Fire Aid for Fort McMurray Concert Set to Rock Commonwealth Stadium

EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - June 29, 2016) -

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release

Commonwealth Stadium is set to rock today as world-class Canadian talent, including many hailing from Alberta, will entertain a crowd of over 30,000 community members and music fans at Fire Aid for Fort McMurray, a major benefit concert planned in support of the people in the City of Fort McMurray and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) directly impacted by the Alberta Fires. All proceeds raised from this event will benefit the Fort McMurray United Way to support the city's efforts to rebuild for all residents, individuals, families and businesses.

Canadians have expressed immense compassion and generosity during this time and many award-winning Canadian musicians have been keen to contribute to these efforts with heavy hitting Canadian talent taking the stage to support the cause including, Nickelback, Blue Rodeo, City and Colour (solo), Corb Lund, Dean Brody, The Rankin Family, Dallas Smith, Randy Bachman with The Sadies, Ian Tyson, Alan Doyle and the Beautiful Gypsies, Dear Rouge, Brett Kissel, High Valley, Harlequin, Barney Bentall and Dustin Bentall. Tickets for Fire Aid for Fort McMurray, a major benefit concert in the name of community, went on sale in May following the wildfires and the response has been amazing, with a strong walk-up crowd expected right up to showtime. Tickets are $35.00, $60.00 and $99.00 and will be available at ticketmaster.ca or fireaid.ca.

All funds raised during tonight's benefit concert will go directly to the community as the Fort McMurray United Way has been selected as the beneficiary from Fire Aid. United Way's mission is "to improve lives and build community by engaging individuals and mobilizing collective action," making this cause the perfect fit for Fire Aid for Fort McMurray's beneficiary. The United Way will work with the various agencies on the ground in the region and help the thousands of residents with the support they need now and for however long it will take to rebuild.

Beyond ticket sales for this once-in-a-lifetime effort, the business and community support for Fort McMurray has been extraordinary. Fire Aid for Fort McMurray would simply not have been possible without the essential services donated including, the venue, ticketing, artists, band services, stages, flights, production teams and media -- all of which were provided at no cost or significantly reduced cost. There was a solid response both in cash donors and in-kind support from hundreds of exceptional corporate partners, from across the country, jumping on board to support the rebuild.

In the spirit of community, a dedicated group of volunteers from across the province, have come together to create Alberta's Fire Aid Committee in only eight weeks, working to help rebuild and sustain the future of Fort McMurray and surrounding regions.

Co-Chairing Fire Aid for Fort McMurray are Edmonton-based community leaders Bob Nicholson, Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) CEO and Vice Chair, Len Rhodes, Edmonton Eskimos Football Club President and CEO and Tim Reid, Northlands President and CEO, alongside special Honorary Chair, her Worship Mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Melissa Blake.

Beginning at 2:00PM MT outside of Commonwealth Stadium, the Stamp It Out Stage (SIOS), is home to many excellent local Alberta artists and bands to entertain spectators leading up to the big show. As well, the SIOS will host family-friend activations and community members from the Edmonton Eskimos Football Club and Edmonton FC.

Inside Commonwealth Stadium, guests can purchase exclusive Fire Aid for Fort McMurray T-shirts for $20, with all proceeds also supporting the Fort McMurray United Way. Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in a 50-50 charity draw, with net proceeds also going to the United Way.

SiriusXM Canada, the country's leading audio entertainment company will be the official live broadcaster of Fire Aid For Fort McMurray, those subscribers who add SiriusXM Internet Radio access to their subscription can also listen on the SiriusXM App on smartphones and other connected devices, as well as at siriusxm.ca. The concert is available on SiriusXM channel 173.

During the benefit concert, a sister event is taking place in Fort McMurray at Shell Place to celebrate the cause and community, and Fire Aid for Fort McMurray will be broadcast live via closed-circuit television for those living in Fort McMurray and unable to make it to the show.

For more information on Fire Aid for Fort McMurray, visit fireaid.ca and the official social media channels:

Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @FireAidBenefit

Hashtag: #FireAid4YMM

QUOTE APPENDIX

"As our citizens start the long process of recovery, we are in awe of all that has been done and the support we continue to feel from not only Albertans but from around the world," said Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Mayor Melissa Blake. "For all of these artists to come here today and lift spirits as well as dollars for the United Way I cannot begin to describe how thankful we are. It is truly humbling to see the level of compassion and good will that is sent our way. Thank you. Thank you on behalf of all in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo." - Her Worship Mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Melissa Blake

"Co-Chairing Fire Aid for Fort McMurray has been an honour. The emotional connection that I have with the Fort McMurray community is based in large part on how fabulous our Edmonton Eskimos were treated when we played two of our games there last year." - Fire Aid for Fort McMurray Co-Chair and Edmonton Eskimos Football Club President & CEO, Len Rhodes

"What an absolute privilege it's been to Co-Chair Fire Aid for Fort McMurray. Those affected by the fires were friends, family, neighbours, colleagues and the region has shown strength and resilience in the face of adversity. We thank Albertans and Canadians for stepping up in a big way to support the benefit concert with their hard-earned dollars for the Fort McMurray United Way to support the rebuild. It's also uplifting to see the celebration of community and how people have rallied around Fort McMurray, we're all in this together."- Fire Aid for Fort McMurray Co-Chair and Oilers Entertainment Group CEO & Vice Chair, Bob Nicholson

"When we saw what was happening and the thousands of people come into the Edmonton EXPO Centre immediately we knew we had to do something. It took one call with Len (Rhodes) and Bob (Nicholson) to know when we put our combined efforts together we can accomplish great things. Fire Aid is a great example of our collective organizations working together for the greater good and to let the people of Fort McMurray and surrounding communities know we are here today, tomorrow and for as long as you need us." - Fire Aid for Fort McMurray Co-Chair and Northlands President & CEO, Tim Reid

"As we look to the future, there are still so many unknowns. There is no playbook for the human impacts of a tragedy of this scope and scale. One thing we know for certain is that our community, and everyone in it, has been affected in some way. For thousands, their sense of 'home' has either been destroyed or fundamentally changed. For thousands of others, they have survived a terrifying life-altering event. The United Way of Fort McMurray and hundreds of local community benefit organizations are ready to work together in the recovery and rebuild. The generosity of Albertans and the impact of the Fire Aid for Fort McMurray concert will be felt in this community for generations to come." - Executive Director, Fort McMurray United Way, Diane Shannon

"In a time of crisis everyone wants to contribute in whatever way they can; from the first responders, to the people supporting the evacuees. When the fires of Fort McMurray happened, we knew right away that the best way we could use our experience to make a difference, was to produce a benefit concert. It was a chance to assist the residents of the Wood Buffalo Region and equally important, it was a chance for people and corporations from throughout the province and country to come together to show their support. Fire Aid is a culmination of thousands of hours of volunteers' time and over $2 million in donations. Fire Aid for Fort McMurray has shown the community that they are not going to be alone in their rebuild efforts and that we stand beside them." - Fire Aid Benefit Concert Organizers

CORPORATE SPONSOR LISTING

HEADQUARTERS STAFF

Live Nation Canada

Jeff Parry Productions

Delta Marketing & Communications

Oilers Entertainment Group

Edmonton Eskimos Football Club

Northlands

FIRE CHIEF ($500,000 and greater)

TD Bank Group

DEPUTY CHIEF ($250,000 to $500,000)

City of Edmonton

Ticketmaster

BATTALIAN CHIEF ($100,000 to $250,000)

Alberta Motor Association (AMA)

Bell Media

CORUS

Edmonton Downtown Community League

Jim Pattinson Broadcast Group

Mac's Convenience Stores

Postmedia

Rogers

WestJet

FIRE MARSHAL ($50,000 to $100,000)

Capitol Staging and Production Solutions

Evraz Place

Fluid Life

FM Systems

Molson Coors

newad

Outfront Media

CAPTAIN ($25,000 to $50,000)

Air Canada

Astral Media

Coca-Cola

Finning CAT

Dentons

Elite Sportswear

Blackgold Broadcasting

Metro

Truck N' Roll

Unlimited Video Staging (UVS)

Visio Media

LIEUTENANT ($10,000 to $25,000)

Government of Alberta

Astral Out of Home

Boston Pizza

Canadian Tire

Christie Lites

Driving Force

Golden West Broadcasting

Insight INSURANCE

Kinsmen Club of Edmonton

Kinsmen Club of the Stampede City

KLM Blackline

PWC Canada

Shaw Communications.

Sirius XM

Tim Hortons

Western Food Services

FIREFIGHTER (up to $10,000)

AllRush Copies & Print

Blitzprint

Caltronics Communications

Capital Industrial Sales & Service

Evoke International Design Inc.

Karo

Mint Records

MSA The Safety Company

Process Color Print

Vue Weekly

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