Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund
News Release
November 3, 2022
The 25th annual Bright Nights in Stanley Park switches gears as trains are grounded for the holiday season
The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund announce the 25th Anniversary of Bright Nights will be celebrated with twinkling light displays and live entertainment. While this year’s event looks different with the absence of the vintage trains, it is still certain to be full of family fun and holiday cheer—and all for a good cause!
Admission to Bright Nights, which runs from December 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023, will be by donation. In addition to a wide array of light displays, Bright Nights will include fan favourites like the vintage fire truck, giant red reindeer and the tunnel of lights in the plaza. There will be firefighters welcoming guests, plenty of candy canes, and the barn will be transformed into Santa’s workshop for the first time since 2019. Food vendors on site will offer a wonderful selection of comfort food like churros, pretzels, popcorn and hot chocolate. “
This is a cherished tradition for many folks in Vancouver, and although it’s disappointing the trains can’t be a part of this year’s event due to technical challenges, we’re committed to helping create the best possible holiday experience with our partners,” says Steve Jackson, Director of Business Services for the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. “Countless firefighters have put in a lot of effort and thought into this year’s set up, and we can’t wait to see how it looks! We know this year’s Bright Nights will still bring joy to families and we encourage folks to come and donate for an important cause.”
Bright Nights is the single largest fundraising event for the Burn Fund. Proceeds fund burn survivor programs year-round, including Burn Camp and the Home Away Program, which provides accommodations to survivors, fire fighters and their families who must travel to Vancouver for medical treatment. The Park Board has donated more than $2.5 million to the Burn Fund since the event partnership began in 1998.
In addition to admission by donation, the Bright Nights 50/50 returns as a fundraiser and extension of the event. Tickets go on sale November 17, 2022. “It is disappointing the train is not operating, but it is important for us to host a free holiday event for everyone to enjoy,” says Jeff Sauvé, Executive Director of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. “Each year, hundreds of firefighters from across the province come together to create a time-honoured light display in Stanley Park. We are hoping the community will continue to come out to Bright Nights and celebrate the season.”
The Stanley Park Train is still being assessed following the recent inspection by Technical Safety BC earlier this fall. As mentioned in the Ghost Train news release, safety is the number one priority for the Park Board and a complete analysis of the mechanical issues is needed to determine next steps.
For more information, please visit vancouver.ca/brightnights.
For more information on the Burn Fund, please visit burnfund.org.
Note to editors: Media are invited to capture footage of Abbotsford fire fighters volunteering to set up at the plaza today from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Photos, videos, and social media can be found in this folder.
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Media Contact:
Park Board Communications
pb.communications@vancouver.ca
Burn Fund Communications
communications@burnfund.org