[van-announce] Rock Against the Cuts - Concert to Raise Money for BC Women Centres

[Sharmeen Khan]

Rock Against the Cuts

Two nights of music to benefit B.C. women’s centres

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 8 pm

Black Mountain

Veda Hille

Loud

The Gay 

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 8 pm

Holly McNarland

members of: Be Good Tanyas & Po’ Girl

Sandy Scofield 

Ridley Bent

 

Vancouver East Cultural Centre

1895 Venables @ Victoria Drive

With Cease Wyss, Squamish Nation welcome

Advance tix $26 (incl. service fees) from TicketMaster

Proceeds go to the B.C. Coalition of Women’s Centres!

www.savewomenscentres.ca

 



 

VANCOUVER – For two nights in early June, some of British Columbia’s most popular musicians are taking to the stage to raise funds for B.C. women’s centres. 

Holly McNarland, Veda Hille, members of the Be Good Tanyas and Po’Girl, Sandy Scofield, Black Mountain, The Gay, Loud and Ridley Bent are featured performers at the Rock Against the Cuts concert series June 2-3, at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre.  Guest MC’s include comedian Riel Hahn, actor Renae Morisseau, and Sharmeen Khan for the B.C. Coalition of Women’s Centres.  The concerts have been organized by the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union.  Showtimes are 8 p.m.  Tickets for each night are $26 (including fees) from Ticketmaster 604-280-4444. 

The Campbell Liberal government eliminated core funding for all B.C. women’s centres this spring.  The lack of funding means several of B.C.’s 37 women’s centres, including in Richmond and Surrey, have already been forced to close their doors.  A number of other centres across the province face closure within the next year. 

“For me, a rich society is one in which humanity is valued above economics.  Compassion and aid contribute directly to a full and balanced culture,” says musician Veda Hille. “These Liberal cuts offend me deeply, and will not lead to a better life for anyone.  Rock Against Cuts is going to be a great event, a chance to simultaneously make music and protest this government's shortsighted actions.”

“Thanks to the cuts to B.C. women’s centres, many women are forced into unsafe situations in order to survive. If only we could turn the tables so that Premier Gordon Campbell and such politicians could experience poverty, discrimination and oppression as many women do,” say Eileen Kage and Elaine Stef from Loud, in a joint statement.

Performer Ridley Bent adds, “More funding is needed because for lots of women and their children these centres are their last hope.” 

Michelle Dodds of the B.C. Coalition of Women’s Centres says, “The coalition is excited and thankful that these talented artists have come together to help out in such a desperate time.  The concerts will give us all a boost, let women in need know that they are not alone, and raise some much-needed money in the meantime.”

BCGEU president George Heyman says, “Our union is proud to be sponsoring these benefit concerts. But it’s just a drop in the bucket compared to what a responsible government should be providing.”  Heyman has consistently urged this government, and Finance Minister Gary Collins directly, to restore funding to help the over 300,000 women and girls who receive direct services from women's centres each year.

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Media – for photos or interviews with the artists, please contact:

Teresa Marshall, BCGEU communications at 604-291-9611 ext 454

Meegan Maultsaid, concert coordinator at 604-215-8314                                   opeiu 378

 

 



 



 
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