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The Tragically Hip are playing Sunday Nov. 28th at the Civic Centre in Ottawa and they have invited Ottawa Riverkeeper to the show to endorse their grass-roots campaign to protect the Ottawa River.
Press Release November 23, 2004
The Tragically Hip, Waterkeepers Canada team up to protect Ontario’s water
(Ottawa) – Legendary Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip comes to Ontario this week on its In Between Evolution tour. Waterkeeper Alliance, the fastest growing environmental group in the country, has been touring with the band to generate awareness for water quality issues. Waterkeeper Alliance promotes grassroots activism, linking democratic processes with water quality protection and Canadians’ rights to swim, drink, and fish safely in every community. Their dedication to water protection at the grassroots level has won the support of The Tragically Hip.
The Tragically Hip invited Waterkeeper Alliance on the In Between Evolution tour to introduce their aggressive, grassroots approach to environmental protection to fans across the country. Robert F. Kennedy Jr, president of Waterkeeper Alliance, is encouraged by the partnership: “This is an important time in the fight for clean water,� says Kennedy. “It is thrilling to have The Tragically Hip in our corner.�
In Toronto November 26 (Air Canada Centre), London November 27 (John Labatt Centre), and Ottawa November 28 (Civic Centre), The Tragically Hip will promote Waterkeepers’ efforts to challenge polluters and win back clean water for their communities. Meredith Brown, the Ottawa Riverkeeper will be at the Civic Centre to talk about local water issues.
“It excites me to know that people will come to our show, talk to their local Waterkeeper, and walk out knowing that the pollution of our national treasures is not only unacceptable, it is reversible,� said Gord Downie, The Tragically Hip’s lead singer. Downie’s enthusiasm for Waterkeepers was evident at the Grey Cup game in Ottawa; Gord had a Waterkeepers.ca sticker stuck on his guitar during his performance at the half-time show.
“The Hip redefined rock and roll in this country. Now they are helping us do the same for environmentalism,� says Mark Mattson. Mattson is the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper and a Canadian spokesperson for Waterkeeper Alliance. Waterkeeper Alliance has more than 125 programs worldwide, including eight in Canada: Fraser Riverkeeper, Bow Riverkeeper, Canadian Detroit Riverkeeper, Georgian Baykeeper, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, Ottawa Riverkeeper, Fundy Baykeeper, and Petitcodiac Riverkeeper. Every Waterkeeper advocates compliance with environmental laws, responds to citizen complaints, identifies problems and devises remedies to clean the water.
The Tragically Hip is: Robbie Baker (guitar), Gordon Downie (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Johnny Fay (drums), Paul Langlois (guitar, vocals), and Gord Sinclair (bass, vocals). The group originates from Kingston, Ontario. Their studio is on the shores of Lake Ontario.
For more details about the tour, please visit the website for the Canadian Waterkeepers.
Contact: Mark Mattson, Canadian Rep & Lake Ontario Waterkeeper: (416) 861.1237, Mark@waterkeeper.ca
Ottawa Contact: Meredith Brown, Ottawa Riverkeeper (613) 864.7442, keeper@ottawariverkeeper.ca