During his nearly 50-year career, Denis Richard 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. 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.
Longtime colleague, close friend, and founder and Managing Director of Christie Lites, Huntly Christie, said: “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.”
He was a dedicated and loving father to his cherished son, Matt, and a doting husband to his late wife, Fran. Denis’ passion for the industry was so infectious that his son, Matt, followed in his footsteps. Today, Matt is proud to carry forward Denis’ legacy in his own professional values and vision.
Matt recalled: “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 focussed on teamwork, taking care of people, always putting the greater good first,” explained 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’ close friend, colleague, and client, Lighting Designer, Steve Baird, said: “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. At 15, he discovered a lifelong passion for lighting and live production.Prior to his role at Christie Lites, one of Denis’ many career-defining moments was as lighting designer for Anne Murray. Insight Productions, which worked closely with Denis on the awards for many years, said: “Denis was a trusted friend and lighting supplier to The JUNO Awards 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.”
Long-term colleague and friend, Ken Alexander, added: “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 recognise 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.”
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 performing 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.
