PRESS RELEASE

Artists for Peace and Justice Hosts 11th Annual Star-Studded Gala Event this year Presented by Labatt Breweries of Canada during the Toronto Film Festival on September 7, 2019

Susan Sarandon, Robbie Robertson, George Stroumboulopoulos, Yannick & Shantelle Bisson and more come together to honour individuals making significant global impact and raise funds for Artists for Peace and Justice

August 30th, 2019 (TORONTO): The Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) Gala, this year presented by Labatt Breweries of Canada, returns to the Windsor Arms Hotel for the eleventh annual Festival Gala on Saturday, September 7th, 2019. The gala celebrates and awards industry leaders across Canada and internationally for their lifetime of service while raising vital funds for APJ’s ongoing community development work in Haiti. Co-chaired by Natasha Koifman and Suzanne Boyd, the sold-out event will be co-hosted by an influential team including Susan Sarandon, Gisella Marengo, George Stroumboulopoulos, Yannick & Shantelle Bisson and more. Susan Sarandon alongside Ben Stiller are co-chairs of the APJ Board.

This year’s event will pay a worthwhile nod to individuals who are committed to making a difference in their own communities and abroad. In its third year being awarded, Robbie Robertson and Janet Zuccarini will present the Canadian Changemaker Award to Diane Bald and Michael Budman, honouring the couple’s unwavering support for community-related causes, charities and organizations in Canada and around the world.

In its second year, Susan Sarandon will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Norman Jewison for the momentous impact he has made on both cinema and humanity through his iconic films and unprecedented commitment to cause. Mr. Jewison is introduced by David Daniels, who with his wife Kate, received last year’s Canadian Changemaker Award.

The gala will be held at the Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto’s Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood – home to APJ’s first-ever event in 2009. Hotel owner George Friedmann alongside renowned Windsor Arms Executive Chef, David Adjey, will be welcoming the talented Haitian Chef, Paul Toussaint, to Toronto where together they will create a Haitian inspired featuring a number of exciting courses.

This year’s event comes on the heels of a record-breaking inaugural Montreal gala where Arcade Fire was honoured and over a quarter of a million dollars was raised to benefit APJ and The KANPE Foundation. In honour of that success, Arcade Fire’s co-leader and KANPE Co-Founder, Régine Chassagne, will perform at this year’s Toronto event. The gala will also support The KANPE Foundation.

APJ’s mission is to encourage peace and social justice, working to alleviate poverty around the world. This simple yet impactful mission, has inspired many celebrities to join the organization, including Ben Stiller, Susan Sarandon, Olivia Wilde, Javier Bardem, Madeleine Stowe, Maxwell, Nicole Kidman, Pierce Brosnan, Jude Law, Penelope Cruz and many more. APJ believes that youth, especially those living in abject poverty, deserve liberty and equality to build a better life for themselves and for their families. By developing partnerships with local leaders in communities in-need, APJ works to create real opportunity with Valuable Education, Meaningful Employment, Inspiring Voices and Ethical Leadership.

“It is a privilege to serve as Co-Chairs of the Board, helping to foster economic growth and empower local communities in Haiti,” says Board Co-Chairs Ben Stiller and Susan Sarandon. “In thanks to the generous Toronto community, our committed sponsors and the APJ family, this event allows us to raise substantial funds to support the game-changing effects of secondary and higher education in breaking the cycle of endemic poverty.”

“In our eleventh year, we are going back to our roots to celebrate the individuals and organizations from across Canada and beyond who have supported APJ from the beginning to help us get to where we are today – over $32M raised to build a high school that allows 3500 students annually a chance at an education they wouldn’t otherwise have had access to,” says Natasha Koifman, Canadian Board Chair, US Board of Directors and Festival Gala Co-Host, “Since 2009, the Toronto film festival has served as a platform to bring a community together who have been passionate, dedicated and committed to improving lives for the people of Haiti. It is incredible individuals like Michael, Diane and Norman who are changing people’s lives for the better and we feel honoured to be able to acknowledge all that they have accomplished.”

Generous sponsors for this year’s event include Presenting Sponsor Labatt Breweries of Canada, Official Airline Sponsor Air Canada, Audi, the Windsor Arms Hotel and NKPR. For more information on the organization or to make a donation, please visit http://www.apjnow.org or follow @artistsforpeace on social.

###

About Artists for Peace and Justice

Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) is a non-profit organization that encourages peace and social justice and addresses issues of poverty around the world. APJ’s immediate goal is to serve the poorest communities in Haiti with programs in education, healthcare, and dignity through the arts. The organization is committed to long-term, sustainable development in direct partnership with the Haitian people. The model is simple: APJ believes in empowering local communities, fostering economic growth, and the power of education to change a nation. To learn more, visit www.apjnow.org or follow @artistsforpeace on Instagram and Twitter.

About Labatt Breweries of Canada

Established by John Kinder Labatt in London, Ontario in 1847, Labatt Breweries is one of Canada’s founding businesses and its leading brewer. The company today has more than 3,500 employees, six breweries, three stand-alone craft brewers, and a portfolio of 60 quality beers, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Alexander Keith’s, Labatt Blue, Kokanee, Stella Artois and Corona. Brands also include ready-to-drink beverages such as Palm Bay and Mike’s Hard Lemonade. As part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev family, Labatt is committed to Bring People Together for a Better World, making a positive contribution through multiple programs that support its communities, promote responsible drinking and protect the environment.