• Began operation in Edmonton in 1981.
• Currently 900+ and 2,900 affiliated agencies
• Nearly half have no paid staff
• Serve approximately 860,000 people a month – up 19% since 2000
• 38% of those helped are children and youth
• Largest group of users are single-parent families (80% headed by women); persons with disabilities; people with jobs
• Typically provide other services such as advocacy, income assistance applications, and training programs.

CHRISTMAS & WINTER RELIEF ASSOCIATION

• Non-profit association founded in 1988 by Tom Jackson with a mandate to raise money for community service and charitable organizations
• Has raised approximately $200M in combined cash/in-kind value for food banks and disaster relief
• Projects include:  The Huron Carole Benefit Concert Series (1988-2004); Red River Relief (1997); The Holiday Train (1999-2004); The Vigil (2001); Beef Relief (2003); Say Hay TV Special (2003); Singing for Supper (2004-2010); Hullelujah (2005-2009); Swinging for Supper (2006-2010); Rise Again (2009); Home Sweet Hope (2009-2011); Slave Lake Benefit Concert (2011)

‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime
National Concert Tour launches November 25

November 1, 2011 – Calgary, AB

Tom Jackson, actor/singer/philanthropist, travels across Canada into the hearts of communities where his love of music and his mission of service to others resonate.  Raising awareness and inspiring others to take action to change their worlds is the series’ mantra. What began as a single concert fundraiser for Winnipeg Harvest in 1988 has evolved to 20 years of national touring and over 525 concerts to date.  That amounts to $200 million in combined cash/in kind value for food banks, community service agencies and disaster relief.

“I know there is a passion that burns within us all, to fight a good battle against poverty and to help those struck down by the often silent disease called hunger,” proclaims Jackson.  “We are going to win this battle, but it is upon us to stand up and be heard…to shout loudly.  This is the war and we are the army so we kill ‘em with kindness”

Rebranding the show from previous incantations (The Huron Carole/Singing for Supper) reflects the seasonal vision and opens the doors to other agency recognition outside of food banks. As with all elements of fundraising, creativity is essential in driving new interest, support and audiences.  The show will be a little theatre, a little storytelling, a lot of Christmas music and an injection of new music penned by Tom.

Concurrent with the tour and the tour name, EMI Music Canada is releasing Tom’s Christmas CD to retail, iTunes and Amazon.ca.  A continuing fundraising tool for shows on the tour route, it marks Tom’s 15^th album release.

‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime is presented by Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life.  Major Sponsor is Enbridge Pipelines Inc.  A variety of local sponsors round out the fundraising efforts and are acknowledged at individual concerts.

Tour schedule, ticket details and media photos are at www.tomjackson.ca

2011 Tour Schedule

For interviews contact:

Alison Jackson, Project Manager (403) 803-9586

Their contributions – financially and logistically – maintain the integrity of this project and many others on an annual basis.

Presenting Sponsor

Major Sponsor

Helping make Canada hunger free

Special thanks to Suncor Energy
For their sponsorship of the Slave Lake Benefit Concert, June 2011

Nov 26   ~ Parry Sound, ON (benefit for Harvest Share)
Stockey Centre
Buy Tickets

Nov 27   ~ West Niagara, ON (benefit for Community Care of West Niagara)
Providence Christian Reformed Church
Buy Tickets

Nov 29   ~ St. John’s, NL (food & donation drive for Community Food Sharing Association)
LSPU Hall
Buy Tickets

Nov 30   ~ Halifax, NS (benefit for FEED NOVA SCOTIA)
Spatz Theatre
Buy Tickets

Dec 2   ~ Winnipeg, MB (donation drive for Winnipeg Harvest)
McPhillips Station Casino (with Beverley Mahood)
Buy Tickets

Dec 4   ~ Brandon, MB (benefit for Samaritan House Resource Centre & The Counselling Centre)
Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium (with Amanda Stott)
Tickets at Counselling Centre 335 9th St., Hairistocracy 2103 Princess Ave., Crocus Credit Union 1016 Rosser Ave.  204 726-8706

Dec 5   ~ Saskatoon, SK (benefit for Denny Carr Foundation & St. Andrew’s College)
Knox United Church
Tickets $20 at St. Andrew’s College, Knox United Church, McNally Robinson, other United Churches in Saskatoon or at the door.

Dec 6   ~ Outlook, SK (benefit for Outlook & District Food Bank)
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Tickets $20 at Jacqui J’s Gifts & Beyond, Cooperator’s Insurance
306 867-9735

Dec 8   ~ Vernon, BC (benefit for First Nations Friendship Centre, Upper Mission, Salvation Army Food Bank Vernon)
Vernon Recreation Centre
Buy Tickets

Dec 10 ~ Penticton, BC (benefit for Salvation Army Food Bank & Soupateria)
Cleland Theatre
Tickets $25 at Wine Country Visitor Centre, 552 Railway St., Penticton
250 493-4055; 800 663-5052; visitors@penticton.org

Dec 12 ~ Calgary, AB (benefit for Calgary’s Meals on Wheels)
The Ranchmen’s Club
Buy Tickets

Dec 13 ~ Calgary, AB (benefit for Calgary Food Bank)
First Nazarene Church
Buy Tickets

Dec 15 ~ Calgary, AB (benefit for Youville Residence Society)
Calgary Golf & Country Club
Buy Tickets

Dec 16 ~ Whitehorse, YK (food & donation drive for Whitehorse Food Bank)
Yukon Arts Centre
Buy Tickets

Dec 17/18 ~ Spruce Grove, AB (food & donation drive for Parkland Food Bank)
Horizon Stage
Buy Tickets

Dec 19 ~ Calgary, AB (benefit for Calgary Dream Centre)
Jack Singer Concert Hall (with Corpus Christie Male Chorale)
Buy Tickets

It’s an evening of song and celebration – a little theatre, a little ‘tomfoolery’, some of Tom’s new music and most of all, your favourite Christmas selections.

‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime

Born to an English father and Cree mother, he carries the legacy of his parents’ search for social acceptance and their selfless manner of keeping their door open for anyone who might need a meal, or a conversation.   His personal journey of identity led him to the streets of Winnipeg, and a bond with those outcast and struggling to make their economic way in the world.  Tom’s voice became his way off the streets – figuratively and literally – and in to radio stations, television studios, theatres and on the stage.

Penned the master of disaster, or minstrel with a message, it is music – his first love – that draws him to create change with the touch of a song, a poem, a musical or a concert tour.  Tom has recorded 14 albums, and 2011 will mark the release of his fifteenth – ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime – in time for his annual Christmas tour of the same name.  Hitting the road again at Christmas time marks a 20 year history of cross Canada travel raising awareness and funds for food banks, community service and charitable organizations.

For a younger generation of TV viewers, Tom is recognizable from his portrayal of Billy Twofeathers in Shining Time Station, and his guest role in Star Trek The Next Generation.  Yet it’s his 6 years of playing Chief Peter Kenidi in CBC’s North of 60 that still draws comments, letters, emails and many hugs from longtime fans.  The series was an inspired view in to the lives of a First Nation community and Tom inadvertently became a role model because of it.  Taking the responsibility and possibility from that profile has led to extraordinary achievements in community service, professional development and global change.

Whether one links Tom to “The Huron Carole” – the song or the national concert tour,  Singing for Supper or Swinging for Supper, the evidence of his earning and staying power in the fundraising circle is without question and one of infamy for this country’s food banks.  When there’s trouble or trauma, Tom steps up with ideas to alleviate and compensate those devastated by floods, fires, drought, terrorism, youth suicide, homelessness, environmental disaster and economic disadvantage.

His mantra of being in service to others is secured with his choice to engage if it’s good business, good for the world, and good for the soul.  He can light up a room with his storytelling, endearing humour and self-penned tunes.  He can inspire, uplift and entertain 10 or 10,000 and the gifts he shares, he carries from his ancestry, his life and his loves.

“You don’t have to change the whole world, you just have to change your world, and the rest will follow.”
Tom Jackson

Landmarks:

CCMA Humanitarian Award 1996
Officer of the Order of Canada 2000
Queen’s Jubilee Medal 2002
Order of Canada Advisory Committee Member   2004-2007
AB and SK Centennial Medals 2005
Juno Humanitarian Award 2007
Gemini Humanitarian Award 2007
Chancellor Trent University 2009
Honorary Degree recipient – 9 universities – 1998 to 2010
Raised approximately $200 million in combined cash/in-kind value for food banks and disaster relief
VP Global Business Development, Dreamcatcher Enviro-Green products, National Oilwell Varco, 2011

Live Theatre

In the theatrical community, Tom’s 2010 performance in “Beyond Eden” for the Vancouver Playhouse/Cultural Olympiad and Theatre Calgary created a stir beyond compare.

“Jackson’s wonderful booming melodic voice serves him and the production so well but it’s the sly humour he brings to the role that makes his scenes so memorable.”
Louis B. Hobson, QMI Agency

Voice-over and Narration

As a voice-over talent, his bass baritone, working in tandem with his social advocacy, is sought for programming in a variety of categories.

To book Tom “the actor” for roles in feature films, television shows, radio, voice-over/narration and live theatre events, please call:

The Characters Talent Agency
(416) 964-8522
Attn: Alicia Jeffery
Email:  ajeffery@bellnet.ca

Tom has recorded 15 albums and the latest one – ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime – is scheduled for release October 25, 2011 by EMI Music Canada in time for his annual Christmas tour of the same name.  The CD and tour marks a 20-year history of cross Canada travel raising awareness and funds for food banks, community service and charitable organizations.

Dubbed ‘minstrel with a message’ Tom’s 40+ years of songwriting has become his vehicle for social change. At the 2007 Junos, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) bestowed Tom with the Humanitarian Award in recognition for his positive contributions to the social landscape of Canada.

Tom is completing his 16th album due out in 2012.  Produced by both Tom and Rhys Fulber (Delirium) the focus of his next project is on the environment, the First Nation experience and the eloquence of storytelling in spoken word.

Whether in concert, or in a conference plenary, Tom’s music has the last word.

Tom made our first annual Mac & Cheese Luncheon an unqualified success in every respect – net revenue from it was $27,426.12
Don Evans, Executive Director
The Sharing Place Food Bank

Book Tom Jackson

To book Tom ‘the singer’ for concerts, special events, corporate or charitable engagements, please complete the online booking form or contact:

Todd Jordan
Paquin Entertainment
(204) 988-1133
todd@paquinentertainment.com

It was an easy transition from the micro to the macro by aligning with Canadian food banks, and literally singing for supper became his branding.  After 17 years of producing “The Huron Carole” Benefit Concert Series, with accompanying television specials and albums, he handily made a dent in the world of food insecurity.  He carried that mission forward for 5 years by producing and performing on The Holiday Train, a CPR fundraising initiative.  And when the world was thrown by crises from 9/11 to the BSE scare, Tom had ingenuity and a lot of friends – both musical and corporate – committed to changing the face of disaster into a rally of caring.

If asked about his memories of affecting change, he refers to the Red River Relief Benefit in 1997 for Manitoba flood victims where $3M was raised for the Red Cross.  So too with other Red Cross efforts – “Rise Again” in 2009 where Manitoba flooding peaked at levels higher than in 1997; and then just recently the partnership with CBC and the Red Cross to produce a concert/television special fundraiser for fire victims of Slave Lake.

While in the Gulf of Mexico last year, researching leading edge technologies and working with local communities from Louisiana to Florida, he was inspired with the thought “why wait for the fire to build a fire hall?”  With that philosophy in mind, National Oilwell Varco (NOV) has asked Tom to join their team to help the industry follow through and lead by example with a commitment to introduce green oil spill technology.  At the forefront of his role is the reduction of the industry’s carbon footprint and the demonstration of preparedness to mitigate the effects of any unfortunate incidents that may occur in the future.

He never shies from the work, in fact the collaboration with others is invigorating and he stays true to his mission of being in service to others, particularly if it’s good business, good for the world, and good for the soul.

“Your commitment, generosity, kindness and hard work resulted in a tremendous new outpouring of support for the people of Slave Lake and area, and financial contributions to the Canadian Red Cross so that we can help those people.”
Nancy Beasley Hosker
Provincial Manager
Communications and Strategic Relations
Canadian Red Cross | Croix-Rouge canadienne

Pictures 1 to 8 – Bill Borgwardt
Picture 9 – Trent University
Picture 10 – CARAS/iPhoto
Pictures 11 to 13 – Craig Koshyk

Special thanks to Dustin Leader for his images of Tom in the Biography, Activism, Contact/Booking categories

Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt	Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt	Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt
Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt	Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt	Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt
Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt	Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt	Tom Jackson Credit Trent University
Tom Jackson Credit CARAS/iPhoto	Tom Jackson Credit Craig Koshyk	Tom Jackson Credit Craig Koshyk
Tom Jackson Credit Craig Koshyk