Vancouver rings in 2016 with fireworks, free concert

Vancouverites flocked to Canada Place for the city's first public New Year's Eve celebration in more than a decade last night.

Spirits were high, as revellers packed into the area around the Convention Centres, Thursday night.

• New Year's Eve parties across B.C.
• Free Vancouver New Year's Eve event will feature a heavy police presence
• New Year's Eve fireworks to light up Vancouver for first time in decade

Bands played for the crowd to pass the time before the midnight countdown, and people discussed their plans and resolutions for 2016.

Dave Rowan came downtown fromChilliwack. He had a couple ideas for the New Year.

"Lose a littleweight, go a little faster at racing," said Rowan, who mud races for fun."I drive a truck called Frankenstein."

"2015 was good. Business was good. Everything was good, can't complain," he added."It can only get better."

TejDhaliwal said 2015 was "a blast," but he had even higher hopes for 2016, and a simple resolution.

"My New Year's resolution is just to be a better person."

RajdeepAtwalhad the same resolution as Dhaliwal:"My New Year'sresolutionis to be a better person, and kind of pass on best wishes to everyone."

'Well behaved' crowd

Vancouver police chief Adam Palmer was enjoying the fireworks from the VIP section at Canada Place. He said the event went smoothly for officials, and demonstratedthat Vancouver could be a "fun city."

"It's been really good. The crowds we were expecting were around 15,000, but we've had much more than thattens of thousands. Sobigger crowd, but really good crowd," said Palmer, who added that the fireworks displays in the summer can draw hundreds of thousands of people to the downtown area.

Vancouver police increased its presence for the festivities, but Palmer said, fortunately, officers were able to stick to a largely 'meet-and-greet' role, as they mingledwith the crowdin small teams.

"Yeah we've had some liquor pour-outs, to be expected. When you've got a large crowd, you get some people that bring down alcohol. But generally speaking, it's been a pretty well behaved group, and everybody's having a good time enjoying the New Year's Eve celebrations," said Palmer.