Light It up Blue With Autism Speaks Canada to Increase Global Understanding & Acceptance of People With Autism
THIS WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY, APRIL 2ND, LIGHT IT UP BLUE WITH AUTISM SPEAKS CANADA TO INCREASE GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING & ACCEPTANCE OF PEOPLE WITH AUTISM
APRIL IS WORLD AUTISM MONTH AND APRIL 2 IS WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY.
Global landmarks including Canada’s CN Tower, Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square and Niagara Falls to light up blue on World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, 2019
Photo Assets Available for Download. Images courtesy of Tourism Toronto and Niagara Parks
WHAT: Autism Speaks Canada invites friends and neighbours around the globe to illuminate their buildings blue and help increase awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). To kick off this campaign, Canada’s tallest tower, CN Tower and Toronto Sign at Nathan Phillips Square will light up blue on Tuesday, April 2 at sundown 7:45pm. The Niagara Falls Illumination Board will also be supporting this campaign and will illuminate both the American and Canadian Horseshoe Falls in blue for 15 minutes, at 10pm.
Join us in celebrating April 2nd and the whole month of April. There are so many ways to show your support:
- Light It Up Blue: Join the movement, increase global understanding and acceptance of people with autism by lighting up your homes and offices blue
- Share Blue: Submit, share and explore stories across the spectrum through an online image mosaic and on social media using #LightItUpBlue @AutismSpeaksCanada and @AutismSpeaksCan
- Wear Blue: Gear up to show your blue pride throughout April
- Give Blue: Donate to support the cause
- Raise Blue: Start a Facebook Fundraiser and invite your friends to join the cause
WHO: Interviews are available upon request
WHEN: Tuesday, April 2, 2019
CN Tower: Lights to switch on at sunset 7:45pm till 11pm. Best to view the CN Tower Light It Up Blue half an hour after that to see it in full glory. Reminder: as it does every night, a standard light show will run for 8 minutes at the top of CN tower every hour.
Niagara Falls: Falls Illumination in Blue to begin at 10pm for 15 mins.
Toronto Sign at Nathan Phillips Square: Lights to switch on at 6pm till 6am the next day.
WHERE: CN Tower: 301 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2T6
Toronto Sign: Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
Niagara Falls: Both the American and Canadian Horseshoe Falls, can be viewed from Queen Victoria Park, Niagara Falls, ON
WHY: Autism Spectrum Disorder affects 70 million people globally. Approximately 1 in 66 children and youth are diagnosed with ASD in Canada[i]. World Autism Month is an important time to have a dedicated conversation about Autism. In 2008, The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day – many countries around the world light up their landmarks and monuments blue to increase understanding and acceptance of people with Autism. In 2012, the Canadian Parliament passed the World Autism Awareness Day Act recognizing April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day[ii]. Autism Speaks Canada is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for people with autism.
Learn more and join the conversation:
- Website: AutismSpeaks.ca/WAM
- Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn @AutismSpeaksCanada
- Twitter @AutismSpeaksCan
Media Contact:
Sarah Ahmed
Director, Marketing & Communications
Autism Speaks Canada
2450 Victoria Park Ave, Suite 400, Toronto, OM M2J4A2
(647) 241-7746 (mobile)
(416) 362-6227 ext. 208
sarahahmed@autismspeakscan.ca
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i Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children and Youth in Canada 2018, Public Health Agency of Canada, March 2018
ii https://sencanada.ca/en/sencaplus/media-request-contact-us/news/senate-launches-autism-awareness-campaign/