Canadian Venues Turn Red in Support of the Entertainment Industry

#LightUpLive raises awareness for "an industry that is still dark"

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Sep 23, 2020

Canadian venues and performance spaces lit up red yesterday in a show of support for the live event industry.

Last night (September 22), the #LightUpLive campaign saw spaces from coast-to-coast shine red to raise awareness for "an industry that is still dark." 

"The effect of shutting down a $100 billion industry in Canada will have unimaginable impacts on both companies and individuals," organizers write on their website. "Already, the vast majority of live event workers have been out of work or on government support since March, with no end in sight."

The red hues shine a light on "the many performers, creators, technical, logistical, and management support personnel who drive a $100 billion Canadian economic engine."

Below, you can find Toronto's Opera House, Quebec City's L'ANTI, Edmonton's Starlite Room and more bathed in red, ahead of perusing a complete countrywide map of participating spaces.

While drive-in venues and physically distanced outdoor shows have allowed some to get their live music fix during the pandemic, a full-fledged return to "normal" could still be years away.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

#lightuplive #imisslivetheatreTO This local initiative is related to another one that is national. On Tuesday, September 22 all public venues across the country — theatres, concert halls, attractions, convention centres, banquet halls, event spaces, anywhere and everywhere where people gather for special events — will paint Canada red. #LightUpLive is the name of this campaign. All participating venues will turn their marquee lights and other illuminated signs red, beginning one hour after sundown. The idea is to create a ribbon of red that will stretch across the country, hour by hour as the earth spins east and darkness falls, beginning in St. John's, NL and ending in Victoria, BC. In Toronto, the CN Tower, the Rogers Centre, Roy Thomson Hall, the Mirvish theatres and many other venues will be a festive red. It promises to be quite a sight. More information and resources can be found at https://lightuplive.ca/ and https://liveeventcommunity.org/. While we all miss live theatre, at Mirvish we especially miss you, our audience. We look forward to welcoming you back to our theatres when the time is right. Stay tuned for more updates soon. In the meanwhile, stay healthy and safe, recall your fondest theatre memories, and share them with us by sending us your short video. -Mirvish Productions

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Tuesday Sept. 22, was a Day of Visibility for the Canadian events and entertainment community (Red Alert!). The purpose was to draw attention to the live music and entertainment industry, as it was the first to shut down due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and will likely be reinstated last. The UK, Germany, and the USA have all successfully campaigned in the previous months. Sept 22, was Canada's day to shine red and build on the momentum generated internationally. Thanks to all the venues who participated throughout Victoria B.C. and special thanks to Doug from @dl_sound for asking me to document. #wemakeevents #redalert #lightuplive #EclaironsLesScenes #cancelledshows 📸📸📸📸📸📸📸📸📸 #yyj #yyjshows #yyjconcerts #yyjvenues #cancelledshows#cancelledplans #cancelledevents2020 #yyjcovidsafe #physicallydistanced #safeshows #safeconcerts ovidsafe #covidprotocols #victoriabc #vancouverisland #concertphotos #livemusicshots #concertphotogtaphy #livemusicphotographer #photos #photography #photographer #colinsmithtakespics

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