Denis Richard, who unexpectedly died on March 29, 2025 at 69, was a pioneer in the Canadian music touring and production industry. During his nearly 50-year career, he made a significant and lasting impact on the growth of the entertainment lighting production and rental industry in Canada. In that time, he toured with and managed lighting and production services for live artists and supported multiple popular TV productions.
For the last 30 years, Denis was a key account handler for Christie Lites’ Toronto office. His professional life exemplified his exacting high standards. Denis led by example, always demanding as much from himself as he did of others. He loved and was fascinated by people. His curiosity about what drove others meant Denis got to know those he worked with and what they wanted swiftly. Many of the lighting and production designers who worked with Denis saw him as so much more than a service provider and fast embraced him as a close partner and friend.
Respected for his creative eye, Denis was a perfectionist by nature. He approached his professional and his personal life with equal intensity, deep integrity, and a devilish sense of the ridiculous. Denis loved to travel. He was fascinated by the architecture and the cultures of other countries. He delighted in immersing himself in the food and wines of a place wherever he went. As many who knew Denis will testify, Denis loved to lunch.
Longtime colleague, close friend, and founder and managing director of Christie Lites, Huntly Christie, says, “Denis had a knack for seeing and celebrating people for everything that they were, embracing their strengths and accepting their flaws. People instinctively knew he was genuine. Somehow this allowed Denis to push boundaries that others would not dare! He was the kind of man who could look you in the eye and insult you while at the same time making you feel loved and respected! He was a wonderful friend.”
Denis bought any space to instantaneous life. His wit, ability to critically think on his feet, and natural philosophical approach to life meant he was valued by many as an honorable and steadfast friend. He was a dedicated and loving father to his cherished son, Matt, and a doting husband to his late wife, Fran.
Denis’s passion for the industry was so infectious that his son, Matt, followed in his footsteps. Today Matt is proud to carry forward Denis’s legacy in his own professional values and vision. Matt recalls, “I remember, at school, being asked to describe what our parents did for work. I said my dad doesn’t work; he just talks to his friends all day on the phone! My friends thought my dad was cool and loads of fun. I went to many concerts, and he developed my passion for music early on. Dad was a get-stuff-done kind of guy. He was also very protective. He wanted me to get good grades in school and do right by other people.”
Matt says that his father brought the best parts of the roadie mentality to every part of his life. “He was focused on teamwork, taking care of people, always putting the greater good first,” explains Matt. “He told me when we started working together that the only thing people ask for is good service. If you can do that, you’ll do well, and your clients will be yours for life. He taught me about masculine vulnerability and being respectful to others. Dad was emotionally intelligent, which enabled him to see other people for everything that they were. This gave him an ability to push boundaries, always with charm and kindness. He never had a hidden agenda. He always operated with positivity. He had a way to push his team, to help them see how much they could achieve. If they struggled, they always knew that he had their back.”
Denis’s close friend, colleague, and client, lighting designer Steve Baird, says, “Denis was a passionate man; he believed he was lucky to do the job that he did. Denis was intrigued by other people, their ideas, and their beliefs. It thrilled him to be part of something bigger than himself. Nothing was too much trouble when it came to getting the job done. He was never possessive of a position or project; he saw each job as a partnership that had to be delivered collectively by a team. He made you feel that together you could achieve anything, that no challenge was insurmountable. His passion was infectious; everyone who met him loved him. Over the years we have become part of each other’s families; I will miss him terribly.”
Denis found his calling early, trading his place in a school band for the technical disciplines of backstage. It was here, at the age of 15, that he discovered a lifelong passion for lighting and live production. Prior to his role at Christie Lites, one of Denis’s many career-defining moments was as lighting designer for Anne Murray, a well-known Canadian pop, folk, and country singer. This year Anne won the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Canadian JUNO Awards, an event Denis had contributed to for many years. However, sadly, he would not see this significant career landmark, as he passed away the day before the event was broadcast.
Insight Productions, which worked closely with Denis on the awards for many years, said, “The Insight team was all incredibly saddened to hear of the sudden passing of our dear friend and trusted colleague Denis Richard over JUNO weekend. Denis was a trusted friend and lighting supplier to the JUNOS and many other Insight productions for over 30 years. His infectious laugh, charm, and warm hugs will be deeply missed by everyone on our technical teams, our production teams, and his family at Insight. His reach went far beyond the lighting department. In 2024, Insight inducted Denis into its Crew Hall of Fame. We were so thrilled to have shared that special moment and so many incredible memories with him. We will miss you dear friend.”
Whether lighting major shows or mentoring colleagues, Denis brought people together. Over the years his work has reflected his skill and genuine care for everything he did. Off the clock, he found joy in biking, golf, and the travel that came with a life on the road — always moving forward, always all in!
Long-term colleague and friend Ken Alexander adds, “Denis was one of those rare people whose presence could be felt even before he was seen! He had an uncanny ability to electrify a space simply by being in it. You could recognize a project that Denis had touched: the energy in the room was charged, the team on the ground was always top-tier, and the standard of work was unmistakably high. He was exacting – quick with praise when earned but uncompromising when it was not.”
Though his passing came too soon, Denis’s legacy lives on — not just in the countless shows he has helped bring to life, but in the people he’s inspired and befriended along the way.
To his colleagues and clients, Denis was much more than a co-worker; he was a friend, a driving force, and a setter of standards across the board. He was a source of inspiration, whose presence shaped careers, alongside the tone and culture of the industry he worked in.
His motivation was never simply about the technical delivery or the processes of business – it was about the web of relationships he wove, the sound of the music, the thrill of the chase, the art of communications, the artists, and the passion. For more than 30 years, Denis Richard gave everything he had to his craft and to those around him. In doing so, he left behind a remarkable story of a life that was intensely and brilliantly lived.
Shine on Denis, you crazy diamond!
