Waterluminate

Uptown Waterloo Light Program

 

Introduction

In the fall of 2018, the City of Waterloo implemented LED lighting around street trees located along King Street, between the Public Square and Bridgeport Road. These lights can be programmed and timed to illuminate Uptown’s central corridor in a broad spectrum of colours to celebrate holidays, festivals and help raise awareness for charities and special causes.

Special illumination for annual holidays, internationally recognized dates and other significant occasions will be governed by the City of Waterloo and the Uptown Business Improvement Association (BIA). Lighting requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis based on the criteria below.

Eligibility

As noted above, in addition to illuminations for annual holidays, internationally recognized signature dates, and other significant occasions in the Uptown Illumination Calendar (see below), special illumination requests from non-denominational, non-political registered charities or not for profit organizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Requests for special illuminations should be significant and relevant to the City of Waterloo and/or a cause recognized widely nationally or internationally. All requests will be evaluated based on the above-noted criteria as well as:

  • The nature of the cause;
  • History and background of the organization, cause or event; and
  • How the lighting will be used to benefit the cause or event.

Special colour illumination requests will not be considered for:

  • Advertising requests
  • Personal occasions (e.g. birthdays, proposals, etc.)
  • Religious or political events

Application Process

To apply for special illumination, please email uptownwaterloobia@waterloo.ca. Applications for special illuminations must be received at least 30 days prior to the scheduled event.

Special illumination requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and are issued at the sole discretion of the City of Waterloo and Uptown Waterloo BIA. These requests are not subject to appeals or negotiation. In the event that a request is denied, this should not be interpreted that the City of Waterloo and Uptown Waterloo BIA do not find merit in the request or the importance of the special event/occasion.

All applicants will receive an emailed response stating whether or not the request has been approved within fifteen (15) days of receipt of the request. Details relating to the timing of the special illumination will be confirmed with the applicant at that time.

 

Holidays and Special Dates

Event

Date

Lighting Program

Valentine’s Day

February 14

Pink/Red and white

St. Patrick’s Day

Nearest Monday to March 17

Green and white

World Water Day

March 22

Blue

Earth Day

April 22

Green and blue

National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 21

Red, gold, blue and green

Pride Day

June 24

Rainbow multi-coloured bands

Canada Day

July 1

Red and white

University/College Homecoming Week

September (Dates to be confirmed each year.

Alternating University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier and Conestoga College colours

Oktoberfest

Early October

Alternating fall colours

Halloween

October 31

Various themed colours

Remembrance Day

November 11

White black/purple and red

Holiday Season

December 1st to 30th

Various festive colours

New Year’s Eve / New Year’s Day

December 31 / January 1

Light show at midnight

Health Awareness and Other Causes

Name

Date

Lighting Program

World Lymphedema Day

March 6

Teal blue

World Down Syndrome Day

March 21

Blue and yellow

Day of Epilepsy Awareness (Purple Day)

March 26

Purple

Porphyria Awareness Day

April 19

Purple

National Physicians’ Day

May 1

Blue

Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

May 12

Purple

Huntington Disease Awareness Month (Light it Up Day)

May 14

Purple and blue

World Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Day

May 19

Purple

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month

May 28

Teal and blue

Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month (MS Day)

May 30

Red

St. Mary’s Hospital Day (Red Day)

June 10

Red

World Blood Donor Day

June 14

Red and teal

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

June 15

Purple, turquoise and white

International Overdose Awareness Day

August 31

Purple

National Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Awareness Day

September 4

Teal

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (Light it up in Blue)

September 16

Blue