Niagara Falls’ Illumination Board confirmed it will be lighting both the American and Canadian Horseshoe Falls in blue, the evening of May 1 from 9 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., to show appreciation for doctors on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Doctors’ Day occurs every year in Canada on May 1 and is a time to highlight and celebrate doctors’ expertise and dedication to patient care. With this year’s Doctors’ Day falling in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the OMA is initiating the special light shining moment called ‘Shine A Light For All They Do’ so Ontarians can come together, from a distance, and participate in celebrating doctors.
“Ontario has been celebrating Doctors’ Day for many years to recognize the many ways doctors lead us to better health. This year on Doctors’ Day, we wanted to do something special to recognize how doctors prepared for COVID, manage through COVID, and getting ready for the next waves of COVID, all while taking care of their patients,” said Dr. Sohail Gandhi, OMA President. “Shining a light has become a universal way of expressing gratitude for those leading the way out of crises.”
At 9:00 p.m. Ontarians are asked to turn on the flashlight on their phones and hold it high, through their window, from their balcony, front porch or driveway, for about five minutes.
Ontarians can also participate by posting their appreciation to social media using the hashtags #DoctorsDay and #ShineALightForThem. There’s also a website: doctorsday.ca where people can access shareable social media content and pledge their participation in the light shining event on May 1.
All special illumination requests are reviewed and approved by the Niagara Falls Illumination Board, which has financed and operated the “illumination of Niagara Falls” since 1925. The Niagara Falls Illumination Board is made up of representatives from the City of Niagara Falls Ontario, City of Niagara Falls, New York, Ontario Power Generation Inc., New York Power Authority, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and The Niagara Parks Commission. It is the Illumination Board’s responsibility and mandate to finance and maintain the nightly illumination of both the Horseshoe and American Falls.
You can watch this event tonight on our Niagara Falls cam page:
