Setnyk Jason

The Local Seeker
March 8, 2011

Jason Setnyk, the founder and promoter of Rock for Charity was ecstatic on Friday March 11th at Rock for Charity XIII event held at Cafe Connectlonz.." We surpassed the $5000 mark for total money raised since we started Rock for Charity a year aqo" This event celebrated the one year anniversary of Rock for Charity and Friday's event benefitted the Childrens Aid Society, with Kimly Thivierge-Sills, Supervisor from CAS, present.

Setnyk ran for City Council in 2010, and got over 2500 votes, But who is Jason Setnyk? He is someone who metaphorically wears many hats. He is a high school teacher, freelance journalist and photographer, author, musician, concert promoter, and community activist. "I love teaching, I love music, and I love getting involved with our community':

Besides being a full time teacher, Jason Setnyk is the chair of the Cornwall Transit Committee, a lay person on the Cornwall Public Library Board, a contributor to the SD&G Coalition of Social Justice and the WinterFest Committee, and a founding member of the Cornwall Cultural Committee. "I've been interested in the arts all my life, and I got involved with live music when I was still in high school':

Over the years, Setnyk has gone on tour, played on the same stage that once hosted The Rolling Stones, played live on college radio, and had albums reviewed in Exclaim, and albums that hit the college radio charts. Setnyk's former punk band also has over a million audio plays on the myspace website.

"I run the Cornwall Underground website. The. website has promoted local music since 1999. But it's not just a website, over the past decade I've put together four compilation's of local music on CD. I've also briefly hosted an online radio show, booked many live music events, and booked hundreds of bands and musicians Cornwall shows':

Jason Setnyk is the co-founder of Rock the Vote with Elaine MacDonald which combines live music, political guest speakers, and social activism. The first Rock the Vote was hosted in 2003 and featured keynote speaker Jack Layton and Cornwall Mayor at the time Brian Sylvester. There has been six Rock the Votes over the past eight years. "I'd love to do another Rock the Vote this summer. I've been interested in politics since I was young. I think voting and democracy is learned, it doesn't just happen':

Setnyk who is also a freelance journalist and photographer, has expressed himself by writing editorials for various newspapers. "I've been published in over thirty publications including The Toronto Star and The New York Daily News, as well as Adbusters Magazine".

Setnyk is also the proud author of two books. Angry Vegan and the Mad Cow was a play written by Sethyk while he was majoring in English at the University of Ottawa (he also majored in History and Education). His second book Anarchy and Heartbreak is a compilation of poems, lyrics, aphorisms, and reflections.

"I'm thinking of running for politics again sometime in the future, it was a great experience! In the mean time, I am busy teaching, volunteering, and organizing monthly Rock for Charity concerts. I am privileged to live such a busy and exciting life".

The fourteenth Rock for Charity will be hosted at a new venue! On Friday April 15th 2011 visit Remington's Deli and Bar on 101 Montreal Road for the next concert.

This charity fundraiser event will feature Jamie Jarvo, Tommy Heatley, Ewen Mcintosh, Joel Sauve, Boozehound (with Jessy Brown, Denis Andre, Ben Potrais, and Greg Poapst), Broadened Horizons (with Jeremy Rae Blair, Travis Alguire, and Bentley Roy), Brandon O'Flaherty, plus host Jason Setnyk.

To date Rock for Charity has raised over $5100 for various local charities and non profit groups that make Cornwall and SD&G a better community to live in. For info on other arts and culture events visit The Cornwall Underground: http://cornwallunderground.blogspot.com/ .