FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WSO, RWB, MCCC, partner with Winnipeg Harvest to Bring Holiday Cheer

Winnipeg, MB – Nov 24, 2015 – The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), Manitoba Centennial Centre Corporation (MCCC) and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) partner with Winnipeg Harvest for all holiday performances at Centennial Concert Hall to bring holiday cheer to Manitoba from Nov 22 through Dec 29. Bins will be available in the lobby with Winnipeg Harvest volunteers on hand to accept donations at all performances. To encourage participation, patrons who bring a tin for the bin to any WSO performance will receive a coupon valid for one half-price ticket with the purchase of another at regular price.

David Northcott, Winnipeg Harvest Executive Director, will bring greetings and a message of thanks from Winnipeg Harvest at A Prairie Christmas Celebration, Dec 6.

Winnipeg Harvest bins will be present at:

• All WSO concerts, Nov 22–Dec 13 • RCAF Band Jet Stream Christmas Concert With Loreena Mckennitt, Dec 9 (7 pm) • Steve Bell Christmastide, Dec 17 (8 pm) • RWB’s Nutcracker, Dec 19 – 23 & 27 – 28

Winnipeg Harvest Facts:

• Amongst provinces, Manitoba has the second highest percentage of children using the food bank at 41.9% in March 2015.

• On average, 1,600 infants per month require emergency baby formula from Winnipeg Harvest.

• Winnipeg Harvest spends $200,000 on baby food & formula—the only food purchase incurred.

• Three out of ten children living in the province of Manitoba in 2012 were living in poverty.

• Last year, Winnipeg Harvest distributed 6.2 million kilograms of food (13.7 million pounds). With nearly half of Winnipeg Harvest clients being children, this means that nearly 3 million kilograms of food (6.5 million pounds) was distributed to feed hungry children.

• One in five children in Canada and 40 per cent of Aboriginal children living off-reserves live in poverty.

Homelessness in Winnipeg

Over the course of 2014, the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council estimated that approximately 2,750 people experienced homelessness in Winnipeg. Of that figure, 30 per cent are women.

Rural Communities

It’s not just a Winnipeg thing. Rural communities and Winnipeg Harvest are partners in fighting hunger in Manitoba.

Harvest shares food with approximately 47 agencies in rural Manitoba. These agencies share food with over 10,000 people per month on average—nearly 42 per cent of them are children.

About WSO: The WSO is integral to Winnipeg's rich cultural life, delighting more than 100,000 audience members each year with innovative programming and musical excellence. The WSO presents educational programs for more than 40,000 students annually and tours to communities across Manitoba.

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MEDIA: For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Sarah Panas, Marketing & Communications Coordinator p. (204) 949-3970 f. (204) 956-4271 e: spanas@wso.mb.ca