Press Coverage and Media
Change a City, Change the World - August 14, 2008
WAM FESTIVAL PROMOTES PERSONAL CHANGE AS FIRST STEP TOWARDS GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY
;)
Sporting a solid line-up of environmentally conscious musicians
(ranging from The Weakerthans and Joel Plaskett Emergency to Boots
Riley, Fred Penner — yes, that Fred Penner! — and a ton of local stars)
and boasting dozens of workshops showcasing everything from composting
to solar panel installation, the We Are Many (WAM) Festival hits
Diefenbaker Park August 22nd to 24th.The goal of the non-profit festival is to attract a large portion of Saskatoon’s population — ideally up to 20 per cent of the city’s residents — and equip them with both the skills and enthusiasm necessary for personal waste reduction and environmental responsibility, all against a backdrop of musical, literary, theatrical and children’s attractions. Attendees will also have a chance to sign the WAM pact, a list of personal commitments to environmentally-friendly activities. The idea is that if each signatory commits to at least one such action, the wider impact will be immediate and visible.
Produced largely by a crew of dedicated young Saskatonians who have returned home for the summer to work on the project, WAM has attracted strong interest and support both at home and abroad. As a one-of-a-kind project fashioned to be a model for other mid-sized cities, WAM has garnered kudos from the likes of Jane Goodall and former U.N. special envoy Stephen Lewis, and received a significant grant from the U.S.-based Hunt Alternatives Fund.
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Press Release - August 13, 2008
The We Are Many Festival is proud to announce its finalized lineup of eco-conscious artists from across the country, the world, and out own community who will be descending in on Saskatoon from August 22nd-24th for Saskatoon's first arts and environmental festival.
Winnipeg folk-rock legends The Weakerthans, hip hop artists Books Riley and Silk-E of the Coup, and fan favorites the Joel Plasket Emergency will be headlining the three day festival taking place in Diefenbaker Park. Iconic children's entertainer Fred Penner, Tom Jackson of north of 60 fame, country star Brad Johner, and Saskatoon's own Canadian Idol finalist Theresa Sokyrka round out the headlining talent.
The festival's stunning local lineup brings together some of Saskatoon's best and brightest including local indie rocker Maybe Smith, children's entertainer Brenda Baker, Western Canadian Music Award Nominees Ryan Bolt of the Deep Dark Woods and Jen Lane, local rockers Tim Vaughn, Megan Lane, and The Sheepdogs, Canadian Idol contestant Josh Palmer's The Rebellion, wold class DJ The Gaff, Aboriginal elder Josh Naytowhow, Booker Prize winner Yann Martel, and Governor General Award winning author Guy Vanderhaeghe.
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Press Release - July 24, 2008
We Are Many Festival (WAM) is proud to announce that the Government of Saskatchewan has pledged $22 500 to one of Canada's largest environmentally focused arts festivals taking place in Saskatoon from August 22-24.
“This funding goes a long way in helping our festival achieve its goal of spreading awareness about environmental sustainability, not only in Saskatoon but throughout the entire province,” says WAM Coordinator Vinay Kumar Mysore
With this pledge the Department of Tourism, Parks, Culture, and Sport has matched a previous donation made by the City of Saskatoon. The participation of both municipal and provincial governments demonstrates widespread support for this youth run festival, and has WAM organizers exited about the festival and its message of environmental sustainability – a message they hope will echo throughout the entire province of Saskatchewan and beyond.download full press release
Press Release - July 24, 2008
As part of a joint initative between Saskatoon Transit and the We Are Many Festival (WAM), from August 22-24th, 2008 Saskatoon Transit fares will be offered a a special reduced rate of one dollar per passenger throughout the city.
Twenty seven per cent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, and both WAM and Saskatoon Transit hope the weekend of cheap fare will help raise awareness about the importance of public transit in creating more sustainable cities and reducing the harmful effects of single passenger commuting.
...Parking spaces will only be available to cars with multiple occupants, a policy that reflects the festival's message of sustainability. As a result, alternative modes of transportation, such as riding the bus, biking, or walking are greatly encouraged.
Press Release - July 9, 2008
“We Are Many Festival” to Bring Thousands Together to Build a Greener Saskatoon Entertainers The Weakerthans rock band, Boots Riley and Silk-E of the Coup, Theresa Sokyrka, Tom Jackson, Fred Penner, Joseph Naytowhow, and novelists Martel and Guy Vanderhaeghe are among celebrities who will headline the We Are Many (WAM) environmental and arts festival to be held August 22nd-24th at Diefenbaker Park in Saskatoon.
“We’re delighted with the outpouring of support we’ve received from leading Canadian entertainers and citizens of Saskatoon who want to help us show that people can make simple changes in their lives that will collectively have a big impact on the environment,” said WAM organizer Jon Henderson.
We Are Many Fiction Contest
Booker Prize-winning author Yann Martel will judge a short fiction competition this summer as part of the We Are Many (WAM) arts and environment festival to be held Aug. 22nd-24th at Diefenbaker Park.
“This fiction competition perfectly connects the environmental and artistic themes of this unique festival,” said Alixandra Stoicheff, outreach co-ordinator for the WAM Festival.
Submissions must be no longer than 500 words and relate to the environment in whatever way the author interprets this to mean. The deadline for submissions is Aug. 15th and can be made online at: fiction@wearemanyfestival.com More information can be found on the festival website: www.wearemanyfestival.com
The winner will receive $250 and his or her work will be displayed at the We Are Many Festival along with the submissions of the nine runners up. The top 10 submissions will also be posted on the We Are Many website.
Canadian Rock Group "The Weakerthans" to headline We Are Many Festival
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-We Are Many (WAM) is pleased to announce prairie rock group The Weakerthans will be one of the headlining bands at the WAM festival from August 22nd to 24th, 2008, at Diefenbaker Park in Saskatoon.
The Weakerthans, critically hailed and celebrated by a strong and dedicated following, began playing together in 1997 and their debut full-length recording, Fallow, was named one of the ten best albums of 1998 by CBC National Radio, album of the year by Perimeter Magazine, and received positive reviews all over North America and Europe. Their lyrics are the best poetry around; their eminent creativity and sense of humour are a trademark of every album. Although they have long been known for their lyrical ingenuity, the Weakerthans are, after all, a rock band, and their most recent release -- Reunion Tour -- is a musical triumph. The Weakerthans are in a class of their ownas the rare band that has been able to carry prairie culture many thousands of kilometres away.
It is for these reasons and many more -- including the band members' humanity and dedication to the arts as well as the environment – that We Are Many feels privileged to have the Weakerthans as one of the Festival's headlining bands.
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We Are Many Festival Receives Major Grant from Hunt Alternatives Foundation - June 10, 2008
Hunt Alternatives Fund is pleased to announce a $40,000 matching grant to We Are Many (WAM) to support their festival in Saskatoon from August 22nd through 24th, 2008. The grant was made at the request of the Fund’s “next generation” of young philanthropists.
“We were impressed by WAM's ambitious use of the arts and education to build an active local community around the local environment,” said Sarah Gauger, executive director of Hunt Alternatives Fund. “As a funder, it's exciting to find a group of young activists developing a pilot program that could possibly be replicated in communities across North America. Their strategy of combining popular education, practical skills, and relevant local information seems like an innovative approach to achieving environmental sustainability.”
The Hunt Alternatives Foundation grant will be used to sponsor 50 environmental action workshops at the festival that will teach individuals day-to-day skills, such as composting while living in an apartment.
Letter of Support from Jane Goodall:
To whom it may concern,
I first heard of the We Are Many programme when I visited Saskatoon last Autumn. I was impressed by the organisers' enthusiasm and planning ability. By partnering with other organizations they are able to spread their message and WAM is now an international phenomenon. I have always supported young people and indeed my international programme for youth, Roots & Shoots (www.rootsandshoots.org) encourages their endeavours to make our world a better place for all.
I strongly encourage you to support WAM and their festival which will help make our world a greener place for many different generations to enjoy. WAM can and should be a model for communities all over the world and I happily endorse this worthy endeavour.
Sincerely,
Jane Goodall PhD, DBE
Founder – the Jane Goodall Institute
& UN Messenger of Peace
For more information about the Jane Goodall Institute: www.janegoodall.ca
Letter of Support from Stephen Lewis
FROM THE OFFICE OF STEPHEN LEWIS
I would like to join my voice with many others, nationally and internationally, in supporting We Are Many Festival. The festival, which will take place from August 22nd-24th in Saskatoon, will feature the arts in all forms as well as skills workshops and symposia to encourage people to make more environmentally friendly life choices. This is a tremendously well-considered and intelligent proposal that recognises the fact that we are in an age in which it is imperative that we make change en masse.
I encourage Canadians of all stripes to get involved however they can, no matter where they live. WAM is an idea that could very well take root in far-flung communities after its inaugural celebration in Saskatoon. Support WAM now so that they can develop a model that will work elsewhere in Canada – and the world; reaching the ears of people as far away as Sweden. I cannot help but feel a glimmer of hope for our planet in ideas such as this.
Stephen Lewis
Professor in Global Health, Faculty of Social Sciences, McMaster University
Former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa
Newspaper Articles
August 14, 2008Planet S Magazine - "Change A City, Change the World"
August 14, 2008
The Saskatoon StarPhoenix - "We Are Many confirms lineup"
July 25, 2008
The Saskatoon StarPhoenix - "City Boosts Support of Sustainability Festival"
July 25, 2008
The Saskatoon StarPhoenix - "WAM Drums Up Pledges to Change"
July 17, 2008
Planet S Magazine - "Talk + Action = Legacy"April12, 2008
The Yale Globalist - "A Collective Solution to Collective Inaction"
April 3, 2008
The Sheaf - "Local Opportunity to Make Global Impact"
Jan 24, 2008
Planet S - "A Million Baby Steps"