busking for change

Great article from National Post about a great cause.

Torontonians may recall that a couple of years ago, Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace busked all over Toronto for 12 hours to publicize his solo album and raise money for War Child. And he did raise money - $22,000 of it. So se followed it up again last year with another day of busking, and this morning, War Child Canada has made it an event inspired by his progress

"Busking For Change" will take place next Tuesday, September 29, with over fifty musicians taking to Toronto's streets to busk to raise money for war-affected children around the world.

The initial run of acts confirmed include: Chantal Kreviazuk, Ill Scarlett, Sass Jordan, Neverending White Lights, Shiloh, Down With Webster, Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle, Liam Titcomb, USS, Arkells, Zack Werner, Brian Melo, Theo Tams, The Cliks, Hollerado, Stephen Stanley (Lowest of the Low), Jadea Kelly & Arif (Protest The Hero) Kevin Fox, Low Level Flight, Drew Wright (Fall & Divide), JT (Staggered Crossing) Richard Underhill, Crush Luther, The Apollo Effect, Magneta Lane, Dodger and more.

As a true fundraiser, the artsts each have a web page where you can pledge money to support their goals.

Of the goals, Chantal Kreviazuk's is the most lofty. She wants to build and run a youth centre in Darfur. And she's going to need a lot of loonies (and hopefully some corporate $1000 dollar bills to do it, as she's aiming for $30,000 by the end of Tuesday.

Kreviazuk: “The situation in Darfur is desperate, especially for young people. The centres are a place of normalcy amidst the horror. I know $30,000 is a lot in this economic climate but I have faith!”