Red Deer’s water tower is getting ready for the big show.
If you were in the vicinity of the tower on Wednesday night, you may have noticed some images projectged on the tower.
The Red Deer Centennial Committee was testing water-related images that will be projected in conjunction with Red Deer’s River of Light event on June 30.
For three nights starting on June 28, the tower will project images starting at dusk.
Sheila Bannerman, Red Deer Centennial Committee chairperson, said the images will be mostly of water and shapes.
“As part of the public education project, we’re highlighting our relationship to water and use of water in the city,” said Bannerman. “It’s partly our relationship to water and our relationship to the Red Deer River.”
Bannerman said the water tower is a cool focus point that is clearly related to the use of water. Only one side of the water tower was tested on Thursday but the entire tower will be used to reflect images. No more testing is planned.
The River of Light is the flagship event of the Homecoming Weekend celebrating the centennial.
The committee is using Creatmosphere, a London-based art and conceptual lighting studio, to put on the light show on the Red Deer River. The team worked with the City of Calgary to put on a light show celebrating the Bow River in 2010.
“None of us wanted to re-create what Calgary had,” said Bannerman. “We were looking for something very specific to Red Deer and reflected our environment and our community.”
Bannerman said the Red Deer River, a central element of Red Deer, was a logical choice to highlight during the centennial celebrations. Illuminated recycled rain barrels will float from Fort Normandeau to Three Mile Bend on the Red Deer River on June 30.
“It’s canola,” said Bannerman. “It’s oil and it’s water. It also reflects Red Deer’s commitment to the environment and recycling because the barrels are recycled.”
After the trip down the river, the barrels will be picked up by those who purchased or sponsored the barrels.
Residents will be able to watch the lights from both sides of the river from 10:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. The light barrels are available for $70 from www.reddeer2013.ca.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com