Toronto City Councillors will be ditching the rhetoric and picking up instruments at a benefit next weekend to help Variety Village recover from this summer’s devastating floods in Birch Cliff.
Clamshell Quintet debut
The flood fundraiser marks the debut of a band called the Clamshell Quintet, which includes our own Ward 36 councillor Gary Crawford on drums, Mike Layton on guitar and Maria Augimeri and Paula Fletcher on vocals.
The other members of the band are activist Dave Meslin (bass), mayor Rob Ford’s assistant Tom Beyer (keyboard) and executive assistant Justin Hane (keyboard).
In case you’re wondering how seven musicians wound up calling themselves a “quintet”, you can check out Dave Meslin’s blog post “We Built this City of Rock n’ Roll”.
Councillor Gary Crawford talks to residents
Ticket info
Gary Crawford will be doing double duty by also playing with regular band “Gently Bent”.
Readers who saw our previous feature about Crawford’s artistic side won’t be surprised to hear that Gently Bent is a solid bar band.
The fundraiser is being held Saturday November 10 at the Tara Inn at 2365 Kingston Road, just west of Midland.
Tickets are $50 ($35 tax receipt) and there will be food, door prizes and a silent auction.
Tickets are available at the door or can be reserved by calling Variety Village at 416-699-7167 x 270. Ask for Maria.
Clean-up by Variety Village staff
Shortfall of $70,000
The money will be used to make up a shortfall of $70,000 sustained by Variety Village during the summer floods.
The cash-strapped charity suffered total damages of $200,000 but part of it was covered by insurance.
When the rains came on July 15th and August 10th, they damaged the roof near the weight room and flooded the taekwondo studio in the basement.
Supplies for the annual Christmas party were being stored in the basement and had to be destroyed.
Hope to see everybody there! If you can’t make the event but would like to make an online donation, click here.
