Sept. 10, 2008 MEDIA ALERT Press Contact: Dawna Shuman, Lighthouse PR Cell: 818.632.3296 [email protected]

"The danger posed by war to all of humanity,and to our planet, is at least matched by the climate crisis and global warming" - Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General **************************************************************************************************** Canadians care about global warming. For two years the polls have shown that we want Canada to be a leader in addressing climate change and that we believe it is one of the most important issues facing the world today. Despite the incredibly high level of concern, Canada’s global warming laws are among the weakest in the world and as a result, our emissions continue to rise. Canadians who publicly support "Power Up Canada" include Rachel McAdams, Kiefer Sutherland, Margaret Atwood, Ed Burtynsky, Neve Campbell, Michael Ondaantje,Dr. Andrew Weil, Clayton Ruby, Mark Jaccard, Moses Znaimer, Ann-Marie MacDonald. ***************************************************************************** WHAT: "Power Up Canada" Gala - launching a new non-partisan citizens movement for stronger global warming laws.

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 10 , 2008 6:30pm - 11:00pm Green Carpet arrivals - 6:30pm

*Celebrities and special guests will be arriving in Rickshaws & alternative fuel cars. * Chef Marc Breton presents locally harvested ingredients * Video Speakers Corner - Speak out globally * Bid on world renowned art by photographers Chris Jordan, Colin Finlay, Edward Burtynsky & more...

WHERE: The Gladstone Hotel 1214 Queen Street West (east of Dufferin Street) Toronto, Ontario

WHO: Opinion Leaders, Change Makers plus * Aaron Douglas - Emcee - Battlestar Galactica * Tzeporah Berman, Executive Director, “Power Up Canada” * Evan Biddell – Winner of Canada’s Project Runway – 2008 * George Stroumboulopoulos - Gemini-Award winning host of CBC's The Hour * Carson Arthur – Host of Green Force – HGTV * Charles Martin Smith – director of TIFF - Closing Night Gala-Stone of Destiny * Stephen Bronfman - President, CEO of Claridge, Inc. * Nancy Rosenfeld - Stephen R. Bronfman Foundation * Anne-Marie Macdonald - Award-winning actor and novelist The Mermaids Sing , playwright, and novelist. * Jayne Eastwood - Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning, Hairspray, Chicago

* Robert Joy - Multi Gemini-award nominee, CSI:NY, Down To The Dirt * Ted Atherton - Degrassi TNG, The Border, The Andromeda Strain * Gillian Deacon - Host of Code Green Canada, The Gill Deacon Show * Paul Lynch – Writer/Director DGA, multiple Gemini award nominated - Beauty and the Beast, Prom Night, TNG, Star Trek DS9 * Yannick Bisson - Murdoch Mysteries * Tinsel Korey - TIFF film, Mothers & Daughters * Kenneth Welsh – The Aviator, The Day After Tomorrow,Twin Peaks * Cedric Smith - X111, The Company, X-Men, Road to Avonlea * George Busa - Grossology, Tilt, Mutant X, Honey I Shrunk The Kids * Mark Leiren-Young - director of "The Green Chain", feature release-fall-2008 * A.J. Saudin - Kink in My Hair, 'do, Friends and Heroes * Tygh Runyan - Anti-Trust, Normal, Snakes on the Plane, L Word, Still Life * Alan C. Peterson - ZOS-Zone of Separation, Across the River to Motor City * Nicky Ryann - ROUGH With Nicky Ryann, former Toronto Argonauts cheerleader, (The Fight Network, Sky Sports UK) * Madeleine Marentette - best-selling author-Grail Springs-Holistic Detox * Ross Mayot - Vice president of CARP (a new vision of aging for Canada) * Clayton Ruby - Civil Rights Lawyer * Rick Smith- Executive Director Environmental Defence * Marlo Raynolds - Executive Director Pembina Institute * Steven Guilbeault - Deputy Executive Coordinator for Équiterre * Mauro Ranallo - Saturday Night Fights-CBS TV, Host for "The Fight Network" * Seana McKenna - Burn Up, Save The Last Dance * Alisha Morrison - Mean Girls, Soul Food * Anna Ferguson - Heartland, ZOS-Zone of Separation, Road to Avonlea

WHY: Our vision is to turn Canada into a climate leader by implementing strong domestic laws and policies and supporting strong international agreements.

DID YOU KNOW? *China has stronger vehicle standards than Canada.

Since 1990 Canada’s emissions have grown by more than 25%, making Canada one of the poorest performing countries that took on Kyoto targets. Despite the fact we have the knowledge and technology to address climate change, meaningful action is lacking. There is an enormous gap between the scale of the problem and the scale of the response. "Power Up Canada" is a powerful new initiative for engaging Canadians to achieve serious action in Canada. It combines sophisticated political strategy, focused policy analysis with community level engagement, volunteer programs, online organizing and high profile events to mobilize public concern. This work is backed by a unique grouping of organizations and opinion leaders that includes experts such as Mark Jaccard, with the support of The Canadian Association of Retired Professionals, The Tides Foundation, The Ivey Foundation, ForestEthics, Environmental Defence, The Pembina Institute and Equiterre.

*Photo and interview opportunities available at Event and on Green Carpet ***www.offsetters.ca with electricity provided by Bullfrog. # # # # # #