Check this page regularly for tour updates, additions to the lineup, and news stories: www.waterkeeper.ca/heartofalake!

Join Waterkeeper and Gord Downie for three unforgettable evenings of music, poetry, and stories of courage, September 18-21.

“Heart of a Lake was inspired by ordinary people’s struggles to win back what they’ve lost: Clean water. Access to their harbours. The respect of government and industry,â€? says Gord Downie, who was dubbed a Trustee for Lake Ontario in 2005.

Dates and Ticket Information:

Whitby: Monday September 18th, 8pm: The Courthouse Theatre, Centennial Building, 416 Centre Street South, Whitby. SOLD OUT

Port Hope: Tuesday September 19th, 8pm: The Capitol Theatre, 20 Queen Street, Port Hope.
Tickets: $25. In person, the Capitol Theatre Box Office. Online, www.capitoltheatre.com. By phone, 905-885-1071 or 416-861-1237.

Kingston: Thursday, September 21st, 8pm: Sydenham Street United Church, 82 Sydenham Street, Kingston.
Tickets: $18. In person, the Grand Theatre Box office, the John Deutsch University Centre and The Grad Club. Online, www.maplemusic.com and www.grandtheatre-kingston.com. By phone, 613-530-2050.

All proceeds from the tour will be used to help these communities win back their rights to safely swim, drink, and fish in Lake Ontario.

Performers:

Mark Mattson, Waterkeeper: In the last decade, Mark Mattson has emerged as one of Canada’s most dedicated environmental lawyers. He left a career as a criminal defence attorney to pursue a practice focused on the environment. He has acted as counsel for environmental and public interest groups at some fifty hearings, as well as representing the public at both the Provincial and Federal level. Mr. Mattson currently serves as President and Waterkeeper with Lake Ontario Waterkeeper and the Canadian representative to Waterkeeper Alliance’s Board of Directors. He is the supervising attorney with the Clean Water Workshop, a program dedicated to mentoring law students and providing legal tools to citizens fighting for clean water in their communities.

Gord Downie, musician: Gord Downie has been involved with Lake Ontario Waterkeeper since its earliest days. His long-standing support for the movement prompted a tour across the country with the Tragically Hip (2004), a solo appearance at ideaCity05, a handful of fundraising events (mostly hockey auction prizes) and an awareness building event at the Grad Club in Kingston (2006). Gord is also an activist, working with Waterkeeper on a series of joint-submissions to the Ministry of the Environment regarding Lafarge Canada Inc.’s plan to burn tires at their cement kiln in Bath, Ontario. In the last year, Gord has emerged as a defining artistic force behind Lake Ontario Waterkeeper.

Andrea Nann, dancer: Andrea Nann is a Toronto based contemporary dance choreographer, performer, teacher and artistic director of Dreamwalker Dance Company. Ms. Nann’s artistic vision is to create, perform and present eloquent honestly spoken work reflecting a humanistic, expressive, and intelligent world. She is concerned with issues of humanity and by the choices that people make in response or reaction to the events around them. As an independent choreographer, performer and producer Ms. Nann has collaborated with author/poet Michael Ondaatje, poet/musician Gordon Downie (The Tragically Hip), filmmakers Peter Mettler, Nick Depencier, Nicole Mion, Brian Johnson, Lisa Hayes and Veronica Tennant, and dance/literature choreographer Sarah Chase.

Tanis Rideout, poet: Tanis Rideout is a poet and writer living and working in Toronto. She was dubbed “Poet Laureate for Lake Ontarioâ€? in September, 2006. Last fall she released her first full-length book of poetry Delineation, which was praised as a “tantalizing, harrowing read.â€? In the spring of 2005 Rideout joined Sarah Harmer to read her poetry on Harmer’s I Love the Escarpment Tour to draw attention to damage being done to the Niagara Escarpment by ongoing quarrying. Her poetry has appeared in numerous quarterlies and magazines and received a grant from the Toronto Arts Council. She has read across Canada and the United States, including appearances for the last two years at the Joe Burke Literary Festival on Wolfe Island. Tanis is currently working on a novel about Mt. Everest.

Local speakers:

On September 5, Waterkeeper announced that three local speakers had been added to our show. These speakers represent the people and the ideas that are making the lake’s communities healthier places to live. They are:

Larry Ladd, Whitby show: Larry is a retired autoworker who was born and raised in Oshawa. He helped to launch the Oshawa Marina Users Group in efforts to prevent the closure of the Oshawa marina. The marina was closed in 2002, but Ladd and the Group continue to work towards a clean, green waterfront. “Ldarry’s long history in Durham and his unswerving commitment to the Oshawa Harbour make him the perfect ambassador for this community,” says Waterkeeper Mark Mattson. Press Release

Sanford Haskill, Port Hope show: Sanford was born and raised in Port Hope. His family has owned the same stretch of Lake Ontario shoreline since 1793. He has been active in environmental causes, sports and historical associations, and local politics. “Sanford’s family has watched one stretch of this waterfront change over two centuries. His knowledge of the local environment and his contributions to different community causes make him the perfect ambassador for Port Hope,â€? says Waterkeeper Mark Mattson. Press Release

Martin Hauschild, Kingston show: Martin has more than two decades experience in the environmental field and a former Engineering Officer in the Canadian Army. Martin lives on Amherst Island. “Martin’s understanding of water quality issues has made him a leader in the environmental movement in this area. He is the perfect ambassador for this community,” says Waterkeeper Mark Mattson. Press Release

Background:

Read the tour announcement
Read the press kit

Media coverage:

Please support the tour

Can’t make one of the shows? Want to help the cause? Please make a charitable donation to Lake Ontario Waterkeeper. Or buy one of our limited edition “Know Your Rights” T-shirts, which will be onsale at every show! Your contribution will help us win back our waterways!