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'A little bit of extra light into the darkness'

This is the last weekend of the big HOPE message illuminating St. Albert Place in the evenings.

For the last month, a simple message has been emblazoned on the side of St. Albert Place during the evenings: HOPE.

The light projection is thanks to the staff at the Arden Theatre, the city’s cultural stage that has largely been vacant and quiet during this last pandemic year. Alberta's cold, dark winter only added an extra reason to throw a little positivity around.

"In Alberta, here in the depths of the darkness of winter when you're feeling that things are really dark for a long time ... we just thought it might be a nice idea to just literally put a little bit of extra light into the darkness for people," explained Andrea Gammon, cultural programming manager for the City of St. Albert.

The staff conceived the idea a few months ago. Last fall, they did a successful test run of sorts when they lit up St. Albert Place in red as part of an event organized by Live Event Community. The Day of Visibility for the Live Event Community saw many theatres and buildings lit up with red lights to draw attention to the plight of live arts venues and performing artists, who have lost so much in terms of being able to practice their art and make a living due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

With no stages to act or play upon, they're the ones who could use a little more hope and support.

"We thought, 'Well why – through the darkest months of the year – don't we try that again and put a bit of light on the building,' especially when we're all working from home, just to let people know that the lights are on ... literally." 

'HOPE' has been lit up every night from dusk till midnight since March 5. It will continue its happy message through this long weekend, with its last day being Monday. If you watch it long enough, Gammon noted, the colours fade in and out, rotating through a series of colours though the message stays the same.


Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

About the Author: Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ecology and Environment Reporter at the Fitzhugh Newspaper since July 2022 under Local Journalism Initiative funding provided by News Media Canada.
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