BALDAPALOOZA! Arts Festival to Honour Ottawa comedian
Ken Godmere diagnosed with Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (CJD)
Yuk Yuk’s and Zaphod Beeblebrox to host BALDAPALOOZA!

Ottawa, June 2, 2004 - Ottawa's entrepreneurs, comedians and musicians are joining forces to celebrate Ken Godmere, a local comedian and philanthropist recently diagnosed with CJD, a rare and fatal disease that affects one-in-a-million people. They are coming together in BALDAPALOOZA! to celebrate Ken Godmere's ongoing contributions to Ottawa’s cultural scene, and to raise awareness about the tragedy that is CJD.

Ken Godmere is best known as the owner of 3D improv comedy club, The iNSTiTUTiON, where he's kept audiences laughing for the past 6 years. BALDAPALOOZA!'s name salutes Godmere's trademark bald-head. Ken shaved his head back in the nineties because of his obsession with styling his hair in the morning. So far, he has saved an estimated $675 on shampoo and gel.

Why BALDAPALOOZA!?

“CJD has attacked one our city’s most loved comedians. Ken has one of the biggest hearts and his spirit is larger than life,” says Claude Drouin, BALDAPALOOZA! Co-founder. “He has dedicated a large part of his life to giving back to the community as a teacher, comedian, speaker and volunteer. BALDAPALOOZA! Is no mope fest, it’s a party and an opportunity for our community to say thanks and to celebrate Ken’s life.”

“BALDAPALOOZA! Is more than a celebration,” says Stacey Diffin-Lafleur, BALDAPALOOZA! Co-founder. “It will establish a legacy that will live on through Ken’s example of someone who cares, dares and makes a difference.”

BALDAPALOOZA! Will also make more people aware of CJD. It will help to generate interest in increased research about CJD, and help to build awareness for the need for support networks for the families involved. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is a prion disease. Prions are infectious agents that attack the central nervous system and then invade the brain, causing dementia and finally death. The disease is fatal and there is no known cure. For more information visit: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/diseases/cjd/

When and Where is BALDAPALOOZA!?

BALDAPALOOZA! Will be celebrated in two separate venues on two dates – June 20th and June 23rd. Get tickets and get involved.

Sunday, June 20th at Yuk Yuk’s, 88 Albert Street. A special limited-seating Father’s Day dinner at 6:00 pm; Doors open at 7:00 pm for a one-hour open jam-session; official show starts at 8:00 pm. To reserve seats call: 613-236-5233

Wednesday, June 23rd at Zaphod Beeblebrox, 27 York Street. This event will feature the red-hot Eric Eggleston Band, and three other local bands. Doors open at 4:00 pm. Tickets are $10, available in advance or at the door. Call Stacey at 613-592-0859 ext. 1820 to order.

BALDAPALOOZA! Thanks its sponsors: The Ottawa Citizen, the Hbc family of stores including the Bay, Zellers and Home Outfitters Corporation, The Bear, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Yuk Yuk’s, Ramius Corporation and Ryan Creative Communications. To find out more about BALDAPALOOZA! Visit www.baldapalooza.com.

BALDAPALOOZA! Proceeds will go to a non-profit charitable organization in Ottawa that is yet to be determined.

For more information contact:

Debbie Ng, BALDAPALOOZA! at 878-0605, debbieng@rogers.com

Stacey Diffin-Lafleur, BALDAPALOOZA! at 613-592-0859 ext 1820, staceydl@rogers.com