A lot of Winnipeggers will recognize the Archangel Fireworks shop at Confusion Corner. Nestled between Jessie Ave. and Pembina Hwy., it’s a place where they can stock up on Smoke FX, Candles, Fountains, Cakes, Barrages and other items that boom, whoosh and whistle while colouring the sky.
What they might not know is that Archangel is also an award-winning fireworks, pyrotechnic, pyromusical and drone show group that has thrilled audiences across Canada and at numerous international locations.
“The last time I was overseas, I was in Thailand for the Pattaya Festival and we needed really epic music for people to latch onto,” says Kelly Guille, Archangel’s owner, president and lead designer. “In Vancouver, on the other hand, we’re doing our 27th production of what used to be the Symphony of Fire but is now the Celebration of Light. We tend to design for the crowds that we’re playing for.”
Most recently, Guille returned from Calgary’s Global Fest where he and his team produced five fireworks shows over 11 nights and designed the event’s finale.
When back in Winnipeg, he fills orders booked months in advance from suppliers in Europe, China and Mexico. He also coordinates a country-wide team of around 140 people that helps out at shows from Quebec to BC.
He’s come a long way since the early 1990s, when as a high school student he was packing candy and distributing consumer fireworks to local stores. But he’s also the first to admit that it hasn’t always been an easy road.
“During COVID, all events were shut down and we were losing huge amounts of money every month,” he recalls. “I just said to God, ‘Hey – this is where you help me figure out if I’m supposed to keep doing this. It’s really amazing spending time with my family and gardening during the summer, but what do you want me to do?’”
The answer came in the form of record numbers post-lockdown. Archangel Fireworks is now doing the pyrotechnics for both the Toronto Argonauts and Toronto FC, and the company is supporting more fireworks shows throughout the country than ever before.
Now, secure in his business, Guille has other questions to bring to God.
“I’m trying to figure out what I’m supposed to do with this success,” he explains. “Does God want me to continue trying to make money and doing good in that way? Or am I supposed to take the skills He’s developed in me and turn it into something else? I’m open to answers.”
One thing he knows is that his combination of skills and success should be directed to a higher purpose.
“I could possibly use these things for the Lord to draw people near to Him,” he reflects. “I sometimes think of a fireworks festival as a revival – maybe five nights that pull people in. I’m not sure how that looks just yet, but my mind is always on it.”
Archangel Fireworks can be found at 104 Pembina Hwy. in Winnipeg. The storefront phone number is (204) 943-3332, and a gallery of the company’s shows and a sample of its inventory can be found on its website.