festival

Thursday June 29, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday June 29, 2023

Canadians Deserve a Swift Resolution, Not a Lengthy Inquiry on Foreign Interference

August 2, 2019

As summer arrives in Canada, the prospect of a costly and protracted public inquiry into foreign interference is unlikely to be met with enthusiasm. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made it clear that the federal government will not proceed with any further steps to investigate this issue until there is full agreement from opposition parties. This cautious approach aims to prevent a repeat of the previous inquiry led by David Johnston, which was marred by a highly partisan atmosphere.

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc has been engaged in negotiations with opposition parties to chart a path forward. Momentum seemed to be building towards an imminent announcement, potentially involving a public inquiry or an alternative process, before the summer break. However, since then, there has been silence regarding the nature of the investigation, its leadership, and its timeline.

June 13, 2023

Earlier this week, Johnston submitted his final report to the prime minister, officially concluding his work. While the report remains confidential, opposition party leaders have been offered access to it, provided they obtain the necessary security clearance. Trudeau emphasized that responsible leadership and a serious approach are required to address foreign interference. He pointed to the excessive partisanship and toxicity that marred Johnston’s tenure, making it impossible for him to continue his work effectively.

News: David Johnston files his final report on foreign interference, but it won’t be made public  

While Trudeau seeks consensus among all parties on a new approach to tackle foreign interference, opposition parties insist on a public inquiry as a prerequisite. Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet hinted at an imminent announcement, while NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh expressed cautious optimism but demanded a clear commitment from the government regarding a comprehensive public inquiry with full powers. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, on the other hand, has called for an independent inquiry under the Inquiries Act, with his party ready to propose potential leaders and terms of reference.

May 27, 2023

Concerns have been raised that opposition parties may prefer chaos over a solution, as former Liberal and Conservative staffers fear. However, former NDP staffer Cam Holmstrom believes that announcing the inquiry at the beginning of July would be crucial in reshaping public opinion and setting the stage for the fall and the upcoming election.

Following Johnston’s resignation, Minister LeBlanc expressed his intention to consult opposition parties promptly to determine the investigation process and potential leaders of a public inquiry. However, nearly three weeks later, no agreement has been reached, and both the government and opposition parties offer little more than optimism about the ongoing negotiations.

Former Conservative staffer Fred DeLorey, who played a significant role in the 2021 federal election campaign, expresses his disappointment with the lack of serious attention to the issue of foreign interference. He suspects that some opposition parties may intentionally prolong the chaos by making unreasonable demands. DeLorey urges all parties to prioritize addressing the vulnerabilities they face in the next election instead of engaging in political gamesmanship.

News: Government hints news about a possible public inquiry into foreign interference coming soon  

April 15, 2023

April 15, 2023

Former Liberal Party staffer Greg MacEachern observes a decrease in the intensity of the debate following Johnston’s resignation, as the responsibility to find a way forward now lies with the opposition parties. He challenges them to take action and determine the next steps rather than merely criticizing the government.

Canadians deserve a swift resolution to the issue of foreign interference, one that focuses on strengthening the integrity of our elections. While it is essential to ensure broad consensus among all parties, this should not become an excuse for inaction or prolonged delays. As the summer progresses, Canadians hope that their leaders will prioritize the security of our democracy over partisan interests and deliver a comprehensive plan to safeguard our elections. (AI) | Also printed in the Toronto Star.

 

Friday October 14, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Friday October 14, 2016 Harvest Picnic organizer sues talent agency, performers, for millions The organizer of the annual Harvest Picnic music festival has filed a lawsuit against one of Canada's largest talent agencies, as well as musical acts Jann Arden, Johnny Reid and the Cowboy Junkies, seeking more than $26 million in damages due to breach of contract. The lawsuit also says both the Harvest Picnic and the annual Hamilton Music Awards are in danger of collapsing. Local promoter Jean Paul Gauthier alleges The Feldman Agency, based in Toronto and Vancouver, Reid and the Cowboy Junkies both breached contract provisions preventing them from playing within a certain radius of Hamilton within 90 days of the Aug. 26 to 28 Harvest Picnic at Christie Lake Conservation Area. His claims against Arden relate to concert date announcements. Feldman acted as the booking agency for those festival acts. The allegations, which have not been tested in court, were made in a 15-page statement of claim filed in Ontario Superior Court under Gauthier's company, September Seventh Entertainment, which also runs the annual Hamilton Music Awards. "The events that September Seventh produces and owns, namely the Harvest Picnic and Hamilton Music Awards, are now at great risk of ceasing to exist due to the unconscionable conduct, high-handed conduct or conduct in bad faith and breaches of contract by the defendants," the statement of claim says. This year the Harvest Picnic expanded from one to three days. Crowds were noticeably lower than the previous five years. Meanwhile, several artists, many of them local, have said they have not been paid by Gauthier. "I got a bounced cheque," said Hamilton singer-songwriter Tomi Swick, who performed twice at the festival. "It's a sad situation. (Gauthier) has always been pretty good to me. It was a good festival.Ó Other musicians who have not yet been paid by the festival include

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday October 14, 2016

Harvest Picnic organizer sues talent agency, performers, for millions

The organizer of the annual Harvest Picnic music festival has filed a lawsuit against one of Canada’s largest talent agencies, as well as musical acts Jann Arden, Johnny Reid and the Cowboy Junkies, seeking more than $26 million in damages due to breach of contract.

The lawsuit also says both the Harvest Picnic and the annual Hamilton Music Awards are in danger of collapsing.

September 10, 2016

September 10, 2016

Local promoter Jean Paul Gauthier alleges The Feldman Agency, based in Toronto and Vancouver, Reid and the Cowboy Junkies both breached contract provisions preventing them from playing within a certain radius of Hamilton within 90 days of the Aug. 26 to 28 Harvest Picnic at Christie Lake Conservation Area. His claims against Arden relate to concert date announcements.

Feldman acted as the booking agency for those festival acts.

The allegations, which have not been tested in court, were made in a 15-page statement of claim filed in Ontario Superior Court under Gauthier’s company, September Seventh Entertainment, which also runs the annual Hamilton Music Awards.

“The events that September Seventh produces and owns, namely the Harvest Picnic and Hamilton Music Awards, are now at great risk of ceasing to exist due to the unconscionable conduct, high-handed conduct or conduct in bad faith and breaches of contract by the defendants,” the statement of claim says.

This year the Harvest Picnic expanded from one to three days. Crowds were noticeably lower than the previous five years.

Meanwhile, several artists, many of them local, have said they have not been paid by Gauthier.

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday August 24, 2013

August 24, 2013

“I got a bounced cheque,” said Hamilton singer-songwriter Tomi Swick, who performed twice at the festival. “It’s a sad situation. (Gauthier) has always been pretty good to me. It was a good festival.”

Other musicians who have not yet been paid by the festival include the Toronto-based band The Rheostatics, Hamilton singer-songwriter Lori Yates and Hamilton native Jeremy Fisher.

“I honestly feel bad for (Gauthier),” said Fisher’s manager Mike Renaud, owner of Hamilton-based Hidden Pony Records. “I think he just got in over his head. I don’t think he’s a malicious person. But I don’t think this (filing a lawsuit) is the best way to handle it.”

Calls and emails to Gauthier were not returned. A representative of The Feldman Agency offered The Spectator no comment on the lawsuit, but Feldman president Jeff Craib told CBC News that it was “frivolous and vexatious.”

In a statement emailed to The Spectator, The Rheostatics said the band felt “let down.” (Continued: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Saturday September 3, 2011

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday September 3, 2011

It might get loud…

An extraordinary triple musical convergence will take over Hamilton’s core Saturday as Supercrawl, the Locke Street Festival and Country Music Week all rub elbows.

sketch

Any one of these three events would be a biggie for the city core. Last year, organizers estimated some 15,000 people attended the Locke Street Festival alone. Another 20,000 poured onto James St. North for Supercrawl. And that was when both festivals were held on different September weekends.

This year the two daylong annual festivals — each featuring an outstanding musical lineup — will take place on the same day, Saturday, Sept. 10.

Added to the excitement is the Canadian Country Music Association’s annual FanFest, the centrepiece of Country Music Week, which is taking place in Hamilton for the first time in 11 years. On Saturday, Sept. 10, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Canada’s top country music stars will perform on the Jackson Square rooftop plaza. FanFest will draw country music enthusiasts from across the country. Organizers are expecting up to 5,000 people.

All three events are within walking distance and all three are free. It has the makings of a huge downtown party — part country hoedown, part art crawl, part indie rock concert, part blues festival, part shopping spree and part grazing expedition.

Imagine Stetsons rubbing brims with black berets and Rasta caps, cowboy boots going toe-to-toe with Birkenstock sandals, beer sharing tables with cappuccino, symphony cellists trading licks with indie kids and belly dancers bouncing hips with line dancers and hip hop DJs.

line drawing

There could be 40,000 people in the core for the combined “Super Saturday” events.

According to Tourism Hamilton, all of the city’s approximately 1,100 hotel rooms are booked for Super Saturday, with Supercrawl and tourism officials now sending the overflow to Burlington and beyond for lodging.

The estimated economic impact of Country Music Week alone could be as high as $7 million (based on an estimated 10,000 participants), says Dana Borcea, marketing and media relations co-ordinator for Tourism Hamilton.

Super Saturday also gives the city a chance to show off a new side of itself to an influential and captive audience. “Art is the new steel,” as members of the James St. gallery community say.

The Canadian Country Music Association is holding its annual general meeting at the Hamilton Convention Centre next weekend as part of Country Music Week. The CCMA has some 1,600 members. Hundreds will be coming from out of town — Edmonton, Calgary, Halifax and Vancouver. They represent record labels, booking agencies, concert promoters and management companies.

“There will also be a strong representation of people from the music industry attending Country Music Week that day,” says Tim Potocic, co-owner of Hamilton’s Sonic Unyon record label and one of the organizers of Supercrawl. 

“It will be excellent exposure for the city of Hamilton.”

Hamilton Spectator

In particular, it will be great exposure for Hamilton’s thriving music scene. All the performers on stage at the Locke Street Festival are local and, although the big name at Supercrawl is Toronto’s Broken Social Scene, a good percentage of the performers on the three stages of James St. North are from Hamilton, including Young Rival, the Dinner Belles, Monster Truck, The Rest and the Junior Boys. Even the Hamilton Philharmonic is joining forces with folksinger Basia Bulat for a concert on the street.

It also spells good news for the city’s night clubs as out-of-town industry folk take over downtown venues for private parties and showcases. The Casbah is hosting a Sony Music Canada party, while the Paquin Entertainment Group holds court in This Ain’t Hollywood and Royalty Records sets up shop at Waltz in Jackson Square. The Artword Artbar Café (Colbourne at James N.) is featuring an afternoon Ladies of Country showcase, a public show presented by a coalition of four entertainment companies.

The amazing thing about this Super Saturday is that it wasn’t really a planned thing. Organizers for all three events picked their dates without being aware of the others.

“It was just a coincidence,” says Potocic. “We picked this date about a year ago with a lot of consultation with people on the street. Then we learned about the CCMA and Country Music Week. We gave then a call and co-ordinated things with their FanFest. And they directed us to a couple of acts — the Heartbroken and Ridley Bent — for the Supercrawl stages.”

The city has gotten aboard, adding increased policing to both the Supercrawl (29 officers, up from four last year) and FanFest events (another four officers), as well as providing a free shuttle bus linking Supercrawl to Locke Street.

The shuttle (it’s the faux cable car you see running downtown) will move in 30-minute intervals starting at 10 a.m. at Main and Locke — moving to stops at John and Wilson, Pier VIII Marine Discovery Centre, James and Strachan, James and York/Wilson before returning to Main and Locke — to 10 p.m. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

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