November 2 was not a good day for pumpkins across the West Shore, as residents, impatient to move on from Halloween, gathered in their hundreds to dispose of unwanted jack-o'-lanterns.
Smash, drop, crush, blast or mince? Locals had a plethora of choices for how they could dispatch of their unwelcome gourds.
In Langford, crowds gathered at Westshore Town Centre to watch a giant net packed full of pumpkins, plummet to earth from a 100-foot fire engine ladder.
The event, organized by Westshore Town Centre and Langford Fire Rescue for the fifth time, raised money for the BC Professional Firefighters Burn Fund, which provides support and enhances care for burn survivors of all ages.
Over in View Royal, locals joined firefighters to drop their unwanted gourds from the fire station's 15-metre training tower, with all money raised donated to the BC Professional Fire FightersB次元官网网址� Association and Movember.
Locals were given a variety of interactive disposal methods to chose from at Colwood's inaugural pumpkin smash event, held at City Hall.
Top choice among families was rolling pumpkins down a hill, aiming for a menacing-looking snowblower, which would made quick work of the unwanted squash, spraying chunks and seeds into the air, much to the delight of onlookers.
Children also took turns to blast pumpkins with the fire hose, while some chose to leave their offerings in front of an excavator, which smashed the discarded gourds to smithereens.
The new event was organized to encourage residents to dispose of their pumpkins in a manner which does not attract hungry bears and other wildlife on the hunt for a quick and easy snack.
"It's also a fun way to bring the community together," said Coun. Misty Olsen, moments before rolling her pumpkin down the hill towards the snowblower, with the help of her 10-year-old daughter, Sophia.
