The mayor of Vancouver says he is on pins and needles hoping tragedy on the water is avoided at this year's fireworks shows.
Gregor Robertson says this will be the first Celebration of Light since the Kits Coast Guard base was closed by Ottawa.
"Well it is unfortunate that we won't have the Kits Coast Guard operating there for Celebrations of Light. We obviously have the back up in place with the Vancouver Police boats. We will be looking out for peoples' safety on the water but people are going to have to be careful and vigilant and looking out for each other as well. There will be a lot of boats on the water and we have got to put safety first."
However, Robertson admits life post-Kits Base has been relatively smooth with just a few incidents of concern.
That said, he adds the city's first responders are going into this year's fireworks shows with their eyes wide open.
The Coast Guard is offering assurances that safety will not be affected at this year's shows despite not having the base.
Acting Superintendent of Search and Rescue, Glenn Orimston, says there will be plenty of resources on and off the water.
"Park Board upped its manpower and we have lifeguards at all the beaches."
Orimston says if an emergency happens elsewhere they are ready for that too.
"Our regular coastal capacity is still effective. We have back up measures if the hovercraft is tasked away as on scene command. We have a redelegation of on scene command and we have a protocol that is set and is in place. It is very effective."
He says it is the best emergency response plan he has seen in years.
Despite a rosy picture from the Coast Guard at least one person is not buying it.
GM of the Jericho Sailing Club, Mike Cotter says he is part of the plan, but one day before the first show, the Coast Guard had yet to hand it over.
"We have not got it from the Coast Guard we made requests from the Coast Guard and it is still, the day before, and not seen it. We did manage to get it from another rescue partner. It seems similar to the plan we have been using for the past ten years with one exception of course that Kits Coast Guard base is not part of the plan."
Cotter says also concerning, is that the Coast Guard hovercraft can't manoeuvre in a crowd.