Port Elgin and Saugeen Township Beachers’ Organization President, David Shemilt used the open forum to show off a sky lantern that fell onto his property during the Labour Day celebration at Port Elgin Main Beach, September 4.

Hub Staff

Sky Lanterns and their potential hazards were a topic of conversation during the Committee of Whole meeting, and Open Forum, September, 26, in Saugeen Shores Council Chambers.

With the topic on the agenda later in the evening, Port Elgin and Saugeen Township Beachers’ Organization President David Shemilt used the open forum to show off a lantern that had fallen onto his property during the Labour Day celebration at Port Elgin Main Beach, September 4. Members of the public have been known to set off sky lanterns into the air before the annual celebration and the lanterns are neither sold nor condoned by the Labour Day event coordinators, Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce.

The lanterns has been a hot topic for the Beachers’ Organization ever since one landed in a board member’s yard and subsequently set fire to a tree.

While holding up the sky lantern, Shemilt said, “they're supposed to be biodegradable. They're supposed to be made with rice paper and bamboo. This one was clearly made with metal and rice paper, so not going to biodegrade any time soon.”

He continued. “As a representative of the Beachers' Association we have not put it to a motion yet but if you’re going to take this on I would be willing to go back to my board to ask for a motion,” Shemist said, later adding that he would also be willing to speak with members of the Southampton Residents’ Association for their support of the motion.

During the Committee of a Whole, a letter was presented to council from concerned Saugeen Shores citizen Elaine Brown, regarding the potential hazards of the sky lanterns - to properties, people, and animals.

She cited that many municipalities around Ontario have already banned the lanterns, as well as communities around the world. “I would request that Saugeen Shores impose a similar ban on these environmentally hazardous, dangerous lanterns,” stated Brown in her letter.

Mayor Mike Smith referred the issue to Saugeen Shores Fire Chief, Phil Eagleson to bring a report back so Council could make a recommendation at a later date.