HOME GREEN HOME is the 2008 GREEN VILLAGE THEME at the JUNCTION ARTS FESTIVAL

The entire festival runs on Bullfrog Power: 100% green electricity

Toronto, ON, August 26, 2008 – The Junction Arts Festival (September 3 to 7, 2008 in Toronto), produced by the Junction Forum for Art & Culture, presents a cultural extravaganza like no other and HOME GREEN HOME is the theme for the second annual Green Village, which takes place during the weekend street closure on Saturday, September 6 (12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.) and Sunday, September 7 (11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.).

Now attracting 150,000 visitors annually, the 2008 Junction Arts Festival, which practices and encourages reducing, reusing and recycling throughout the entire festival location, is set to throw the party of the year as the Junction celebrates its centennial of becoming the City of West Toronto in 1908.

The second annual Green Village, presented also for the second year by Bombardier Inc., is back bigger than before and will demonstrate and inspire positive methods of how to incorporate green conscious living into everyone’s home and lifestyle.

Starting at the east end of the Dundas West festival footprint (Keele Street entrance), a number of environmental organizations, guest speakers and community groups will present information, daily lectures, workshops and demonstrations on ways to reduce your ecological footprint. Save money with eco- renovations and ways to reduce energy consumption, discover government programs, alternative energy sources, city planning initiatives and more.

Councillor Bill Saundercook (Ward 13, City of Toronto) and JFAC Chair states, “We are proud to have Bombardier Inc. back at this year’s Junction Arts Festival as our Green Village sponsor. The Green Village goal is to motivate festival visitors and cultivate interaction through knowledge, discovery and participation with environmental concerns, and we applaud all participating groups and organizations.”

Junction business owner Martin Scott of Forever Interiors states, “This year at the Junction Arts Festival we embrace creativity in the ways in which we focus on the concerns of the environment. Join us in the second annual Green Village as we artfully help you solve the needs of your environment – your home. Home Green Home.”

Equally as important, the 2008 Junction Arts Festival proudly announces it will be ‘Bullfrogpowered’ with 100% green electricity.

‘Bullfrogpowered’ means that Bullfrog Power will inject carbon-free green power onto the Ontario electricity grid to match the amount of electricity used by the Junction Arts Festival. Bullfrog’s green power is sourced exclusively from wind power and low-impact hydro producers who meet or exceed the federal government’s EcoLogoM standard for renewable energy.

Choosing green, carbon-free power is an easy way for homes, businesses and organizations to help fight climate change and create a healthier environment for future generations. Visit Bullfrog Power on the web at www.bullfrogpower.com.

Additionally, a new special feature of the 2008 Green Village is the Junction Tree Tour (meeting on the N.W. corner of Keele Street and Dundas Street West, Sunday September 7 at 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.), which will be presented by Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests (LEAF).

Join LEAF arborist Todd Irvine as he explores the Junction neighbourhood to uncover both historic and newly planted native trees. From back streets to grand boulevards, the Junction is home to a diverse array of trees including the rare black oak often associated with High Park and a honey-locust with a vigorous, arching canopy that is 60 feet across.

The tour will also feature the personal story of one resident who has turned her front yard into a ‘monarch feeding station’ by packing it full of native trees, shrubs and prairie plants.

For more Green Village information go to, www.junctionartsfest.com/2008/sites/greenvillage/.

GREEN VILLAGE VENDOR LINE-UP (listed in alphabetical order)

• 1 800 RID OF IT
• Carbon Challenge
• Cathy’s Crawly Composters
• City of Toronto, Toronto Environment Office
• Enfleurage Organics/Golden Designs
• Faces of Fair Trade
• Fred Dwyer Real Estate
• Global Aware
• GM of Canada
• Junction BIA Sustainability Booth
• Landcare
• LEAF (Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests)
• Lifecycles Wellness
• RONA Home and Garden
• Seeds of Diversity
• Ten Thousand Villages
• The Little Green Book of Big Savings
• Themba

The 2008 Junction Arts Festival will take place along Dundas St. West between Keele St. and Quebec Ave., and will feature free fun and creativity in eight distinct categories; the Visual Art Exhibitions (starting Wednesday, Sept. 3), the Movieola Movie Night (Thursday, Sept. 4), the outdoor Live Music Stages (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and the Dance/Street Performance Artists, the Poetry Peepshow, the KIDZONE, the Green Village, and the Historic City (during the weekend on Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7).

PLEASE NOTE: For more details and updated schedules of all events please visit regularly at www.junctionartsfest.com.

The 2008 Junction Arts Festival will be supported by title sponsor the Junction Business Improvement Area, and Department of Canadian Heritage Anniversary program, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, Toronto Arts Council, NOW Magazine and The Villager.

The Junction Forum for Art and Culture (JFAC) is an arts presenting organization whose main project is the annual Junction Arts Festival. JFAC was incorporated as a non-profit group in February 2004. The people who make up the Board of Directors of the Junction Forum for Art and Culture are dedicated cultural producers, artists, residents, business owners and politicians all of whom are connected in some way to the Junction.

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For media information, artist biographies and photos and interviews please contact:

Laurie Lockhart,
Publicist
2008 Junction Arts Festival
Tel: 416-988-2530
Email: gtmessage@sympatico.ca
Web: www.junctionartsfest.com

For general information please contact:
Junction Forum for Art & Culture,
2008 Junction Arts Festival
Tel: 416-767-5036
Email: junctionartsfest@bellnet.ca
Web: www.junctionartsfest.com

Councillor Bill Saundercook (Ward 13, City of Toronto), JFAC Chair