The fundraiser put on by Save Kingston City Schools and Save KCVI next week will showcase the talents of many students and former students – but it will also showcase the huge support, translated into action, of Kingston residents, for the reversal of the school closure decision.
An army of volunteers is working tirelessly to prepare for the fundraiser that takes place next week, fanning out across the city, distributing posters, selling tickets, and getting donations. A huge team of helpers, made up of current and former students, parents, community members and business people, will stage the event, from managing the sound system to serving appetizers.
Dozens of downtown businesses have donated to the cause, contributed to the silent auction, and put posters up in their shop windows. Kingston Soundworks and the Canadian Guitar Festival are providing the sound system for the musical evening free of charge.
Last month over 200 people overflowed the Wilson Room of the Central Library, with supporters standing in the halls outside, at a public meeting that rallied to continue the fight to save city high schools, KCVI and QECVI. There was consensus at the meeting that litigation – and fundraising to pay for it – should be pursued.
The ‘Evening of the Arts’ takes place at 7pm on June 25 in St. George’s Cathedral and will feature The Tragically Hip’s Rob Baker, Paul Langlois and Gord Sinclair, who all graduated from KCVI in the 1980s. The diverse programme also includes recent graduate and prodigious violin talent Deanna Choi.
There will also be a number from ‘The Music Man,’ the most recent show to be performed on the KCVI stage, in the only school auditorium in the region, that would be lost if the school closed. Other performers include the cast of Winston Churchill’s ‘Annie Jr.,’ newly emerging rock bands, and singer-guitarists Hugh Bakhurst and Sean Patterson who recently graduated from KCVI. During the reception in the Great Hall there will be performances of talented students from Sydenham, Central and Rideau public schools.
Mariah Rowe, an experienced fundraiser, is the chief organizer of the event. “I’m truly amazed at the outpouring of support,’ Ms. Rowe said. ‘Kingston has really stepped up. It will be a wonderful occasion — we have a great team working on the event, and the performers are fantastic. I’m thrilled.’
Tickets are selling fast. Many donors are purchasing tickets to give to people who could otherwise not come. Supporters are invited to consider donating a ticket in kind that can be added to the raffle.
Anyone who makes a donation is invited to indicate in the comments section of the Paypal form that they would like to be considered for a free ticket. The draw for the tickets will take place at 5pm on Sunday, June 22.
Tickets can be purchased on the Save Kingston City Schools and Save KCVI websites: savekingstoncityschools.com and www.soskcvi.ca .
Release source: soskcvi | Top Photo: KCVI – Andrew MacKinnon (cc)
