Tributes and condolences are pouring in for the loss of Michael Green, a leader in Calgary’s art community, who lost his life in a horrific crash on Tuesday morning.
Green was the co-founder of the city’s One Yellow Rabbit Theatre, which was established in 1982.
He served at its co-artistic director and was also involved in the city’s High Performance Rodeo.
Green was also a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Award, the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2006, and a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
Joel Schulz, publisher of The Reel Can and chair of SAIT's film school, published condolences online. He said that the arts community have suffered a huge loss in the crash.
"The Reel Can reaches out to the families and friends of those who were taken from us so suddenly," he writes. "You will never be forgotten Michael."
On Wednesday morning, One Yellow Rabbit issued a release confirming the death of Green. They say he was a proud ambassador for the City of Calgary and inspired many people with his originality and vision.
"We offer our deepest sympathies to his family and dear friends. One Yellow Rabbit extends our confdolences and thoughts to the others who died in the car with Michael; Michael Sereda, Lacy Morin-Desjarlais, and Elder Narcisse Blood, who worked with Michael on Making Treaty 7."
Tributes are coming in from all over the City of Calgary, including Mayor Naheed Nenshi, who identified another one of the victims as Narcisse Blood.
Nenshi said that he was 'gutted' to hear the news about Green's death, calling it a 'great loss' to Calgary.
Absolutely gutted to hear of the passing of Michael Green and Narcisse Blood in a car crash near Regina. A great loss to our community.
— Naheed Nenshi (@nenshi) February 11, 2015Xstine Cook, founder of the Calgary Animated Objects Society, which is hosting a festival next month, says she and her colleagues were saddened to hear the news about the passing of Michael Green. "He was really instrumental in giving the festival a leg up in the beginning years. We were part of the High Performance Rodeo in the beginning and he was really a huge part of that."
Peter Balkwill, a core artistic director with the Old Trout Puppet Workshop, says his company wouldn't have existed without One Yellow Rabbit. "Michael was one of those guys who you were terrified by, mystified by, and enamoured by, all at the same time. Like a monstrous ball of snow that would have a massive impact on the entire theatre community."
"He created an environment in Calgary where theatre could be created," Balkwill said. "He gave us licence to go wild and take our clothes off and pour water over ourselves, bark at the moon. Calgary rose to a high level of theatre creation as a result of One Yellow Rabbit, Michael Green, High Performance Rodeo, and all of the festivals in Calgary."
An outpouring of grief was seen all over Twitter on Wednesday morning.
Mourning Michael Green. pic.twitter.com/7wi1b4VXsz
— Druh Farrell (@DruhFarrell) February 11, 2015
Terribly saddened to hear of Michael Green's passing. A great citizen, a brilliant creative mind, an endless ability to inspire. #yycarts
— Calgary Chamber (@CalgaryChamber) February 11, 2015
Michael Green's impact on theatre in #yyc & around the world was profound. A visionary, a revolutionary, a creator. We will miss our friend.
— Theatre Calgary (@theatrecalgary) February 11, 2015
So sad at the tragic news of my beautiful buddy Michael Green passing pic.twitter.com/4E5pG3GJta
— Bruce McCulloch (@BrucioMcCulloch) February 11, 2015RCMP were called to the scene of a crash on Highway 6 about 15 km north of the City of Regina on Tuesday morning.
They say that investigation into the crash that killed Green and four others is still in its early stages.
Two other people were taken to hospital with undetermined injuries.
Members of the public are invited to celebrate Green's life on Wednesday afternoon during a service at the Big Secret Theatre on the second floor of the Arts Commons. It runs from 1 to 4 p.m.
