FILE - Members of Nickelback pose with RCMP officers on the red carpet at the Juno awards in Calgary in an April 3, 2016, file photo. Nickelback is headlining a concert to benefit the people of Fort McMurray, who were severely affected by a wildfire that destroyed buildings and infrastructure in the town. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Republished May 26, 2016 - 1:25 PM
Original Publication Date May 26, 2016 - 10:50 AM
EDMONTON - Nickelback and other Canadian musicians will be taking to the stage to raise money for people affected by the Fort McMurray wildfire.
Some of the other artists who are to play the June 29 Fire Aid benefit concert in Edmonton include Blue Rodeo, Corb Lund and Ian Tyson.
Organizers say all proceeds raised from the event at Commonwealth Stadium will benefit the Fort McMurray United Way to support the city's efforts to rebuild.
More than 80,000 people were forced from their homes on May 3 by the wildfire that ripped through the oilsands city.
Residents are to be allowed to return starting on June 1 if officials determine that conditions are safe.
Volunteer organizers of the concert include officials from the Oilers Entertainment Group and the Edmonton Eskimos Football Club.
"We had bands reaching out to us before we'd even had our first meeting," said Harvey Cohen of Live Nation, one of the promoters.
"We already had bands reaching out to us saying, 'Hey are you planning on doing anything? We know you did a big flood concert in 2013, are you planning something as well for this?' and so we got right to it."
Another fundraiser for Fort McMurray is set for June 5 in Toronto. Comedians Pat Thornton and Ryan Belleville are producing and hosting a 12-hour telethon at the Rivoli with proceeds going to the Red Cross. Some of the lineup confirmed so far include Colin Mochrie, Sean Cullen, Mark Forward and the cast of CBC's Baroness Von Sketch show.
— With files from CHED
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016