Tall Ships Festival August 23, 2010

The Tall Ships are returning to Chicago and Canada will be sailing in!
Navy Pier is welcoming more than 20 majestic and historic Tall Ships from around the world as they make a rare return to Chicago. For the first time, a Tall Ships festival of this size and importance will be located in one place, in a mile-long display at Navy Pier. We are delighted to announce that three Canadian ships -- The Pathfinder, The Playfair and La Revenante -- will be featured during the Festival.
The Consulate General of Canada in Chicago will be participating actively in Tall Ships Chicago through entertainment and education events, to take advantage of the presence of three Canadian ships.
Canadian musicians will take the stage on Navy Pier on two days:

Tom Lewis, Wednesday, August 25th, 7:00-8:45 PM (Main Stage) and Thursday, August 26th, 11:00-11:45 AM (Children's Stage)
As winner of the inaugural "Trophée Stan Hugill", French fans dub Tom "The Springsteen of Sea Chanteys". Living Tradition (UK) says "Although I always knew he was good, I was not quite prepared for HOW good." 24 years in the British Royal Navy, "provides him with that vitally authentic stance with which to tackle nautical song". Tom's repertoire—from traditional shanties to songs fashioned out of his own seafaring background—recruits his audience for a voyage by turns reflective, dramatic and humorous. Now resident in Canada's Rocky Mountains, Tom was born in Northern Ireland and that Celtic heritage is obvious in his clear, strong voice.

Heather Bambrick, Thursday, August 26th, 7:30-9:00 PM (Main Stage)
Heather has been singing for about as long as she’s been talking. Born and raised in St. John’s Newfoundland, she began singing at a very young age, and continued this pursuit with a number of award-winning Chamber Choirs, Vocal Jazz Ensembles, and dinner theatre productions. A graduate of the University of Toronto Jazz Studies department, she is currently a vocal instructor at UoT and is quite active in the Toronto music scene in several musical genres, as a private / corporate entertainer, and freelance vocalist for various studio sessions and live music venues. On the stage, Heather easily demonstrates her effortless technique, lyrical fluidity, and naturally warm audience rapport. Her live shows are an entertaining combination of timeless standards, fresh, accessible original material, and just the right touch of humour, reminiscent of her Newfoundland upbringing. Her solo show “Hi Standards” commanded a large following over a period of two years during which it played to standing-room-only crowds. In March of 2003, after much anticipation, Heather released her debut solo CD It’s About Time, which is currently featured on the regular play lists at Jazz FM (Toronto), CBC Radio, as well as on stations in the US, and countless satellite stations. Heather will also be performing at the Sister Cities Festival in Millennium Park on Friday, August 27th (time to be confirmed).

The Consulate General is also organizing a Canada booth that will be located in the Grand Ballroom on Navy Pier. The booth will have information on the work being done by Canada and the United States to preserve and protect the Great Lakes, interactive family activities and how to become involved with Canadian events scheduled in the Chicago area.