Winnipeg, October 15, 2004 - True North Sports & Entertainment Chairman Mark Chipman announced today that one dollar from the sale of every ticket sold to the "Northern Lights, Northern Stars" concert that will open MTS Centre on Tuesday night, November 16, 2004 will be donated to the Ladybug Foundation for The Homeless.
Related: True North confirms historic meeting of Manitoba music stars for grand opening concert at MTS Centre
The Ladybug Foundation is the inspiration of Hannah Taylor, the eight year old Winnipeg girl who started painting ladybugs on jars to raise money for the city's homeless this year and has since won recognition, respect and support from politicians, business leaders, artists, musicians and the general public across the country. The Ladybug Foundation is now a registered charity dedicated to housing and feeding the homeless through existing programs across Canada. Manitoba's Lieutenant Governor John Harvard is the Foundation's patron and board members include Bob Silver, Gail Asper and David Northcott.
Chantal Kreviazuk, one of the headliners for the "Northern Lights Northern Stars" event is also a Ladybug Foundation board member and approached Mark Chipman with the idea that True North donate one dollar from every ticket sold for the opening night concert to the Foundation.
"When Chantal raised the idea it resonated with us immediately," Chipman
said. "Since we first conceived this project, it has always been our desire
that MTS Centre would serve as more than a sports and entertainment facility and
that it could impact the future of our downtown in many ways. Our opening
event provides a unique opportunity to partner with Hannah in beginning that
process and we are absolutely delighted to be a part of it."
"The idea of someone as young as Hannah seeing the need to provide sanctuary for the homeless and her conviction that she can make a difference is just awesome," Chantal Kreviazuk said. "Hannah and the The Ladybug Foundation's efforts to provide shelter for homeless people in Manitoba have been a real inspiration for me and I'm proud to be involved in any way."
The grand opening of the sports and entertainment centre will see Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman joined by Tom Cochrane, Chantal Kreviazuk, Doc Walker and The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in a celebration of some of Manitoba's most celebrated music and musicians.
Tickets for the "Northern Lights, Northern Stars" grand opening concert on November 16th are available from Ticketmaster (phone 780 - 3333). Tickets are priced at $39.50, $55.50 and $69.50 plus service charge.
