after touching frequently touched surfaces, when you arrive home from trick-or-treating, and before and after handling or eating treats
help younger children understand how to wash their hands properly with a video on handwashing heroes
there is no need to clean or disinfect pre-packaged treats; however, it is important clean your hands before and after handling packaging, and before eating treats
if you or someone in your household is feeling unwell, stay home and away from others

Giving out treats – advice from public health

If you or someone in your household are feeling unwell, your household shouldn’t participate in Halloween festivities.
Indicate you aren’t participating by:
- turning off porch lights
- not lighting a jack-o-lantern
- not putting out decorations
- not answering the door
- putting a friendly sign on your porch or door that indicates you are not participating this year.
To help maintain and encourage physical distancing, you may want to:
- sit outside your door or in your laneway to welcome trick-or-treaters
- if you’re unable to sit outside to hand out treats you should clean and disinfect doorbells and knobs, handrails, and any other high touch surface often during the evening
- keep interactions with trick-or-treaters short and encourage them to move along after receiving their treat from you.
Wear a non-medical mask or face covering when physical distancing of 2 m cannot be consistently maintained
if you’re dressing up, consider including it as part of your costume.
Don’t leave treats in a bucket or bowl for children to grab.
Consider using tongs, a hockey stick, or other similar tools to hand out treats.
Give out only purchased and pre-packaged treats.
Don’t ask trick-or-treaters to sing or shout for their treats.
Clean your hands often throughout the evening using soap and water and washing for 20 seconds or with hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. The use of gloves isn’t recommended.

Annual reminders

And don’t forget about general Halloween safety tips!

Fireworks Safety

Please follow safety precautions to avoid burns, blast injuries and fire hazards.

Fireworks are not permitted in the District of Sooke without a permit.
Only those 18 years or older, with a permit, may possess or discharge fireworks.
Choose a safe outdoor area for discharging fireworks: a bare area of ground away from buildings, overhead obstructions, trees, vehicles, dry grass and other flammables.
Spectators should watch from a safe distance, at least 20 metres upwind.
Have a garden hose or a large bucket of water or sand ready at the site.
Never point or throw fireworks at anyone or anything.
Never hold fireworks in your hand while lighting them.
Never attempt to re-light or move fireworks that fail to go off.
Firecrackers and bottle rockets are prohibited throughout Canada by federal regulation.

Contact:
District of Sooke Reception
Tel: 250.642.1634