The Town Hall Clock Tower in Collingwood, Ontario, will be lit with red lights on March 24, 2026, to recognize World Tuberculosis Day. This local display is part of a national campaign to raise awareness about the ongoing impact of the infectious disease across the country.
The Town of Collingwood is joining more than 65 other communities in Canada by illuminating the clock tower and the CWOOD sign. This initiative is designed to highlight that tuberculosis remains a serious public health issue that affects many people globally and locally.
The date of March 24 was chosen to mark the anniversary of the discovery of the bacterium that causes the illness in 1882. According to the World Health Organization, the disease remains one of the deadliest in the world and claimed more than one million lives in 2023.
While the clock tower illumination is dedicated to tuberculosis awareness, health officials also recently observed World Kidney Day on March 12, 2026. During that earlier event, the Kidney Foundation of Canada launched a new plan to help the four million Canadians currently living with kidney disease.
In Canada, tuberculosis cases are a growing concern for specific groups, including Indigenous communities and newcomers. Local organizers hope the red lights will serve as a visual reminder of the need for continued support for health programs and disease prevention.
