A long list of Canadian stars including Avril Lavigne [ tickets ], Sarah McLachlan [ tickets ] and Barenaked Ladies [ tickets ] will perform at a June 21 concert event that, in the wake of the SARS crisis, aims to promote Toronto as a safe tourist destination.

Also scheduled to perform at the six-hour event--which will take place at the Air Canada Center and the Skydome--are the Tragically Hip, Swollen Members, Glenn Lewis, Sum 41 [ tickets ] and Our Lady Peace. More artists will be confirmed in the coming weeks, according to a statement.

The two venues can house a combined total of 70,000 fans. A live video-link connection will allow concertgoers to see and hear the performers at both locations.

"Our goal is to put SARS behind us, showcase Toronto to the world and put tourism in Ontario firmly back on the road to recovery," Tourism and Recreation Minister Brian Coburn said of the show in a statement.

The City of Toronto has been facing a severe economic and tourism downturn due to SARS, which has claimed 27 lives in the region. The World Health Organization earlier this month removed an advisory against travel to the city, but Toronto was recently added to the WHO's "areas with recent local transmission of SARS" list.

Tickets to the event--dubbed "Concert for Toronto"--will be priced at $19.50 and $29.50 Canadian, and will go on sale via Ticketmaster Canada on Thursday (5/29), according to a press release. (Ticketmaster is liveDaily's parent company.)

"Obviously, there will be direct economic benefits from the concert itself--taxis, restaurants, bars, hotels and a host of other businesses will reap the rewards of this great event," said Jim Flaherty, Minister of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation, in a statement.