Eco-Evening at the Park a Great Success

By Anne Lindsey

Our Eco-Evening at the Park Theatre on a cold January night was an unparalleled success. An overflow crowd came out to hear the wonderful music of Romi Mayes, sip organic wines, nibble local cheese, and watch the Al Gore film, An Inconvenient Truth. And many went home with useful, exciting and beautiful prizes donated by some truly fabulous supporters in the business community.

One attendee was heard to comment that this was the best fundraising event she had ever been at! High praise indeed. And there’s no doubt, it was fun. The funky ambience of the Park Theatre, renovated and reopened a little more than a year ago by owner, Erick Casselman, is a major reason. This Osborne Street venue features a cool cafe, video rentals and a theatre and is becoming a hub for local events. It has been a great shot in the arm for the South Osborne neighbourhood, especially for those of us who grew up going to movies at the Park, and nostalgically wished for it to come to life again. Pack this place with a couple hundred lively folks with environmental interests, great music and an inspiring film, and success is bound to happen.

We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the evening: Erick and Melanie Casselman for generously donating the venue, Romi Mayes and her guitarist, Grant Siemens, guest host, Marilyn Maki from CBC Radio, Dr. Danny Blair who introduced the film and moderated discussion afterwards, Steve Rauh for compiling a slide show of local climate change solutions and ideas, the “sound guy” Martin Hebert, poster artist Takashi Iwasaki, the Kenaston Wine Market, the event organizers, Kristina Hunter, Lise Smith, Julie Fine, Liz Dykman and Anne Lindsey, the wonderful staff at the Park, and the many hardworking volunteers.

People liked the Eco-Evening so much that many thought we should do some more of the same (or at least similar!). So the idea of Eco-Tuesdays at the Park was born. This film series will be held the third Tuesday in the month, March through June, and will feature films and discussion on oil and energy issues. Refreshments will be available at the Park’s cafe. Coming up: April 17 Who Killed the Electric Car, May 15 The End of Suburbia, and June 19 An Inconvenient Truth, the Extended Version.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of all the Eco-Evening prize donors:

Bistro 7 1/4
A Healthier Way to Live
Brave New World
Bread and Circuses
Canadian Organic Growers
Charisma
Churchill Northern Studies Centre
City of Wpg Naturalist Services
Common Ground Café
Dandelion Cafe
Dragonfly Bodywork/Massage
Eatit.ca
Erosion Control Blanket
Falafel Place
FortWhyte Alive
Fresh Option Organic Delivery
Friends of A.P.C.
Friggs Natural Meats
Green Party of Manitoba
Harry’s Foods
Hempyrean
Humboldt’s Legacy
Kenaston Wine Market
La Parfumerie
Living Prairie Museum
Manitoba Forestry Association
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods
Manitoba Hydro
McNally Robinson
Mondragon Coffehouse/Books
Mountain Equipment Coop
Movie Village
Native Orchid Conservation Inc.
Natural Cycle
Norwex Enviro products
Oak Hammock Marsh
Organza
Reading Rat
Resource Conservation MB
Solar Solutions
Star Grill
T and T Seeds
Tall Grass Prairie Bread
Ten Thousand Villages
Vita Health Stores
Warehouse Artworks
Wild Birds Unlimited