Apron tower lighting

Every year, Toronto Pearson lights up the Apron Tower to recognize national or global causes and celebrate major cultural holidays.

Due to the volume of requests from the community, we will consider requests to light the Apron Tower on a case-by-case basis. The Apron Tower is a functioning building at the airport, and while we strive to meet community requests for lighting, the operational needs of the airport takes priority. We appreciate your understanding if all community requests are not accommodated.

Submit a Lighting Request

Lighting requests for the Apron Tower are open to charitable and non-profit organizations as well as broadly supported community causes recognized within Canada and Ontario. To be considered, submissions must be received a minimum of 30 days in advance.

Toronto Pearson (Greater Toronto Airports Authority) reviews all requests in accordance with our eligibility criteria, scheduling availability, and operational capacity/needs as well as consideration of the nature of the cause/date of significance. Applicants will receive a written response within 2 weeks stating whether the request has been approved.

Eligibility

Requests must be:

  • Nondenominational
  • Non-political
  • An international, national, provincial, or local charitable occasion or cause
  • Comply with the Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Legislation

We do not consider requests for the following:

  • Commercial requests (e.g. product launches, promotional campaigns, corporate events, conventions)
  • Personal occasions (e.g. birthdays, anniversaries)
  • Religious events (with the exception of significant cultural celebrations/holidays)
  • Political events or observances
  • Institutions or professions (e.g. hospitals, schools)
  • Specific agencies or individuals
  • Nations that are not recognized by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
  • Intent that is contrary to GTAA/Toronto Pearson policies
  • Organizations that espouse hatred, violence, or racism
  • Causes or commemorations for events that take place outside Canada, such as natural disasters or anniversaries of tragic events
  • Organizations/causes that have already lit the tower in their requested colours in the same calendar year

Lighting Schedule

Lighting begins at sunset and concludes at sunrise the next morning except during spring and fall bird migration periods during which time lighting concludes at 11:00 pm.

Please note: Schedule is subject to change without notice.

Date Occasion Colour
February 1 Black History Month Yellow
February 4 World Cancer Day Orange
February 14 Valentine's Day Pink
February 15 National Flag of Canada Day Red
February 17 Lunar New Year – Year of the Horse Red
February 28 Rare Disease Day Blue
March 4 Holi Yellow
March 8 International Women's Day  Purple
March 17 St. Patrick's Day Green
March 19 Eid al-Fitr Green
March 21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Red
March 22 World Water Day  Blue
March 31 Transgender Day of Visibility  Pink
April 2 World Autism Awareness Day Green
April 5 Easter Yellow
April 7  World Health Day  Green 
April 8 International Day of Pink  Pink
April 11 World Parkinson's Day  Blue
April 19 National Volunteer Week Pink
April 22  Earth Day Green
April 28  National Day of Mourning Yellow 
May 12 Vesak Day Blue
May 18 Victoria Day Red
May 20  World Bee Day  Yellow 
June 1  Pride Month  Purple 
June 5 World Environment Day Green
June 6 Anishinaabe Giizhigad (Anishinaabe Day)
Purple
June 12 FIFA: Canada’s Opening Match
Red
June 21 National Indigenous Peoples Day Orange
June 24 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day
Blue
June 27  Canadian Multiculturalism Day  Red
July 1 Canada Day Red 
July 2 FIFA: Last Match in Toronto
Red
July 6 National Injury Prevention Day
Green
August 15 National Acadian Day
Blue
August 19  World Humanitarian Day Yellow 
September 12 Rosh Hashanah
White
September 21 Alzheimer Awareness Day Purple
September 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation  Orange
October 10 World Mental Health Day Green
October 15 National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
Purple
October 18 Invisible Disabilities Week White
October 31 Halloween Orange
November 8 Diwali Yellow
November 11 Remembrance Day Red
November 19  International Men's Day Blue 
November 20  Transgender Day of Remembrance  Pink 
December 1 World AIDS Day  Red
December 3  International Day of Persons with Disabilities  Blue
December 10  Human Rights Day  Blue 
December 14 Hanukkah
Blue
December 25 Season's Greetings/Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas
Red
December 26 Kwanzaa
Green
December 31 New Year's Eve Yellow
* Regularly scheduled lighting to celebrate Toronto sports team (Toronto FC, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, and the Toronto Blue Jays).