To make a donation now, click here!

In This Issue

• Welcome Lynne Skromeda
• Congratulations Syverson Monteyne
• Interview with Glen Manning
• Campaign Banjo-meter Update
• Donor Listing

Winnipeg Folk Festival Welcomes New Executive Director Lynne Skromeda

The Winnipeg Folk Festival is pleased to welcome Lynne Skromeda as the Executive Director of the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Lynne’s appointment followed an extensive international search of candidates. Ms. Skromeda is a graduate of the Asper School of Business and brings with her over thirteen years of experience in arts production in the film and television industry, most recently as President of Production at Frantic Films.

Lynne’s enthusiasm for the festival is contagious. “I’ve attended the Winnipeg Folk Festival since I was a child and it has always been my favourite event of the year,” says Skromeda. “I am thrilled to be joining this venerable organization that is cherished by so many and has long been highly regarded as one the best festivals in Canada. Now is such an exciting time to come on board. Our Site Redevelopment Project is well underway with major improvements coming up for 2013 – our 40th festival! I am really looking forward to working with our donors, volunteers and staff to complete our capital campaign and continue the success of the festival in Manitoba’s cultural community.”

Ms. Skromeda started her position on September 4th, 2012.

Congratulations Syverson Monteyne Architecture!

We are so pleased to announce that Syverson Monteyne Architecture (SM-ARC) has won another award for their design of the festival’s backstage kitchen facility, La Cuisine. Syverson Monteyne Architecture won the 2012 Prairie Wood Design Award in the Municipal and Recreational category. The award also recognized their design of the festival’s backstage Site Office Complex.

“Working on this project has been a great opportunity and challenge for SM-ARC”, says Principal Tom Monteyne. “The festival’s openness to creative and sustainable solutions makes them a great client to work with and being recognized with this award is an honour we share with the festival and the rest of the design and building team.”

The Wood Design Awards celebrates those who exemplify the outstanding use of wood products and have shown a dedicated commitment to fostering new ideas and developing innovative solutions. Congratulations again, SM-ARC! We can’t wait to see what you have planned for our new Festival Village in 2013!

Interview with Glen Manning, Landscape Architect

Hilderman Thomas Frank Cram (HTFC) is an award-winning landscape architecture and planning collaborative. Glen Manning, a principal at HTFC, and Shannon Baxter are landscape architects working on our Site Redevelopment Project. In this issue, we feature an interview with Glen who shares some of his thoughts and inspirations.

Winnipeg Folk Festival: Tell us how HTFC got involved with the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s Site Redevelopment Project.

Glen Manning: The principals and staff at HTFC have been involved with the festival for years as patrons and volunteers. There was an RFP process in 2006 where HTFC was selected to prepare the site master plan which received an award from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects and formed the basis of the current redevelopment project.

WFF: What has been most challenging and/or most exciting about the project?

Glen: Our biggest challenge is improving the way things work without changing the way they feel. The fact that the site plays such an essential role in the experience of the festival is also an exciting opportunity for us as landscape architects to contribute to the legacy. It’s pushed us to try some things that have never been done in this region.

At a more detailed level, there are many challenges. To maintain Birds Hill Provincial Park’s biological integrity, our plant palette is limited to species native to the park. There are not many fast growing shade trees in that list, so we have to be creative to increase shade in the short term – the donor recognition ‘forest’ is an example of this. Also everything has to stand up to the elements.

New in 2013: Donor Forest – Rendering: Hilderman Thomas Frank Cram

WFF: Can you share a little about your design approaches and inspiration?

Glen: Well, in keeping with the work that was done over the last six years, the current work is following through on an integrated overall plan. The improvements all need to hang together and support each other. To help achieve this, the design is guided by four principles that we think align well with the spirit and values of the Winnipeg Folk Festival:

• use natural systems to solve problems wherever possible: trees rather than shade structures, cattails rather than holding tanks.
• tread lightly and do not overbuild: all permanent structures must be harmonious, durable and beautiful additions to the site and acknowledge the park’s annual cycle of use beyond the festival.
• allow for expansion and refinement: most of the work in the next round of construction will be adaptable and scalable and will be phased-in, monitored and refined over time.
• take every opportunity to create delight: we’ve worked in playful touches throughout the site. It’s a festival!

The forms in the Festival Village are inspired by the musical harmonies and patterns in nature. There is some remarkable mathematical common ground between music and nature that we delved into for the layout of the village paths, plantings and central feature. This helped us move away from urban notions of space-making toward something that feels at home in a forest clearing.

WFF: How will the festival look different in 2013?

Glen: The biggest change will be the new food vendor serpentine – a permanent structure designed by Syverson Monteyne Architecture that follows the tree line along the north edge of the new Festival Village. You will also see a new perimeter pathway in the Village, a sculptural central feature, wayfinding posts to help people find their way around the site, the first round of tree planting and a pretty interesting donor recognition area. One of the two new forest stages is also slated to be open for the 2013 festival. In keeping with our ‘tread lightly’ principle, there will be a lot of changes you don’t see, like improved sub-drainage, planting restoration and reinforced turf in high traffic areas.

New in 2013: Forest Stage – Rendering: Hilderman Thomas Frank Cram

WFF: What elements of the festival have inspired you in your work on the project?

Glen: There are so many things: the intimate little public art pieces that show up around the site, the unique feel of each stage, the pride and ownership, the returning families, the positive energy and the overwhelming sense from everyone involved that we have something special here.

For more info about the Site Redevelopment, click here. To make a donation, click here.

Rendering: Hilderman Thomas Frank Cram

Campaign Banjo-meter Update

To play your part in filling the banjo click here.

Staging the Future Capital Campaign Donors

Thank you to all of the donors who have made gifts to our Staging the Future Capital Campaign. Your support is so important. View a complete list of donors here.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada – The Winnipeg Folk Festival is pleased to announce that it has reached a new target in its Staging the Future Capital Campaign. The Province of Manitoba has just announced a contribution of $650,000 to the project. The Province’s support will provide investment in the festival campground including shade structures, lighting and electricity upgrades, increased water access, tree planting and improvements to pathways. Minister Jennifer Howard noted the province’s commitment to improve the camping experience at Birds Hill Provincial Park for the Winnipeg Folk Festival and for visitors to the park year round. “Some of this work is already underway and is part of our $22 million investment over the next five years at Birds Hill Provincial Park,” says Howard on behalf of Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh.

In addition, the Winnipeg Foundation has also provided an additional $100,000 in funding support, bringing their total contribution to the project to $200,000.

With these contributions, the total raised to date in the campaign is $4,264,506. The Winnipeg Folk Festival is hoping to meet the $6 million fundraising goal by December 2012. Campaign Chair, Chris Couture and Board Chair, Gerry Couture extended their thanks to all the donors and funders who have supported the campaign to date. “We are so appreciative of the supporters who have shared in our vision to ensure that the Winnipeg Folk Festival continues to be one of Manitoba’s best summer attractions. We believe in the importance of this event in our community and in our province, and we are grateful to the Winnipeg Foundation and the Province of Manitoba for supporting it.”

The Staging the Future Capital Campaign supports a project that will make significant improvements to the festival site at Birds Hill Provincial Park. Phase One of the project was a $2.7 million investment in the backstage area. The next phase of the project focuses on the front of house area of the festival site and campground, including a new festival village, entrance and egress infrastructure, new forest stages, as well as shade, water and electrical upgrades throughout the site.

This funding announcement was celebrated at the 2012 Winnipeg Folk Festival on Saturday, July 7.

About the Winnipeg Folk Festival

www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca

With one of North America’s premier outdoor music festivals as its signature event, the Winnipeg Folk Festival is a year-round, not-for-profit arts organization that presents live music, arts events, and education and outreach programs designed to benefit the community. The festival also operates a performance space and music store in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District. The 39th annual Winnipeg Folk Festival takes place July 4-8, 2012 in Birds Hill Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada.

For more information please contact:
Margaret Koshinsky
Manager, Marketing Communications
204-231-0096 or cell: 204-223-9328
margaret@winnipegfolkfestival.ca

To make a donation now, click here!

In This Issue

• Jim Cuddy Plays His Part On and Off Stage
• Donor Profile – Gail Asper Family Foundation
• Future Home of the Winnipeg Folk Festival
• Campaign Banjo-meter Update
• Donor Listing

Jim Cuddy Plays His Part On and Off Stage

Photo: Robert Tinker

Singer/songwriter Jim Cuddy is no stranger to festival-goers, performing with his band Blue Rodeo at the Winnipeg Folk Festival three times over the last three decades. Cuddy recently showed his support and fondness for the festival by playing his part with a personal gift of $15,000 to the Staging the Future Capital Campaign.

“The Winnipeg Folk Festival is a great place for musicians to play and this project will ensure that it will be around for decades to come,” said Cuddy.

Cuddy also lent his support to the campaign through a video endorsement as part of a social media arm of the campaign to raise funds via Facebook and Twitter that took place during the month of June. Thank you for your support, Jim!

Gail Asper Family Foundation – Thanks for Playing Your Part!

Early on in our campaign we met with Gail Asper in her role as President of The Asper Foundation to request support for the Staging the Future capital project. The Asper Foundation generously made a $50,000 commitment to the campaign in June 2011.

Gail Asper’s commitment to the project did not end there. Through her own family foundation, Gail and her husband Michael Paterson have pledged an additional $50,000, which brings the total raised in the private campaign to over $2 million.

“Our whole family loves the Winnipeg Folk Festival and are so grateful for the decades of glorious music we have enjoyed. We salute the festival’s leadership for launching the Staging the Future capital project and for being careful stewards of this precious cultural jewel. We are proud to play a small role in ensuring the campaign reaches its targets and encourage everyone who loves people and music to support the campaign!”

Thank you to Gail, Michael and their sons Stephen and Jonathan for this special gift.

The Future Home of the Winnipeg Folk Festival

Click image to enlarge.

The next phase of the Winnipeg Folk Festival Site Redevelopment Plan is set to get underway after the 2012 festival. This project has been carefully planned to improve the festival experience for everyone while maintaining our commitment to sustainability and the environment. All the while, of course, we want to remain true to the intangible ‘feel’ of the festival that makes it uniquely ours.

Here’s a look at what’s in store:

A New Entrance Experience: Whether you arrive by transit, by bike, or by car, we want to make your entry in (and exit out) as efficient as possible. Designated roads and pathways will allow cyclists, mass transit users and drivers to have their own route. If you have to meet friends at the main gate, there will be a new shaded welcome area for just that purpose.

Festival Village: At the centre of the new Festival Village will be the Festival Common – your next favorite place to meet up with friends – and a landmark tower that will provide a permanent artistic signature for the festival. The Village will provide services like permanent structures for our new food vending area and a new shaded space for eating together. In keeping with the market vibe, you will also find Hand-Made Village, the Music Store, the Tavern and Audience Services.

More Stages, More Music: We love #7 on the map. Imagine meandering down the forested path to a new stage hidden away in the forest. These musical hide-aways will provide the perfect setting for your daytime listening pleasure — a shaded place to catch your favorite workshop.

The Great Outdoors – Tackling the Elements: Shade and water. We know they’re important for everyone so we’re planting trees and increasing our water taps throughout the festival site. Also planned are drainage improvements that will help keep Main Stage seating drier, as well as provide more seating space closer to the stage. Pathway and lighting improvements throughout the site will also help folks of all ages navigate through the festival grounds.

We’re over halfway to our $6 million fundraising goal to make this project a reality. The Site Redevelopment Plan will include an area of recognition where capital campaign donors will be featured. We hope you will consider playing your part by donating to this important project. Make a gift and leave a legacy to the festival to be remembered for years to come. Every gift can make a difference.

Campaign Banjo-meter Update

To play your part in filling the banjo click here.

Staging the Future Capital Campaign Donors

Thank you to all of the donors who have made gifts to our Staging the Future Capital Campaign. Your support is so important.
(This list recognizes gifts received by May 16, 2012.)

Corporate Donors and Foundations
AIL – American Income Life
The Asper Foundation
Assiniboine Credit Union
Cambrian Credit Union
Coghlan’s Ltd
The Cooper Schneier Fund at the Minneapolis Foundation
KCI
Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Public Insurance
Maple Leaf Construction Ltd.
National Leasing
The North West Company
Pollard Family Foundation
Princess Auto
Richardson Foundation
The Sensible Shoes Foundation – David & Ruth Asper
Special T Shirt Company
TD Bank Group
The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company
The Winnipeg Foundation

Government
Building Canada Fund – Communities Component (Top Up)
Community Places

Individuals
Jamie & Carolyn Abbott
France Adams & Stephen Brodovsky
Richard Adams
Sandra Altner
Bill & Gail Anderson
Anonymous (14)
Anonymous: In honour of Eric Kananoja
Jose Aravjo & Judy Heppelle
Archer-Heese Family – Peter, Gail, Mackenzie & Rachel
Karin Archibald & Marcel Carignan
Ted & Betty Ash
Gail Asper, Michael, Stephen & Jonathan Paterson
Cathy Auld & Ted McLachlan
Buffie Babb & Christy Press
Ron Bailey
F.G. Barnsley
Carolyn Basha & Gilles Fournier
Mike Baudic
Doug Belcher
Kathryn Bernard
Elisabeth Bernardi
Susan Berthiaume
Kristine Betker, Eric Kananoja and family
Susan Bishop
Valorie & Neil Block
Ted Bock & Liane Chalmers-Bock: In honour of Eric Kananoja
Dmitri Bondarenko
Priscilla Boucher
Jean-Guy Bourgeois
Diane Boyle, KCI
Billy Brodovsky & Libby Yager
Ron & Doreen Bryan
Janice Butcher
Cheryl Butler
In loving memory of Richard Canty from his family
Timothy Cashion – In honour of Samuel Theodore Faulder Bourgeois’ first folk fest
Anne Cathcart
Cedar Cultural Center
Dinah Ceplis
Changes Crew: Patti Bryski, Deb Handziuk, Dennis Muldrew, Denise Pauls, Valerie Regehr,
  Sandy Robinson
Angela Chotka – In Memory of Percy Clark
Roslin Chrest
Dave Christianson & Vera Steinberger
Elizabeth Clement
Jennifer Cobb
David & Maurene Cohen
Nan & Martin Colledge
Brian R. Connoy
Mahon Corkery
Gerry & Chris Couture
Keith & Linda Craig
Dave Crook: In honour of Eric Kananoja’s 50th Birthday
Brian & Barbara Crow
Jim Cuddy
Sandy Cumming
Karen-Denise Cyr & John McLennan
Karen Dana & Harry Havey
Jennifer Davis, Cindy Fawcett, Cali Fawcett
Minnie Davis
Michael Desautels
Harold Dick & Donna Parry
Thorn & Kay’s 50th anniversary and family
Laura Donatelli
Lissa Donner: In memory of Evelyn Ste. Croix
Kreesta Doucette
Neil & Carol Duboff
Cecile Dumesnil
Greg & Vera Duncan
Lisa Dveris
Gordon Elvers
J. Willow Emberhawk
Lottie Enns-Braun: In Honour of Krista, Stefan, Tyler and Emily – my beloved folkies
Denzil Feinberg
Karla Ferguson & Sean McManus
Allan Finkel
Kent & Karen Fowler: In honour of Eric Kananoja’s 50th birthday
Jeff & Christine Frank
Chris Frayer & Miriam Jezik
Jane & David Frayer
Linda Freed
Evelyn & David Friesen
Peter Funk
Kay & Dave
Tania Gauthier
Debbie Girard & Scott Dunham
S. Grabowieski
Kathryn Graham
Marty Greenfeld
Al & Mintie Grienke
Vona Guiler & Phil Veldhuis
Morgan Hamill & Damon Mitchell
Rich & Connie Hamon
Berni & Bryan Harley
Linda Harlos & Adrian Wildsmith
Nancy Jo Harmon
Susan Heald
Raymond Hebert
Arwen Helene & Taavo Sults
John Helliar
Diane Heywood
Linda J. Hiebert
Shaleem Hosein
Richard & Karen Howell
Debbie Hurrell
Investors Group Matching Gift Program
Barb Janes & Bev Peters
Timothy Jones
Tamara Kater
Jocelyn Katz
Christine Kennedy
Georgia Kerr
Miriam Ketonen & Simon Hoad
Margaret Koshinsky
Eugene & Jeri Kostyra
Tom Kremer – to future children
Greg Kresko
Vern & Louise Laing
Ginette Lavack Walters & Kevin Walters
Zandra Lea
Katrina Lee-Kwen & Jeff Neufeld
Daniel Levin & Lilian Bonin
L. Lipkin and S. Minneapolis women
Bill & Shirley Loewen
Barb & Jim Lund
Mary Macdonald, David Wood & Family
Scott MacDonell
Barrie March & Jeanne Beare
Jerry Maskiew
Deborah McCawley
Molly McCracken
Anita McDonald
Marni McFadden
Meg McGimpsey
Terry McIntosh
Mike McKernan
Heather, Andrew & Paul McLaren
Joan Melanson
Richard Mellway
Amy Miller
Brian Moore & Dolores Madolora
Albina Moran
Tom Morris
Morrisons
Philip Mouch
The Murray Family
Nancy & Amadea
Bob & Cindy Newfield
Jo-Anne Nykilchyk
Kari O’Reilly
Debra Parkes & Cheryl Sluis
Gary & Erin Parsons
Alisha Paul
Katherine Penner: In honour of Addie Penner
Kathy & Rollin Penner
Donna Phillips – In memory of Paul Phillips
Dani Pokornik
Pool Family
Sandy Popham
Michael & Sjaan Protulipac
Bev Racicot
Nalini Reddy
Reynold Redekopp
Iris Reimer
Cheryl Reimer-Vogt
Karen & Hugh G. Rice
Barbara Rider
A.C. Robinson
Cheryl & Tim Rohrig
Kelly Romas
Terry Sargeant
Kelly Schettler
Schindle Family
Jane Polak Scowcroft
Ryan Segal
Gary Senft
Norm & Beth Shore
Caroline Sicat
Mark & Zoe Simkin
Ruth Simkin
John Simpson
Jon Singleton & Barbara Hiebert
Dr. Ross & Beryl Singleton
Jennifer Sippel
In memory of Jim Skromeda
Liz Speers
Tim & Elly Spencer
Sara Stasiuk
Trish Steadman & Rob Franklin
Adele Stiles
Dale Stiles
Helene & David Sward
Randall S. Swartz
Bill & Shirley Loewen
Gunny Tennese & Angie Woodbury
Josh & Sasha Thiem
Al & Loretta Thorleifson
Thor Thorleifson
Robin Tod
Dan & Dawn Torbiak
VanAllen Family
Patrick Vincent: In honour of Eric K.
Nancy Walker
The Wall Family
The Wallaces
Mandy Wallmann & Emri Canvin
Susan Watchman: In honour of festival volunteers
Tracy Wayne
Gerri & Harald Weigeldt
Mandy & Jared Whelan
Terence Wiebe
Glenn Williams & Linda Dawson
In honour of Jaimie Willow
Rebecca Winkworth
Alex & Chery Yaworski
Grit Youngquist & Jon Kerr

To make a donation now, click here!

In This Issue

• Message from the Campaign Chair
• New Food Vendor Area Takes Shape
• Award-Winning Festival Kitchen
• Ten Reasons to Support
• Sensible Shoes Foundation – Playing its Part
• Campaign Banjo-meter Update
• Donor Listing

Message from Campaign Chair – Chris Couture

We are thrilled to announce that Syverson Monteyne Architecture has won an Award of Excellence at the 2012 Prairie Design Awards for their design of the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s backstage kitchen (La Cuisine). La Cuisine was completed this past October as part of Phase One of our Staging the Future project. Syverson Monteyne is now busy at work on the second phase and we are excited to see their next award-worthy designs at the festival. In this issue, we will give you a sneak-peek of what they have in store for the front of house food area.

Also in this issue is some great news from the Sensible Shoes Foundation. Those who attend the summer festival know how important quality footwear is to the festival experience. Its importance takes on a whole new meaning with the recent $100,000 gift from David and Ruth Asper’s Sensible Shoes Foundation. Thanks David and Ruth!

New Food Vendor Area Takes Shape

Delicious and diverse are two words that readily come to mind when thinking of the incredible food offered at the Winnipeg Folk Festival each year. Food vendors featured at the festival are selected by a jury and each summer close to 20 restaurants set up shop on the festival grounds at Birds Hill Provincial Park. Over the years, some of these restaurants have included local favorites Santa Lucia Pizza, Fresh Café, Bellissimo and festival darling – Whales Tails!

A greater demand for food services due to an audience that has doubled in the past decade – as well as an aging and deteriorating infrastructure and increased health and safety requirements – means that an upgrade to our food vendor area has become a vital and urgent necessity.

Plans are well underway to build a newly designed food vendor area that will be situated just across from Snowberry Field Stage as one enters the festival site. This new location will allow for additional capacity and variety of vendors.

Architectural rendering of new food vendor area. Syverson Monteyne Architecture

The serpentine-shaped row of kiosks is a key component of a larger Festival Village that will highlight the second phase of the Site Redevelopment Plan (more on the “Village” in our next issue of STF). These newly designed booths will address key health and safety considerations including suitable flooring, utility (electrical and water) upgrades, and a service road that allows vehicles to continually access the vendors throughout the festival. (In the past, our vendors were limited to servicing their kiosks during times when guests were not on site.)

In partnership with Hilderman Thomas Frank Cram, Syverson Monteyne Architecture is designing these units. Each kiosk will include a sheltered workspace, raised washable floor, access to water, increased electrical capacity, and infrastructure for signage and lighting. A sheltered promenade in front of each vendor will provide protection from the elements for festival-goers waiting in line.

“Serving food in an outdoor setting is particularly challenging and though our vendors have tackled the obstacles through the years, it’s time to make some significant improvements,” says Arwen Helene, Winnipeg Folk Festival Production Manager. “This new development will improve our guests’ experience and provide the facilities necessary for our vendors to provide food that is just as enjoyable as the music!”

Award-Winning Festival Kitchen

Referred to fondly as La Cuisine, the festival’s backstage kitchen is a remarkable structure and an important part of the site redevelopment project currently underway.

Designed by Syverson Monteyne Architecture, the building was recently awarded a Prairie Design Award of Excellence. Not your typical kitchen, this eco-friendly facility is designed to accommodate the preparation and serving of nearly 10,000 meals a day to volunteers and performers during the festival. The building also functions as a working space pre-festival, and closes down to a secure, weather-protected storage facility to dry and store tents for the remainder of the year.

Working in the spirit of the festival’s environmental policy, Syverson Monteyne designed La Cuisine using repurposed and recycled materials, including components from an existing steel industrial complex that was slated for demolition, salvaged hydro poles, and reclaimed cedar decking. The design also incorporates festival iconography – the front façade of the building features different colors of sheet metal to symbolize the memorable way tarps are used at the festival each year.

“It’s a great honour to be recognized with this award. It was a unique challenge to create a structure from existing materials and the informality and ad hoc quality of La Cuisine seems very appropriate to the Winnipeg Folk Festival,” said Tom Monteyne, Principal, Syverson Monteyne. “It is a fine example of both Syverson Monteyne’s and the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s environmental philosophy.”

Congratulations to our friends at Syverson Monteyne who recently won a Prairie Design Award of Excellence for working with the festival’s environmental policy and designing La Cuisine using repurposed and recycled materials!

TEN REASONS TO SUPPORT Staging The Future

1. We help put Manitoba on the map.
2. We’re a true family event.
3. We’re internationally known and respected among performers.
4. We inspire journalists to write about Manitoba.
5. We’re smart, green and environmentally responsible.
6. We support and nurture homegrown Manitoba talent.
   “Every experience I’ve had at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, whether onstage performing or backstage meeting artists and volunteers, has been extremely memorable and rewarding. It never ceases to amaze me how glorious it is when people come together to share in the spirit of music and community, rain or shine. As a Manitoba artist, I’m proud to call this festival our own and grateful for all that it’s taught me throughout the years.” — Andrina Turenne, Chic Gamine
7. We are a vital and unique member of Manitoba’s cultural industry.
8. Our 2800-strong volunteer team is the heart and soul of the festival and is one of Manitoba’s largest volunteer work forces.
9. We inspire young people.
10. The Winnipeg Folk Festival generates $29.4 million in Gross Economic Activity in Manitoba each year.

Sensible Shoes Foundation – Playing its Part

David and Ruth Asper of the Sensible Shoes Foundation have a long tradition of philanthropic generosity and have been strong supporters of community-building initiatives throughout Manitoba. The foundation’s recent gift of $100,000 couldn’t have arrived at a better time for the festival’s Staging the Future Capital Campaign.

The timing of this gift means that the funds will be matched by the Richardson Foundation through their matching challenge to the campaign and will double the impact of this momentous gift.

“The Winnipeg Folk Festival is a uniquely successful business story. As an arts organization, the festival has achieved financial success through a management strategy focused on self-reliance and entrepreneurship. We’re pleased to contribute to the festival’s ambitious site redevelopment project and play our part to support a made in Manitoba success story,” enthused David Asper.

The Winnipeg Folk Festival thanks David & Ruth Asper for playing their part in making the most ambitious project in the festival’s history a reality.

Campaign Banjo-meter Update

To play your part in filling the banjo click here.

Staging the Future Capital Campaign Donors

Thank you to all of the donors who have made gifts to our Staging the Future Capital Campaign. Your support is so important.
(This list recognizes gifts received by May 16, 2012.)

Corporate Donors and Foundations
AIL – American Income Life
The Asper Foundation
Assiniboine Credit Union
Cambrian Credit Union
Coghlan’s Ltd
KCI
Manitoba Hydro
Maple Leaf Construction Ltd.
National Leasing
The North West Company
Pollard Family Foundation
Richardson Foundation
The Sensible Shoes Foundation – David & Ruth Asper
TD Bank Group
The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company
The Winnipeg Foundation

Government
Building Canada Fund – Communities Component (Top Up)
Community Places

Individuals
Nancy & Amadea
Jamie & Carolyn Abbott
France Adams & Stephen Brodovsky
Sandra Altner
Bill & Gail Anderson
Anonymous (13)
Anonymous: In honour of Eric Kananoja
Jose Aravjo & Judy Heppelle
Archer-Heese Family – Peter, Gail, Mackenzie & Rachel
Karin Archibald & Marcel Carignan
Ted & Betty Ash
Buffie Babb & Christy Press
Ron Bailey
F.G. Barnsley
Carolyn Basha & Gilles Fournier
Mike Baudic
Doug Belcher
Kathryn Bernard
Elisabeth Bernardi
Susan Berthiaume
Susan Bishop
Valorie & Neil Block
Ted Bock & Liane Chalmers-Bock: In honour of Eric Kananoja
Dmitri Bondarenko
Priscilla Boucher
Jean-Guy Bourgeois
Diane Boyle, KCI
Billy Brodovsky & Libby Yager
Ron & Doreen Bryan
Janice Butcher
Cheryl Butler
In loving memory of Richard Canty from his family
Timothy Cashion – In honour of Samuel Theodore Faulder Bourgeois’ first folk fest
Anne Cathcart
Cedar Cultural Center
Dinah Ceplis
Changes Crew: Patti Bryski, Deb Handziuk, Dennis Muldrew, Denise Pauls, Valerie Regehr,
  Sandy Robinson
Angela Chotka – In Memory of Percy Clark
Roslin Chrest
Elizabeth Clement
Jennifer Cobb
David & Maurene Cohen
Nan & Martin Colledge
Brian R. Connoy
Karen Cooper & Bruce Schneier
Mahon Corkery
Gerry & Chris Couture
Keith & Linda Craig
Brian & Barbara Crow
Sandy Cumming
Karen-Denise Cyr & John McLennan
Karen Dana & Harry Havey
Jennifer Davis, Cindy Fawcett, Cali Fawcett
Minnie Davis
Michael Desautels
Harold Dick & Donna Parry
Thorn & Kay’s 50th anniversary and family
Laura Donatelli
Lissa Donner: In memory of Evelyn Ste. Croix
Kreesta Doucette
Neil & Carol Duboff
Cecile Dumesnil
Greg & Vera Duncan
Lisa Dveris
Gordon Elvers
J. Willow Emberhawk
Lottie Enns-Braun: In Honour of Krista, Stefan, Tyler and Emily – my beloved folkies
Denzil Feinberg
Karla Ferguson & Sean McManus
Allan Finkel
Kent & Karen Fowler: In honour of Eric Kananoja’s 50th birthday
Jeff & Christine Frank
Chris Frayer & Miriam Jezik
Jane & David Frayer
Linda Freed
Evelyn & David Friesen
Peter Funk
Kay & Dave
Tania Gauthier
S. Grabowieski
Kathryn Graham
Marty Greenfeld
Al & Mintie Grienke
Vona Guiler & Phil Veldhuis
Morgan Hamill & Damon Mitchell
Rich & Connie Hamon
Berni & Bryan Harley
Linda Harlos & Adrian Wildsmith
Nancy Jo Harmon
Susan Heald
Raymond Hebert
Arwen Helene & Taavo Sults
John Helliar
Diane Heywood
Linda J. Hiebert
Shaleem Hosein
Richard & Karen Howell
Debbie Hurrell
Barb Janes & Bev Peters
Timothy Jones
Tamara Kater
Jocelyn Katz
Christine Kennedy
Georgia Kerr
Miriam Ketonen & Simon Hoad
Margaret Koshinsky
Eugene & Jeri Kostyra
Tom Kremer – to future children
Greg Kresko
Vern & Louise Laing
Ginette Lavack Walters & Kevin Walters
Zandra Lea
Katrina Lee-Kwen & Jeff Neufeld
Daniel Levin & Lilian Bonin
L. Lipkin and S. Minneapolis women
Bill & Shirley Loewen
Barb & Jim Lund
Mary Macdonald, David Wood & Family
Scott MacDonell
Barrie March & Jeanne Beare
Jerry Maskiew
Deborah McCawley
Molly McCracken
Anita McDonald
Marni McFadden
Terry McIntosh
Mike McKernan
Heather, Andrew & Paul McLaren
Joan Melanson
Amy Miller
Brian Moore & Dolores Madolora
Morrisons
Philip Mouch
The Murray Family
Bob & Cindy Newfield
Jo-Anne Nykilchyk
Kari O’Reilly
Debra Parkes & Cheryl Sluis
Gary & Erin Parsons
Kathy & Rollin Penner
Donna Phillips – In memory of Paul Phillips
Dani Pokornik
Pool Family
Sandy Popham
Michael & Sjaan Protulipac
Bev Racicot
Nalini Reddy
Reynold Redekopp
Iris Reimer
Cheryl Reimer-Vogt
Karen & Hugh G. Rice
Barbara Rider
A.C. Robinson
Cheryl & Tim Rohrig
Kelly Romas
Terry Sargeant
Schindle Family
Jane Polak Scowcroft
Ryan Segal
Gary Senft
Norm & Beth Shore
Caroline Sicat
Mark & Zoe Simkin
Ruth Simkin
John Simpson
Jon Singleton & Barbara Hiebert
Dr. Ross & Beryl Singleton
Jennifer Sippel
Liz Speers
Tim & Elly Spencer
Trish Steadman & Rob Franklin
Adele Stiles
Dale Stiles
Helene & David Sward
Randall S. Swartz
Bill & Shirley Loewen
Gunny Tennese & Angie Woodbury
Josh & Sasha Thiem
Al & Loretta Thorleifson
Thor Thorleifson
Robin Tod
Dan & Dawn Torbiak
VanAllen Family
Patrick Vincent: In honour of Eric K.
Nancy Walker
The Wall Family
The Wallaces
Mandy Wallmann & Emri Canvin
Susan Watchman: In honour of festival volunteers
Tracy Wayne
Mandy & Jared Whelan
Terence Wiebe
Glenn Williams & Linda Dawson
In honour of Jaimie Willow
Rebecca Winkworth
Alex & Chery Yaworski
Grit Youngquist & Jon Kerr

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada – The Winnipeg Folk Festival is thrilled to announce that Syverson Monteyne Architecture Inc. has won an Award of Excellence at the 2012 Prairie Design Awards for their design of the festival’s new backstage kitchen – La Cuisine.

Not your typical kitchen, this eco-friendly facility is designed to accommodate the preparation and serving of nearly 10,000 meals a day to volunteers and performers during the festival. The building also functions as a working space pre-festival, and closes down to a secure, weather-protected storage facility to dry and store tents for the remainder of the year. Working in the spirit of the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s environmental policy, Syverson Monteyne designed La Cuisine using repurposed and recycled materials including components from an existing steel industrial complex that was slated for demolition, salvaged hydro poles, and reclaimed cedar decking. The design also incorporates deliberate use of festival iconography – the front façade of the building features different colors of sheet metal to symbolize the memorable way tarps are used at the festival each year.

“It’s a great honour to be recognized with this award. It was a unique challenge to create a structure from existing materials and the informality and ad hoc quality of La Cuisine seems very appropriate to the Winnipeg Folk Festival,” said Tom Monteyne, Principal, Syverson Monteyne. “It is a fine example of both Syverson Montyene’s and the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s environmental philosophy.”

The Prairie Design Awards for Architecture is a tri-provincial initiative sponsored by The Alberta Association of Architects, the Saskatchewan Association of Architects and the Manitoba Association of Architects. Recipients are selected by a national jury of renowned architectural and design professionals. The award ceremony took place on Friday, April 27 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel where architects from across Canada’s prairies gathered to recognize excellence.

La Cuisine is part of the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s site redevelopment project that includes significant upgrades to the festival site to address key health, safety and accessibility issues, improve audience experience, and create a more environmentally sustainable event. Find out more at StagingTheFuture.ca.

About the Winnipeg Folk Festival

www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca

With one of North America’s premier outdoor music festivals as its signature event, the Winnipeg Folk Festival is a year-round, not-for-profit arts organization that presents live music, arts events, and education and outreach programs designed to benefit the community. The festival also operates a performance space and music store in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District. The 39th annual Winnipeg Folk Festival takes place July 4-8, 2012 in Birds Hill Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada.

For more information please contact:
Margaret Koshinsky
Manager, Marketing Communications
204-231-0096 or cell: 204-223-9328
margaret@winnipegfolkfestival.ca

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada – The Winnipeg Folk Festival is pleased to announce the recent gift of $100,000 from the Sensible Shoes Foundation to the Staging the Future Capital Campaign.

David and Ruth Asper have a long tradition of philanthropic generosity and have been strong supporters of community-building initiatives throughout Manitoba. The timeliness of this gift means that the funds will be matched by the Richardson Foundation through their matching challenge to the campaign and will double the impact of this momentous gift.

“The Winnipeg Folk Festival is a uniquely successful business story. As an arts organization, the festival has achieved financial success through a management strategy focused on self-reliance and entrepreneurship. We’re pleased to contribute to the festival’s ambitious site redevelopment project and play our part to support a made in Manitoba success story,” enthused David Asper.

Asper’s financial commitment to the project and to the festival is augmented by his own personal commitment. He currently is a member of the Staging the Future Capital Campaign Team and has also served as past chair of the Winnipeg Folk Festival Board of Directors (1991-1992).

While the Winnipeg Folk Festival has enjoyed much growth and success, it also faces many challenges. In order to continue to deliver the high quality experience that audiences, performers, vendors and volunteers have come to expect, a strategic investment in our festival site is critical. The goal of the campaign is to raise funds to enable the Winnipeg Folk Festival to undertake improvements and allow the festival to continue to excel, enhance accessibility, and welcome people for generations to come.

Currently, the campaign has raised more than 50% of its $6 million goal, with support from both the public and private sectors. Visit StagingTheFuture.ca for more information.

About the Winnipeg Folk Festival

www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca

With one of North America’s premier outdoor music festivals as its signature event, the Winnipeg Folk Festival is a year-round, not-for-profit arts organization that presents live music, arts events, and education and outreach programs designed to benefit the community. The festival also operates a performance space and music store in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District. The 39th annual Winnipeg Folk Festival takes place July 4-8, 2012 in Birds Hill Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada.

For more information please contact:
Margaret Koshinsky
Manager, Marketing Communications
204-231-0096 or cell: 204-223-9328
margaret@winnipegfolkfestival.ca

Gerry Couture Wins 2012 Investors Group Arts and Culture Award for Volunteer Excellence

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada – The Winnipeg Folk Festival is pleased to announce that the festival’s chair of the board, Gerry Couture, is the recipient of the 2012 Investors Group Arts and Culture Award for Volunteer Excellence. This recognition is awarded every year to a volunteer who has made outstanding contributions to the growth and success of an arts or cultural organization in Manitoba.

Couture has a lengthy history with the Winnipeg Folk Festival. He joined the board of directors in 1998 and served for eight years, including a term as chair of the board. In 2010, the Winnipeg Folk Festival had the good fortune to have him return as a member of the board and currently he is serving as chair of the board once again.

“Winnipeg is recognized across the country for the richness of its arts and culture,” says Couture. “I’ve had the privilege of playing a small role in that community over the years and I’m honoured to have been recognized for those efforts. I want to thank the Winnipeg Folk Festival for putting my name forward.”

In addition to his role as chair, Couture currently acts as the board representative on the Staging the Future Capital Campaign, a $6 million fundraising goal to support the largest site development the Winnipeg Folk Festival has undertaken in its history.

Couture will receive his award at the Volunteer Awards Dinner at the Winnipeg Convention Centre on Tuesday, April 17, 2012. The dinner will be attended by the lieutenant governor of Manitoba, the premier of Manitoba and the mayor of Winnipeg and is designed to publicly recognize the remarkable contributions made by outstanding volunteers in Manitoba.

About the Winnipeg Folk Festival

www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca

With one of North America’s premier outdoor music festivals as its signature event, the Winnipeg Folk Festival is a year-round, not-for-profit arts organization that presents live music, arts events, and education and outreach programs designed to benefit the community. The festival also operates a performance space and music store in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District. The 39th annual Winnipeg Folk Festival takes place July 4-8, 2012 in Birds Hill Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada.

For more information please contact:
Margaret Koshinsky
Manager, Marketing Communications
204-231-0096 or cell: 204-223-9328
margaret@winnipegfolkfestival.ca

To make a donation now, click here!

In This Issue

• Message from the Campaign Chair
• New Food Vendor Area Takes Shape
• Award-Winning Festival Kitchen
• 10 Reasons to Support
• Donor Profile – Sensible Shoes Foundation
• Campaign Banjo-meter Update
• Donor Listing

Message from Campaign Chair – Chris Couture

We are thrilled to announce that Syverson Monteyne Architecture has won an Award of Excellence at the 2012 Prairie Design Awards for their design of the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s backstage kitchen (La Cuisine). La Cuisine was completed this past October as part of Phase One of our Staging the Future project. Syverson Monteyne is now busy at work on the second phase and we are excited to see their next award-worthy designs at the festival. In this issue, we will give you a sneak-peek of what they have in store for the front of house food area.

Also in this issue is some great news from the Sensible Shoes Foundation. Those who attend the summer festival know how important quality footwear is to the festival experience. Its importance takes on a whole new meaning with the recent $100,000 gift from David and Ruth Asper’s Sensible Shoes Foundation. Thanks David and Ruth!

New Food Vendor Area Takes Shape

Delicious and diverse are two words that readily come to mind when thinking of the incredible food offered at the Winnipeg Folk Festival each year. Food vendors featured at the festival are selected by a jury and each summer close to 20 restaurants set up shop on the festival grounds at Birds Hill Provincial Park. Over the years, some of these restaurants have included local favorites Santa Lucia Pizza, Fresh Café, Bellissimo and festival darling – Whales Tails!

In 1997, the year that our re-useable plates program was started, the Winnipeg Folk Festival was the first festival of its kind in Canada to receive certification by EcoLogo – North America’s largest and most respected environmental standard and certification mark. The re-usable plate program annually diverts over 100,000 disposable plates from landfills and saves nearly 55 trees. If we total up the numbers since the program began, we’ve diverted over one million disposable plates from landfills, equivalent to saving 552 trees! Amazing, isn’t it?

And there’s more! Over the years, we’ve built on our legacy by finding innovative solutions to help us reduce our carbon footprint. The Site Redevelopment Plan provides us with an ideal opportunity to renew our ‘environmental vow’ and make our event even greater and greener.

A most exciting component of the upcoming phase of the Site Redevelopment Plan is a new bus loop in the revamped entrance to the festival site. The bus loop will give public transit buses and festival shuttles a dedicated access road into the main parking lot, that allows for a reserved pick-up and drop-off area close to the main gate. Highlights include a shaded bus shelter, pedestrian walkway, bicycle parking and the planting of indigenous trees.

The revitalized entrance area is being planned in consultation with the Province of Manitoba Parks and Natural Areas department.

“Over the years, we’ve been pleased to have so many visitors come to Birds Hill Provincial Park to enjoy the Winnipeg Folk Festival,” stated Barry Bentham, Director of Parks for the Province of Manitoba. “We look forward to continuing to partner closely with the festival team to make the park itself a central focus throughout this redevelopment project, and to maintain and enhance the natural beauty of the park every step of the way.”

In 2011 the Winnipeg Folk Festival, in partnership with Winnipeg Transit, launched the Festival Express FREE public transit service between Winnipeg and Birds Hill Provincial Park throughout the five days of the festival. In the future, the new bus loop will provide a safe, accessible and convenient hub for users of this service, and in so doing will play a vital role in helping to decrease the number of vehicles on the highways, in Birds Hill Provincial Park, and in the parking lot during the festival.

The broader revamped entrance development also includes additional space for a Bicycle Parking Zone that will offer lock-up racks to accommodate more than 1,200 bicycles. The Winnipeg Folk Festival Bike Ride to Site, which began in 2010, has been very successful in encouraging festival-goers to use their own ‘green power’ to make their way to the festival site and we hope many more will consider joining them.

Leafy Additions – Thanks to TD Bank Group

A major feature of our Site Redevelopment Plan is the literal greening of the festival site through the planting of trees. New trees, all of native species already found in Birds Hill Provincial Park, will be planted throughout the site and in the campground to expand already treed areas and provide more shade. Additional trees around the new bus loop, along pathways and in the new Festival Village will enhance the beauty of the site as well.

TD Bank Group has a special interest in tree planting as part of their philosophy to help sustain local environmental projects.

“TD is proud to support community programs aimed at greening our neighbourhoods. From removing carbon dioxide to releasing oxygen and reducing water run-off, trees are fundamental to our communities. These new trees are a welcome addition to the Winnipeg Folk Festival site at Birds Hill Provincial Park and will help us to connect with nature while enjoying the festival experience,” says John Emans, Vice-President, TD Commercial Banking.

TD Bank Group has generously donated $30,000 toward this part of our Staging the Future project. Thank you TD!

TEN REASONS TO SUPPORT Staging The Future

1. We help put Manitoba on the map.
2. We’re a true family event.
3. We’re internationally known and respected among performers.
4. We inspire journalists to write about Manitoba.
5. We’re smart, green and environmentally responsible.
   “Driven by the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s philosophy of sustainability, the Site Redevelopment Project has allowed us to push the boundaries of green building by re-purposing and recycling building materials. The Winnipeg Folk Festival is a great example of an organization that puts their values into action.” — Gerry Humphreys, Milestone Project Management
6. We support and nurture homegrown Manitoba talent.
7. We are a vital and unique member of Manitoba’s cultural industry.
8. Our 2800-strong volunteer team is the heart and soul of the festival and is one of Manitoba’s largest volunteer work forces.
9. We inspire young people.
10. The Winnipeg Folk Festival generates $29.4 million in Gross Economic Activity in Manitoba each year.

Committed to the Environment – Assiniboine Credit Union

It’s no secret that Assiniboine Credit Union ranks ecological responsibility as a high priority. They help support many community organizations in Manitoba through projects that create positive solutions to environmental concerns.

This vision aligns directly with the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s own commitment to the environment. Making the festival a more sustainable event is a key priority for the Site Redevelopment Project.

The Winnipeg Folk Festival is delighted to have deepened its partnership with Assiniboine Credit Union through the receipt of a gift of $50,000 towards the Staging the Future Capital Campaign. This gift will help support an improved and expanded Bicycle Parking Zone in the newly renovated festival site entrance and welcome area. With parking for over 1,200 bicycles, this area will play an important role in accommodating and rewarding the growing number
of festival-goers who are choosing to ride to and within Birds Hill Provincial Park during the festival.

“We have had a long partnership with the Winnipeg Folk Festival,” says Assiniboine’s CEO Al Morin. “Every year the festival seems to get bigger and better and we commend the organization’s commitment to managing this growth in an environmentally sustainable manner.”

The Winnipeg Folk Festival thanks Assiniboine Credit Union for its visionary support!

Campaign Banjo-meter Update

To play your part in filling the banjo click here.

Staging the Future Capital Campaign Donors

Thank you to all of the donors who have made gifts to our Staging the Future Capital Campaign. Your support is so important.

Corporate Donors and Foundations
AIL – American Income Life
The Asper Foundation
Assiniboine Credit Union
Cambrian Credit Union
Coghlan’s Ltd
KCI
Manitoba Hydro
Maple Leaf Construction Ltd.
National Leasing
The North West Company
Pollard Family Foundation
Richardson Foundation
The Sensible Shoes Foundation – David & Ruth Asper
TD Bank Group
The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company
The Winnipeg Foundation

Government
Building Canada Fund – Communities Component (Top Up)
Community Places

Individuals
Nancy & Amadea
Jamie & Carolyn Abbott
Sandra Altner
Bill & Gail Anderson
Anonymous (13)
Jose Aravjo & Judy Heppelle
Archer-Heese Family – Peter, Gail, Mackenzie & Rachel
Karin Archibald & Marcel Carignan
Ted & Betty Ash
Buffie Babb & Christy Press
Ron Bailey
F.G. Barnsley
Carolyn Basha & Gilles Fournier
Mike Baudic
Doug Belcher
Kathryn Bernard
Elisabeth Bernardi
Susan Berthiaume
Susan Bishop
Valorie & Neil Block
Dmitri Bondarenko
Priscilla Boucher
Jean-Guy Bourgeois
Diane Boyle, KCI
Billy Brodovsky & Libby Yager
Ron & Doreen Bryan
Janice Butcher
Cheryl Butler
Timothy Cashion – In honour of Samuel Theodore Fauldner Bourgeois’ first folk fest
Anne Cathcart
Cedar Cultural Center
Dinah Ceplis
Changes Crew: Patti Bryski, Deb Handziuk, Dennis Muldrew, Denise Pauls, Valerie Regehr, Sandy Robinson
Angela Chotka – In Memory of Percy Clark
Roslin Chrest
Elizabeth Clement
Jennifer Cobb
David & Maurene Cohen
Nan & Martin Colledge
Brian R. Connoy
Karen Cooper & Bruce Schneier
Mahon Corkery
Gerry & Chris Couture
Keith & Linda Craig
Brian & Barbara Crow
Sandy Cumming
Karen-Denise Cyr & John McLennan
Karen Dana & Harry Havey
Jennifer Davis, Cindy Fawcett, Cali Fawcett
Minnie Davis
Michael Desautels
Harold Dick & Donna Parry
Thorn & Kay’s 50th anniversary and family
Kreesta Doucette
Neil & Carol Duboff
Cecile Dumesnil
Greg & Vera Duncan
Lisa Dveris
Gordon Elvers
J. Willow Emberhawk
Lottie Enns-Braun: In Honour of Krista, Stefan, Tyler and Emily – my beloved folkies
Denzil Feinberg
Karla Ferguson & Sean McManus
Allan Finkel
Jeff & Christine Frank
Chris Frayer & Miriam Jezik
Jane & David Frayer
Linda Freed
Evelyn & David Friesen
Peter Funk
Kay & Dave
Tania Gauthier
S. Grabowieski
Kathryn Graham
Marty Greenfeld
Al & Mintie Grienke
Vona Guiler & Phil Veldhuis
Morgan Hamill & Damon Mitchell
Rich & Connie Hamon
Berni & Bryan Harley
Linda Harlos & Adrian Wildsmith
Nancy Jo Harmon
Susan Heald
Raymond Hebert
Arwen Helene & Taavo Sults
John Helliar
Diane Heywood
Linda J. Hiebert
Shaleem Hosein
Richard & Karen Howell
Debbie Hurrell
Barb Janes & Bev Peters
Timothy Jones
Tamara Kater
Jocelyn Katz
Christine Kennedy
Georgia Kerr
Miriam Ketonen & Simon Hoad
Margaret Koshinsky
Eugene & Jeri Kostyra
Tom Kremer – to future children
Greg Kresko
Vern & Louise Laing
Ginette Lavack Walters & Kevin Walters
Zandra Lea
Katrina Lee-Kwen & Jeff Neufeld
Daniel Levin & Lilian Bonin
Love from L. Lipkin and S. Minneapolis women
Bill & Shirley Loewen
Barb & Jim Lund
Mary Macdonald, David Wood & Family
Scott MacDonell
Barrie March & Jeanne Beare
Jerry Maskiew
Deborah McCawley
Molly McCracken
Anita McDonald
Marni McFadden
Terry McIntosh
Mike McKernan
Heather, Andrew & Paul McLaren
Joan Melanson
Amy Miller
Brian Moore & Dolores Madolora
Morrisons
Philip Mouch
The Murray Family
Bob & Cindy Newfield
Jo-Anne Nykilchyk
Kari O’Reilly
Debra Parkes & Cheryl Sluis
Gary & Erin Parsons
Kathy & Rollin Penner
Donna Phillips – In memory of Paul Phillips
Dani Pokornik
Pool Family
Sandy Popham
Michael & Sjaan Protulipac
Bev Racicot
Nalini Reddy
Reynold Redekopp
Iris Reimer
Cheryl Reimer-Vogt
Karen & Hugh G. Rice
Barbara Rider
A.C. Robinson
Cheryl & Tim Rohrig
Kelly Romas
Terry Sargeant
Schindle Family
Jane Polak Scowcroft
Ryan Segal
Gary Senft
Norm & Beth Shore
Caroline Sicat
Mark & Zoe Simkin
Ruth Simkin
John Simpson
Jon Singleton & Barbara Hiebert
Dr. Ross & Beryl Singleton
Jennifer Sippel
Liz Speers
Tim & Elly Spencer
Trish Steadman & Rob Franklin
Adele Stiles
Dale Stiles
Helene & David Sward
Randall S. Swartz
Bill & Shirley Loewen
Gunny Tennese & Angie Woodbury
Josh & Sasha Thiem
Al & Loretta Thorleifson
Thor Thorleifson
Robin Tod
Dan & Dawn Torbiak
VanAllen Family
Nancy Walker
The Wall Family
The Wallaces
Mandy Wallmann & Emri Canvin
From Susan Watchman in honour of festival volunteers.
Tracy Wayne
Mandy & Jared Whelan
Terence Wiebe
Glenn Williams & Linda Dawson
In honour of Jaimie Willow
Rebecca Winkworth
Alex & Chery Yaworski
Grit Youngquist & Jon Kerr

To make a donation now, click here!

In This Issue

• Message from the Campaign Chair
• Capital Campaign Update
• 10 Reasons to Support Staging the Future
• Donor Profile: Richardson Foundation
• A Grassroots Event and How it Grew
• Donor Listing

Message from Campaign Chair – Chris Couture

On behalf of the Staging the Future Campaign Team – Happy New Year! As we look forward to the next Winnipeg Folk Festival in 2012, we are also looking at how far the festival has come in the past 38 years. The Staging the Future project will elevate the festival to a new level of artistic excellence, building on its growing international reputation.

As our campaign progresses, we are so grateful for our festival friends who have made financial commitments to the Staging the Future project. In this issue you will learn about a fantastic matching opportunity from the Richardson Foundation. In addition to their own gift of $100,000, the Richardson Foundation will provide an additional $150,000 as a matching challenge for all upcoming campaign gifts. It is a perfect time to invest in Manitoba with a pledge to this important campaign.

Best wishes for 2012!

Staging the Future Capital Campaign – More Than Halfway Complete

We are so excited to share the news that our Staging the Future Capital Campaign is more than 50% complete! With support from both the public and private sectors, we have now raised more than $3.2 million.

The Staging the Future Capital Campaign will support the future of the Winnipeg Folk Festival. When we set out to start our campaign we were excited by the possibilities, but at the same time a little nervous about tackling the most important and ambitious project in our history. However, knowing what the project means for the future of the festival was inspiration enough to undertake this important fundraising initiative. This project will make improvements that will upgrade and expand our festival stages and enhance services for every festival guest.

The Winnipeg Foundation’s $100,000 gift kick-started our fundraising efforts. Manitoba Hydro, a long-standing annual sponsor of the festival, also committed early to the campaign. Manitoba Hydro’s CEO, Bob Brennan, serves on the steering committee for the campaign. Mr. Brennan recognizes the impact that the festival makes to the community. “It is remarkable that more than 10,000 people camp at the festival each day. For the festival weekend, Birds Hill Provincial Park becomes one of Manitoba’s largest communities. Manitoba Hydro is happy to be involved in this project to ensure that the festival continues to be a stellar event for Manitoba.”

Now that the Staging the Future Capital Campaign is well underway we would like to thank our partners in the community for our success so far. We look forward to reaching our six million dollar goal!

THANKS TO THESE NEW STAGING THE FUTURE SUPPORTERS!

The Asper Foundation

Assiniboine Credit Union

Cambrian Credit Union

Neil & Carol Duboff

Evelyn & David Friesen

Bill & Shirley Loewen

Manitoba Hydro

Maple Leaf Construction

National Leasing

The North West Company

Pollard Family Foundation

Richardson Foundation

TD Bank Group

The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company

The Winnipeg Foundation

PUBLIC CAMPAIGN

Building Canada Fund – Communities Component (Top Up)

Community Places

10 Reasons to Support STAGING THE FUTURE

1. We help put Manitoba on the map.
2. We’re a true family event.

   “The WFF has brought us together as a family. We talk about past festivals and make plans for the next one around the kitchen table. The festival exposes kids to a wide variety of good music and is super fun! Families need traditions. Our family looks forward to two each year — Christmas and the WFF!” — Vona Guiler, WFF patron

3. We’re internationally known and respected among performers.
4. We inspire journalists to write about Manitoba.
5. We’re smart, green and environmentally responsible.
6. We support and nurture homegrown Manitoba talent.
7. We are a vital and unique member of Manitoba’s cultural industry.
8. Our 2800-strong volunteer team is the heart and soul of the festival and is one of Manitoba’s largest volunteer work forces.
9. We inspire young people.
10. The Winnipeg Folk Festival generates $29.4 million in Gross Economic Activity in Manitoba each year.

Richardson Foundation Announces Support and
Matching Gift Challenge

The Winnipeg Folk Festival is pleased to announce the recent gift of $100,000 from the Richardson Foundation to the Staging the Future Capital Campaign.

Since 1857, James Richardson & Sons, Limited has maintained a strong belief in giving back to the communities in which they serve. This gift acknowledges the commitment of the Richardson Foundation to the performing arts and the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s leading role in bringing music to our community each year.

“The Trustees of the Richardson Foundation firmly believe that the Winnipeg Folk Festival plays a critical role that goes beyond the performing arts,” said Hartley Richardson, President & CEO of JRSL. “Their education and youth initiatives inform and inspire, enriching the lives of tens of thousands each year.”

Furthermore, the Foundation has offered a donation challenge toward the campaign. The Foundation will provide an additional $150,000 in dollar for dollar matching funds for all forthcoming gifts.

“To involve the community in the campaign was important to us, and we felt the most effective way to help accomplish this was through a matching gift,” said Richardson.

The Winnipeg Folk Festival thanks the Richardson Foundation for their visionary support!

A Grassroots Event and How it Grew

It’s the summer of 1974. Bomber jackets, flared trousers, oversized hoop earrings, print scarves and aviator sunglasses are the fashion statements of the day. Pierre Trudeau’s Liberals have recently won a majority. Prairie native Joni Mitchell’s iconic Court and Spark album is nominated for three Grammy awards – a sign of the resurgence of folk music in North America.

Manitoba’s capital city is preparing to celebrate its centennial with a one-time music spectacle in Birds Hill Provincial Park. Christened the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the event was comprised of 50 acts on four stages featuring Bruce Cockburn, Sylvia Tyson and Murray McLaughlin.

Twenty-two thousand visitors attended that first festival in the park. As co-host Peter Gzowski closed the festival, he announced to the audience that the entire experience was just too good to let go and he donated his pay cheque to keep it alive. Suddenly people were on their feet, waving money in their hands and heralding the coming of a second Winnipeg Folk Festival.

From these relatively humble beginnings, the Winnipeg Folk Festival is now a world-renowned musical powerhouse converging under the prairie sky for five days each July. And yet, in spite of exponential growth and almost quadruple the number of visitors, the festival has retained its inaugural atmosphere of peace, goodwill and harmony – a feeling best described by a festivalgoer:

There’s something magical about the festival. Folk music seems to have that special quality that brings out the best in everybody – the performers, the audience and especially the volunteers.

As we prepare for the 39th Winnipeg Folk Festival, the spirit that inspired the first festival in 1974 is still alive. The Site Redevelopment Project and the capital investment in the festival site will ensure the festival has a home that will allow this dream to continue for decades to come.

Politics and fashion may have changed but the Winnipeg Folk Festival remains a much loved and cherished event that is still too good to let go. We hope that you will join the supporters of the Staging the Future Capital Campaign and play your part in continuing this great Manitoba experience that does so much for our economy and the community.

Remember, there is no better time to make a gift with the matching opportunity from the Richardson Foundation.

Staging the Future Capital Campaign Donors

Thank you to all of the donors who have made gifts to our Staging the Future Capital Campaign. Your support is so important.

(This list recognized gifts received by January 1, 2012)

To make a donation now, click here!

$2.7 Million Investment in Festival Home

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada – The Winnipeg Folk Festival is pleased to announce that Phase One of its Site Redevelopment Project is complete. The first phase of the multi-phase, earth-friendly project was a $2.7m investment that brings significant and much needed improvements to the festival site at Birds Hill Provincial Park.

“After 1.5 million visitors, we’ve realized our festival home is in need of some critical and urgent upgrades. We are very happy to see the first phase of our project complete on schedule and on budget. The festival is investing in this project to ensure the festival lives on for future generations,” says board chair Gerry Couture.

This first phase addressed back-of-house operations with a focus on health, safety and service improvements. A critical component includes the creation of a new emergency access road that provides a direct and quick access route, improving the festival’s capacity to deal with an emergency. As with all parts of this project, extra care is taken to protect the environment. The road was engineered to avoid tree clusters and hardwood growth, and the construction was adapted to avoid habitat and plant disruption.

Another key component, the eco-friendly kitchen facility La Cuisine, which celebrated its Grand Opening on July 4, 2011, is now complete. This unique structure functions as the site of food preparations for more than 45,000 meals during the festival, and as a place for tent drying and storage post-event. Designed and built with repurposed and recycled materials, the building reflects the festival’s environmental philosophy and commitment to sustainability.

“We found three buildings slated for demolition and repurposed the components to create the structure,” explains project manager Gerry Humphreys. “With the addition of salvaged Manitoba Oak and other materials, the building by weight is more than 90% comprised of recycled or reclaimed materials.”

Other Phase One components of the project include:

• New Vendor Access Road;
• New Site Office;
• Expanded Backstage Bus Loop;
• Electrical Upgrades;
• Campground Improvements.

The Winnipeg Folk Festival would like to recognize the support of the Building Canada Fund – Communities Component (Top Up), as well as Community Places and The Winnipeg Foundation for their support of the first phase of our Site Redevelopment Project.

With Phase One complete, work now begins on the next phase of the project. Up next are front-of- house improvements including two new forest stages, a new festival village, pathways, lighting, electrical upgrades and a bus loop by the main gate. The goal is to improve the festival experience for every guest. The Winnipeg Folk Festival is in the midst of a capital campaign to support this $6m project.

About the Winnipeg Folk Festival

www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca

With one of North America’s premier outdoor music festivals as its signature event, the Winnipeg Folk Festival is a year-round, not-for-profit arts organization that presents live music, arts events, and education and outreach programs designed to benefit the community. The festival also operates a performance space and music store in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District. The 39th annual Winnipeg Folk Festival takes place July 4-8, 2012 in Birds Hill Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada.

For more information please contact:
Margaret Koshinsky
Manager, Marketing & Communications
204-231-0096 or cell: 204-223-9328
margaret@winnipegfolkfestival.ca