SPECIAL LIGHTING REQUESTS

The CN Tower presents a unique opportunity for special themed lighting of Canada’s National Tower through its programmable LED architectural lighting.  Since it was launched in 2007, the CN Tower programmable architectural lighting has helped to raise awareness for hundreds of charities and special causes.

Lighting begins at sunset and concludes at sunrise the next morning except during spring and fall bird migration periods during which time lighting concludes at 11pm.

ELIGIBILITY

The CN Tower will consider lighting requests for:

• nondenominational, nonpolitical registered national charitable events or causes

Please note that lighting cannot be considered for:

• commercial requests (e.g. product launches, corporate events)
• individual recognition or personal occasions (e.g. birthdays, anniversaries)
• religious or political events or observances
• institutions or professions (e.g. hospitals, schools)

Lighting requests made via petitions and/or social media campaigns are not considered.

HOW TO APPLY

To submit your lighting request please complete this online form.

To be considered, all requests must be:

• full completion of the CN Tower lighting request form
• received by the CN Tower at least 30 days in advance of lighting date requested

Special themed lighting is at the sole discretion of CN Tower management and not subject to appeals or negotiation.  All requests will be evaluated based on meeting the above mentioned guidelines as well as:

• the nature of the cause
• history and background of the organization, cause or event
• how the lighting will be used to benefit the cause/event
• how the CN Tower’s iconic image will be related to the event

Applicants will receive a written response stating whether or not it has been approved.  
Due to the high volume of applications, all requests cannot be accommodated.

The CN Tower wishes to stress that if an application is declined, this is not a reflection of the merits or importance of any requests.

IF YOUR APPLICATION IS APPROVED

If you plan to acknowledge the lighting in communications materials, please provide samples for review and approval no later than 14 days prior to the lighting.  Failure to do so may result in our inability to grant the request.  We suggest creating a standard line / statement about the lighting that can be included in materials. e.g. On (insert date) CN Tower lights (insert colour) for XXX Awareness Day.

If your request is confirmed, all efforts will be made to grant the lighting on the date requested, however CN Tower management reserves the right to make adjustments to the schedule as necessary and this may result in modifying the timing of your lighting or rescheduling the date.

Tips

• Groups who wish to photograph or gather to watch the lighting please note that the Tower will be lit at sunset however this will only become visible as the sky darkens which occurs approximately 30 minutes after sunset.  
• When publicizing the lighting to the media please include a reminder that, as it does every night, a standard light show will run for 8 minutes at the top of every hour.

Event Space at the CN Tower

From time to time we receive requests from groups who wish to gather on the evening of the lighting for a social gathering or to create a public event or display.  

Please note that there are fees associated with the event spaces inside and outside the CN Tower.  For more information about the fees associated with event and sampling/display opportunities at the CN Tower send your request to activate@cntower.ca.

We suggest that the best vantage points are located a short distance away from the CN Tower in nearby parks such as Roundhouse Park or HTO Park where City of Toronto permits may be required.  For more information please visit the City of Toronto website.

For more information about the fees associated with group or corporate dining and meetings at the CN Tower please visit Book an Event.

Millions of colours and infinite effects

Microprocessor controlled, each fixture can produce 16.7 million colours. Intelligent digital control makes the system programmable from a single computer console. Each fixture has a unique “address” that can be programmed individually to create an infinite variety of lighting effects

Directional lighting

Unlike conventional light sources, one of the unique benefits of LEDs is that they are directional; light output can be controlled and precisely directed. Therefore the resulting lighting will illuminate the Tower while ensuring light output does not “spill” or interfere with nearby hotels, office towers or residences.

Low maintenance

The LED technology installed at the CN Tower is designed to achieve excellent performance standards and with its intended use is expected to last in excess of 10 years, requiring minimal fixture replacement and maintenance. Unlike conventional lighting systems, the new system will not require frequent replacement and disposal of light bulbs. LEDs radiate little to no heat, they do not emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation or (IR) infrared which makes them ideal for illuminating areas at the Tower without degration such as the radome and other sensitive areas.

Each night beginning at sunset the CN Tower will feature a standard lighting program in red and white, to honour Canada, with a short light show at the top of each hour.

An annual lighting schedule will honour national holidays, seasons, certain major City and national events, in one of 2 ways:

Effect at the top of each hour to commemorate the occasion being honoured; or dedicated colour theme for the entire building.