Keynote Speaker
Edward Burtynsky
Award-Winning Canadian Photographer and Swim Drink Fish Ambassador
Edward Burtynsky is one of Canada’s most respected photographers. His remarkable photographic depictions of global industrial landscapes are included in the collections of over fifty major museums around the world. Edward's distinctions include the TED Prize, The Outreach award at the Rencontres d’Arles, The Flying Elephant Fellowship, Applied Arts Magazine book award(s), and the Roloff Beny Book award. In 2006 he was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of Canada and holds four honorary doctorate degrees. Edward is a Lake Ontario steward for Waterkeeper.
Masters of Ceremony
Denise Donlon
Order of Canada Member
Denise Donlon has been a leader in the Canadian Cultural landscape for over 30 years as GM of CBC English Radio, President of Sony Music Canada, and various executive and on air positions at ChumTelevision, The NewMusic and MuchMusic. A Member of the Order of Canada, Denise devotes her volunteer efforts to positively affect environmental and cultural change through organisations such as Waterkeeper, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, Canadian Journalists for Freedom of Expression, Soulpepper Theatre, MusiCounts and WarChild Canada. Her book: Fearless As Possible (under the circumstances) is on shelves November 5th 2016.
Lauren Brown Hornor
Executive Director, Fraser Riverkeeper
Lauren Brown Hornor has loved water ever since she was a little girl, hunting for shells on the Florida beaches where she grew up. She has provided legal support and guidance to Waterkeeper organizations located across the country while working at Waterkeeper Alliance (WKA) in New York. Lauren was responsible for the WKA’s Clean Water Act Defense program, and while at the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic, she represented Riverkeepers in various enforcement actions on the Hudson River and in the Catskill Mountains. More recently, Lauren was named one of twelve Swim Drink Fish Ambassadors in April 2016.
Krystyn Tully
Vice-President, Swim Drink Fish Canada
Krystyn Tully has been organizing community events and organizations since her days as a high school student in Oshawa, Ontario. She helped Mark Mattson launch Lake Ontario Waterkeeper in 2001 and serves the organization to this day. Over the course of the last decade, Tully helped to organize a wide range of fundraising events grantwriting campaigns that helped to raise $2-million for Waterkeeper’s work. She also spearheaded the creation of Swim Guide, a mobile app and website that connects people to clean, local beaches as well as Drink Guide, an app that documents drinking water advisories across Canada. These apps are now used by more than 100,000 people in Canada and the USA.
Presenters
Les Stroud
Creator & Producer of Survivorman
Best known as the Canadian Screen Award winning producer, creator and star of the hit TV series Survivorman (OLN Canada, The Science Channel US, Discovery Channel International, City TV (Rogers) Canada), Les Stroud is the only producer in the history of television to produce an internationally broadcast series entirely written, videotaped and hosted alone. With Les known as the original genre creator of ‘Survival TV’, Survivorman is one of the highest rated shows in the history of OLN Canada, the Science Channel US and Discovery Channel US and remains the highest rated repeat show on the Discovery Channel. Survivorman is licensed for broadcast worldwide, with ratings in the US hitting 2 million on individual episodes. He has been nominated for 21 Canadian Screen Awards (formerly the Geminis) and has won for Best Writer (twice) and Best Photography.
Andrea Goertz
Chief Sustainability Officer, TELUS
Andrea is a telecommunications industry leader with more than 25 years of experience in finance, business development, communications and corporate strategy. She leads a national team responsible for the execution of a diverse portfolio comprised of TELUS’ social and media relations, creative services, government relations, real estate, travel services, sponsorships, privacy and sustainability. Andrea is committed to creating a healthier, more sustainable future for our next generation of leaders. As a result, she believes in taking a holistic approach to business – balancing economic growth with social and environmental benefits.
Jennifer Baichwal
Canadian Film-maker and Swim Drink Fish Ambassador
Jennifer Baichwal is a Canadian documentary filmmaker. She was born in Montréal and studied philosophy and theology at McGill University. Jennifer’s works includeLet it Come Down, The True Meaning of Pictures, Act of God, Payback andManufactured Landscapes, a feature documentary about the work of artist and Co-Steward Edward Burtynsky. In 2013 Watermark, a feature documentary on the global use of water, was released as a collaborated effort with Edward Burtynsky, Nick de Pencier, and Daniel Iron. Jennifer is a Lake Ontario steward for Waterkeeper.
Howard Blank
Auctioneer
Howard Blank is proud to assist numerous charities through his unique skills. He currently sits on the Coast Foundation, BC Entertainment Hall of Fame Boards and is President of Variety, The Children's Charity of BC. Howard's career spans over 30 years in the entertainment field and currently consults and produces many memorable events and shows.
Performers
Jacob Hoggard
Hedley
With six studio albums selling a combined million-plus alongside four million singles, Hedley has been making arena ready, fist-pumping pop hits for over a decade. Add to their accolades and accomplishments a pair of JUNOs, 11 MuchMusic Video Awards, three SOCAN Awards, 17 #1 Much videos, and 60 million online video views, and their place in the Canadian cultural landscape is firmly cemented. Hoggard's many roles at the helm include creative director, songwriter, producer, music video director, and consummate performer.
Rachelle Van Zanten
Singer-Songwriter & Activist
Known for her powerful live performances and personal commitment to social activism, Rachelle van Zanten blends socially conscious lyrics with soulful Canadiana grooves in a way that neatly captures the essence of her northern British Columbia origins. "Rachelle van Zanten is our voice, the muse of the North. She writes songs to inspire the wind, give voice to thunder, and fire the hearts of all those fighting to protect the land she loves so dearly."- Wade Davis, National Geographic.
Jim Byrnes
Legendary Blues Musician
Jim Byrnes was born in St. Louis, Missouri and has lived in Vancouver, BC, since the mid 1970s. In 1981 he put together a band that became a staple of the local music scene. In 1986 the Jim Byrnes Band played 300 nights. His evocative, smoky vocals are found in a truth that doesn’t come overnight. In 1981 he released Burnin’, followed in 1987 with I’ve Turned My Nights into Days and 1995’s Juno-Award winning That River. Jim has produced five outstanding albums since he hooked up with Steve Dawson, one of North America’s most critically acclaimed roots music producers. 2014's St. Louis Times is their most personal collaboration to date, celebrating a decade of great musical collaborations and the 250th anniversary of Jim's hometown, St. Louis.
Shari Ulrich
Legendary Canadian Singer-Songwriter
A two time Juno Award winner, and member the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, Shari was first known for her multi-instrumentalist skills with the Pied Pumkin and on as the voice of the Hometown Band. Her career as a singer songwriter brings her to her latest release “Everywhere I Go” (Borealis Records). It is Shari’s 8th solo album, and the 23rd including her work with UHF, The High Bar Gang, and her trio BTU with Barney and Tom Taylor. BTU released their 2nd album in Feb. of 2016. Shari tours with her daughter, multi-instrumentalist Julia Graff who also engineered and co-produced both “Everywhere I Go” and BTU’s “Tightrope Walk.
Barney Bentall
Legedary Canadian Singer-Songwriter
Barney and his band The Legendary Hearts recorded and toured extensively in Canada through the late 80s and 90s. In 2000 Barney traded in his rock and roll life for that of a cattle rancher in the Cariboo, deciding that he would only write songs when they wouldn't leave him alone. In 2006, Bentall headed into the studio with long time friend Jim Cuddy producing and began work on what would become Bentall’s first solo record "Gift Horse", followed by “The Inside Passage” and “Flesh & Bone”. November marks the launch of the 10th annual tour of The Cariboo Express and the release of a new album for this unique ensemble which includes his son Dustin, Ridley Bent, Kendel Carson and many others and has raised over a half a million dollars for various charities. Barney’s new solo album is due in the spring.
