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From concept to concert in a week

Broadcast Date: Jan. 14, 2005

It's a lineup of Canadian music stars unlike anything seen since Tears Are Not Enough. On Dec. 26, 2004 an earthquake in Asia causes a devastating tsunami that claims at least 150,000 lives. Days later, plans are already in the works for an enormous benefit concert featuring more than 150 artists. Canada For Asia, produced by the CBC, airs on both public and private radio and television stations nationwide. As we see in this behind-the-scenes clip, producing the event is a herculean task.

From concept to concert in a week

• On the morning of Dec. 26, 2004 two tectonic plates located near the Indonesian island of Sumatra heaved, causing a magnitude 9 earthquake. It was the most powerful earthquake in 40 years, and caused one of the world's worst natural disasters. A huge series of waves called a tsunami fanned out across the Indian Ocean, slamming into the coasts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Somalia.

• The waves wiped out populated coastal areas, from tourist resorts in Thailand and fishing villages in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. At the time it was estimated that more than 150,000 people in Asia and Africa were killed, with at least 110,000 dead in Indonesia alone. Tens of thousands more were missing. Some sources put the number of dead as high as 300,000.

• The Canadian government committed $425 million in help, and until Jan. 11 matched privately-raised funds. By that date, an unprecedented number of individual donations totaled more than $150 million.
• The three-hour Canada For Asia telethon featured performances by the likes of the Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, Anne Murray, Bryan Adams, Sam Roberts and Oscar Peterson. It included video messages from everyone from Prime Minister Paul Martin to comedian Mike Myers.

• Canada For Asia was broadcast on the main CBC network, as well as Newsworld, Country Canada, ichannel, CBC Radio and the radio stations of Corus and Standard Broadcasting.
• Nearly a million viewers caught the Canada For Asia show on the main CBC network alone.
• More than 40,000 people called in to make pledges, raising more than $4 million.

From concept to concert in a week

Medium: Television

Program: The National

Broadcast Date: Jan. 14, 2005

Guest(s): Bryan Adams, Tom Cochrane, Denise Donlon, Damhnait Doyle, Alex Lifeson, Anne Murray, Fred Nicolaidis, Mike Smith

Host: Wendy Mesley
Reporter: Kas Roussy

Duration: 3:30

Permission courtesy of BIZBUZ entertainment, inc.

Last updated:
Dec. 14, 2009