2021 National Artists for Water Event

Weekend Dispatches
Written By Swim Drink Fish
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Swim Drink Fish supporters donate over $480,000 in first ever national virtual event:

Bidding was fierce at last night's Artists for Water auction in support of Swim Drink Fish

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Chief Lady Bird.jpg

Image credit (left): Steve Driscoll, The Sharp Contrast Between Light and Shade, Urethane on plastic panel, Courtesy of Steve Driscoll and Courtesy Angell Gallery, Toronto
Image credit (right): Chief Lady Bird, Untitled, Acrylic on paper

March 5, 2021

For the first time ever, Swim Drink Fish’s 2021 art auction, Artists for Water, took place online across Canada through givergy.ca, with a special livestream show hosted by Denise Donlon and presented by Delta Land Development. The auction featured artwork from 28 renowned artists including Shuvinai Ashoona, James Lahey, Alex McLeod, Edward Burtynsky, Dana Claxton, Kent Monkman, and many more.

More than 250 supporters from all over the country gathered online to bid on art and attend our exciting closing event. Generous supporters donated over $480,000, bringing the event’s fundraising tally to $4-million over the past 9 years.

Highlights of the Artists for Water event included:

  • Livestream show hosted by Order of Canada recipient Denise Donlon and produced by Brett Rogers

  • Performance by musical guest Sarah Harmer

  • Discussion with Swim Drink Fish President Mark Mattson and Waterkeeper Lauren Hornor

  • Interview featuring Edward Burtynsky

  • Interview featuring the late Gord Downie (2013)

  • Auction countdown by Stephen Ranger

As Swim Drink Fish has grown and evolved over the years, artists have become guides for exploring our vision of a world where communities can swim in their local waters without risking their health, drink the water flowing from their taps without fear of illness, and where fish and wildlife thrive and prosper in their natural environment.

Even though artists often have the least to give, they are the first to contribute. A musician writes a song. A painter creates a painting. A story-teller crafts a message. And the Swim Drink Fish movement builds communities where everyone has access to clean water. 

These incredible works have helped us reach 6-million people who are passionate about safeguarding the waters that we depend so deeply on.

Find out what inspired Canada's most renowned artists to support the Swim Drink Fish movement. 

Swim Drink Fish uses law, science, and communications technology to inspire people around the world to explore, understand, and protect their waters. Initiatives include: Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, Fraser Riverkeeper, North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper, Great Lakes Challenge, Swim Guide, Watermark Project, and Great Lakes Guide.

Through the generous donations of our supporters, we’ve secured the funds we need to ensure swimmable, drinkable, fishable water for all.

Quotes

"Canadians need a movement of millions to protect swimmable drinkable fishable waters. We are so thankful to our artists for leading the way through inspiration, beauty, and creativity” 

- Mark Mattson, President of Swim Drink Fish

“Water, the driving force of all nature, has the power to inspire us and bring communities together. We witnessed last night how water inspires art, and how art brings together a nation for one, important cause.” 

- Lauren Brown Hornor, Strategic Partnership Lead, Swim Drink Fish

Thank You

Thank You Sponsors
Presenting: Delta Land Development

Founding: Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)

Platinum: Breakwater Investments
Gold: Ports Toronto, Fox Harb'r Resort

Silver: HUB International Atlantic Limited, Lassonde, Fourth Box Holdings, AvenEx

Bronze: Miller Thompson LLP


Thank You Friends
Clintar Commercial Outdoor Services

Cement Association of Canada

Econse Water Purification Systems Inc.

Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

Lassonde

McKeil Marine

Walker Industries

Canadians for Clean Prosperity

CMS Intelligence

The Gordon and Lorraine Gibson Family Foundation

Burnbrae Farms Foundation

Golden Properties

Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation

Adnani Family

Heintzman Family

O'Donnell Family

O'Donohue Family

Rink Family

Tucker Family

Schumacher Family

Joyce Family

Smith Family

Bradley Family

Charnetski Family

Mangalji Family 

Adam Murray

Sandy Maclaren

Sasa Watt

Kathy Mersereau

Jason Crookham and Viet Vu

David Brady

Stuart Rutledge

Tracy and John Paul Pressey

Lori Kay

Bruce Langereis

Honor De Pencier

Peggy Smith

Kathy McKeil

Rod Talaifar 

Michael Douglas

Kristine Schumacher

Michael Fekete

Molly O'Ray

Kevin O'Donnell

Loren King

Peter Meredith and Millie Stewart

Nathan Balzer

Gail Lord

Kevin O'Donnell

Meaghan Thumath and Tret Jordan

Beverly Harris

And all the amazing donors who wish to remain anonymous


Social Media Summary

On March 4, 2021, Swim Drink Fish debuted its first ever online art auction presented by Delta Land Development with a livestream show hosted by Denise Donlon and auction countdown by Stephen Ranger. Hundreds gathered from across the country to bid on 28 pieces of artwork from some of Canada’s top artists, such as Shuvinai Ashoona, James Lahey, Alex McLeod, Edward Burtynsky, Dana Claxton, Kent Monkman, and many more. During the closing event, guests were treated to a live countdown by famed auctioneer Stephen Ranger, as well as performances and interviews with Sarah Harmer, Edward Burtynsky, and the late Gord Downie. This year’s art auction brings the total funds raised for swimmable, drinkable, fishable water to over $4-million in the last 9 years. More info at www.swimdrinkfish.ca


Music Performance by the talented Sarah Harmer

Music Performance by the talented Sarah Harmer

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