Friends to launch The CBC We Want - A conversation about the future direction of our national public broadcaster

TORONTO, May 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Veronica Tennant will moderate the opening round of a Canada-wide conversation about the future direction of our national public broadcaster which will be webcast from a public launch event in Waterloo, Ontario on Thursday, May 31st.

When:	3 pm EDT - Media availability with television producer, director and prima ballerina, Veronica Tennant, and Friends' spokesperson Ian Morrison - also accessible via teleconference.  Dial 416-343-4997, access code 7599008#.
	4 pm EDT - Launch event (to 6 pm)
Where:	Knox Church, 50 Erb Street West, Waterloo; Online: www.friends.ca/TheCBCWeWant
Who:	Veronica Tennant will moderate the discussion which will feature a live audience and contributions from some of Canada's most creative thinkers, artists and broadcasters: Jim Byrd, broadcasting consultant, VP CBC English Television (1994-99) Catherine Cano, former CBC, SRC and Al Jazeera executive, Managing Partner NATIONAL Public Relations Howard Dyck, conductor, broadcaster, writer, lecturer Eric Friesen, host of Studio Sparks and the Eric Friesen Show Noreen Golfman, film studies, Canadian literature, Memorial University of Newfoundland Martin de Groot, Executive Director, Waterloo Regional Arts Council & The Record columnist Loreena McKennitt, artist, singer/composer (to be confirmed) Leah Pinsent, television and film actress Ethan Rabidoux, CJCS Radio Stratford, winner of the 2010 Dalton Camp Award Heather Sinclair, CEO, Creative Enterprise Enabling Organization, Waterloo Region Don Tapscott, Chairman of Moxie Insight, leading authority on innovation and technology David Taras, Canadian media policy expert, Chair of Media Studies, Mount Royal University RH Thomson, television, film and stage actor Aritha van Herk, public intellectual, cultural speaker, award-winning Canadian novelist

The watchdog group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting is sponsor of The CBC We Want. Friends is an independent watchdog for Canadian programming and is not affiliated with any broadcaster or political party.

Jim Thompson 613-447-9592 • www.friends.ca/TheCBCWeWant