Thank You for Supporting Artists for Water 2022
Swim Drink Fish community raises over $500,000 in support of clean water.
The world art, culture and clean water joined together in support of swimmable, drinkable, fishable water for everyone
Steve Driscoll and Christi Belcourt
May 5, 2022
For the first time ever, Swim Drink Fish’s 2022 art auction, Artists for Water, took place in-person and online across Canada through givergy.ca, with a special livestream show hosted by Stephen Ranger and presented by Delta Land Development. The auction featured artwork from over 35 renowned artists including Shuvinai Ashoona, James Lahey, Angela Grossmann, Edward Burtynsky, Dana Claxton, Steven Driscoll, and many more.
More than 300 supporters from all over the country gathered in-person and online to bid on art and attend our exciting closing event. Generous supporters donated over $500,000, bringing the event’s fundraising tally to $8 million over the past decade.
Highlights of the Artists for Water event included:
In-person and Livestream show hosted by Stephen Ranger
Performance by musical guests, The Rheostatics
Announcing of new Swim Drink Fish Ambassadors: Chelsea Antoine, Rob Baker, Paul Langlois, Andy Maize, Catherine McKenna, Andrea Nann and Jon Riberdy.
Discussion with Swim Drink Fish President Mark Mattson, Waterkeeper Lauren Brown Hornor and Filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal
Special video by Tim Thompson
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 8-million people who are passionate about safeguarding the waters that we depend so deeply on.
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
Our deepest gratitude to this year’s contributing artists. We are so humbled by their generosity and support.
Thank You Sponsors
Presenting: Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
Lead Sponsors: Delta Land Development, Fox Harb'r, Therme Canada
Supporting Sponsors: AvenEx, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Breakwater Financial, Cement Association, Lassonde, Miller Thomson LLP, The Quinn Family Future Foundation
Collector’s Circle: Burnbrae Farms, Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation,
The Fourth Box Charitable Foundation, GTSWCA, HUB International Atlantic Limited, Maple Gold, Terry Salman
Contributing Sponsors
Thank You Friends
Bruce Crombie
Christine O'Donahue
Honor and Michael de Pencier
Darlene Koczkur
Eric Tripp & Maria Smith
Kostas Kapralos
Lee Kline / Sarah Jamieson
Lynda Gauthier
Margaret Hudson
Natasha Padulo
Nora Osbaldeston
Peter Buzzi
Peter Mattson
Philippe Savoy
Randle Strong
Stephane Ouellette
Susan Hudson
Louise and Gary Brown
Ali and Kristen Pejman
Michael and Barbara Cytrynbaum
Arya and Hamid Eshghi
Rod Talaifar
Lori Kay
Meaghan Thumath and Tret Jordan
Mandy Cheema and Gary Shokar
Rosalind and Amir Adnani
Matthew Hornor
And all the amazing donors who wish to remain anonymous
Our deepest gratitude to Art Committee co-chairs, Shelley Falconer and Sara Angelucci, who led a stellar team of art professionals from across Canada, including filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal, art consultant Anita Cirillo, Canadian art specialists Jacqui Dixon and Nicole Schembre, Rosalind Adnani and auctioneer Stephen Ranger. Our dynamic committee carefully curated a strong art collection that focused on presenting diverse narratives, and offering different worldviews and perspectives.
Our event would not have been possible without the support of our incredible volunteers and staff. Thank you for your generous support and for helping us to create a swimmable, drinkable, fishable future for everyone.
Social Media Summary
On May 5th, 2022, Swim Drink Fish debuted its first ever in-person and online hybrid art auction presented by Delta Land Development with a livestream show hosted by Stephen Ranger. Hundreds gathered from across the country to bid on 39 pieces of artwork from some of Canada’s top artists, such as Wanda Koop, James Lahey, Meryl McMaster, Christi Belcourt, Edward Burtynsky, Dana Claxton, Angela Grossmann, Steve Driscoll, Dean Hunt, and many more.
During the closing event, guests were treated to a live auction by famed auctioneer Stephen Ranger, as well as a performance the Rheostatics. This year’s art auction brings the total funds raised for swimmable, drinkable, fishable water to over $7-million in the last 9 years. More info at www.swimdrinkfish.ca
Contact
Media Welcome. To schedule an interview, please call:
Matt Brown at (416) 671-3910 – email: matt@swimdrinkfish.ca
