Mohawk Warrior, activist, and singer-songwriter Logan Staats headlines November 3 concert fundraiser to Stop The Kemptville Prison
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa, ON – November 1, 2023: Ottawa arts organizations Produced by Youth, SAW, and Black Market Agency, along with community organizations 613-819 Black Hub, Coalition Against More Surveillance, CoSA Ottawa, Criminalization and Punishment Education Project, Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa, Herongate Tenant Coalition, and the Ottawa Coalition To End Violence Against Women and businesses Arlington 5 Café, Dominion City Brewing Company and more share their support of the Coalition Against the Proposed Prison (CAPP)’s legal action to stop Ford government from building a new prison on Anishinaabe territory and Kemptville farmland.
On November 3, a benefit concert featuring Mohawk warrior, community leader and award-winning performer Logan Staats, local singer-songwriter Trevor Alguire, and emcee Adrian Harewood will raise funds to support the legal challenge waged by local residents against the Ford government’s plan to build the 235-bed prison in Kemptville, which will expand the number of prison cells in Ontario, further investing provincial funds into a costly and ineffective approach to enhancing community well-being and safety.
Debaser is proud to co-present the benefit concert, and join CAPP and more than a dozen arts and community organizations in condemning the Ford government’s plan to build more human cages as part of an economic development strategy.
“As an organization based in downtown Ottawa, we see the critical need for housing, mental health and addiction support services, and not for a new prison that will further isolate and punish vulnerable community members who need these supports,” says Debaser Director Rachel Weldon. “Live music brings people together at difficult times. It can be a healing balm, or an inspiring call to action. We are proud to co-present the benefit concert with Logan Staats and Trevor Alguire, and grateful to the artists for sharing their songs and stories for an important cause.”
“As of 2022, Black prisoners represent 9.2% of the total incarcerated population despite being about 3.5% of the overall Canadian population. Being part of a Black-led organization that supports Black youth (occasionally those in conflict with the law) we see how government-funded programs like Produced by Youth can positively impact our community,” says Produced by Youth Coordinator Tafari Hall. “We hope that Ford’s government will reconsider building new prisons that isolate and punish our community members and instead fund more programs that positively impact the community.”
Tickets are available at noprison.eventbrite.com for $50 + fees for regular admission and $25 all-inclusive for students, low-income and unwaged persons. Special rates are also available for large groups.
Complete list of organizations who support the CAPP’s efforts to stop Ford’s Kemptville prison:
613-819 Black Hub
Arlington 5 Café
Black Market Framework
Coalition Against More Surveillance
CoSA Ottawa
Criminalization and Punishment Education Project
Debaser
Dominion City Brewing Co.
Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa
Herongate Tenant Coalition
Ottawa Coalition To End Violence Against Women
Overdose Prevention Ottawa
Produced by Youth
SAW
Event details:
The Logan Staats Concert Fundraiser takes place on Friday, Nov 03, 2023.
Doors open at 6:30 pm and the concert starts at 7:30 pm.
The concert entrance for the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre is at 290 Lisgar Street, Ottawa, ON.
Cash bar, along with artist and campaign merchandise, available.
Buy tickets at noprison.eventbrite.com
ABOUT THE LEGAL CHALLENGE:
Seeking a Prohibition Order that will stop the construction of the proposed prison, Kemptville residents Victor Lachance and Kirk Albert started their David vs. Goliath-style legal action against the Ford government on August 15, 2022. The Notice of Application for a Judicial Review that they filed argues that the Ford government violated its own planning rules by ramming the Kemptville prison project through without consultation with the community or municipal council.
A key supporter and player in pushing Ford’s Kemptville prison plan through was area MPP and former Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark, who has since been forced to resign for his violations of the Members’ Integrity Act in relation to a similar process of removal of Greenbelt lands for development.
Find out more about CAPP’s fight to stop Ford’s Kemptville prison at
https://www.coalitionagainstproposedprison.ca/.
CAPP acknowledges the support of the Criminalization and Punishment Education Project.
FOR INTERVIEWS WITH THE ARTISTS AND CAPP MEMBERS
Colleen Lynas
CAPP | Coalition Against the Proposed Prison
cappkemptville@gmail.com