About the ISF: Discover the Fire!

Since its inception in Montreal in 1992 when attendees from more than 20 nations met, there have been 11 very successful fireworks Symposia:

• Montreal, Canada, 1992,
• Vancouver, Canada, 1994,
• Walt Disney World, Orlando, 1996,
• Halifax, Canada, 1998,
• Naples, Italy, 2000,
• Walt Disney World, Orlando, 2001,
• Valencia, Spain, 2003,
• Shiga, Japan, 2005,
• Berlin, Germany, 2006,
• the 10th anniversary back in Montreal, 2007
• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 2009
• and the most recent in Porto/Gaia, Portugal, 2010.

The Symposia were brought to life by CERL, the Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory.  After five Symposia CERL turned the administration over to a non-profit International Symposium on Fireworks Society, which continued on with the organization of the 6th Symposium at Walt Disney World .

This series of Symposia has become the world’s premiere international gathering of the pyrotechnic industry. Each Symposium focuses on bringing together individuals of diverse pyrotechnic background, to provide a fertile atmosphere in which to see the newest technology, to trade experience and ideas on ways to enhance the industry and to move the science forward. The emphasis of the Symposia is on the presentation of papers and the discussion of topics dealing with the safety, scientific, engineering, artistic, and regulatory aspects of fireworks and other pyrotechnics associated with entertainment and celebration on a global basis.