leonardcohenforum.com

Hello all,

Edmonton is highly relevant to Leonard's career, http://www.slideshare.net/ksolez/leonar ... ed-in-2016 his 1966 visit here was a turning point, and in later years when he was back in Edmonton he searched for the significant landmarks of his 1966 visit just as you can do when you attend in 2016! The 2008 event picnic on the river bank and late night party were the most fun social events I have ever been to. And the concert was awesome! 2016 can be even better!

I am strongly supportive of Henning doing an International Event in 2018, and would like to help make that event a success. That would be his second event as organizer, just as 2016 will be my second event as organizer. Only good things can come from having an experienced organizer. As I recall Henning also was an important presence in the 2002 Hydra event. We keep going back to Hydra, nothing wrong with that either!

You can see the full set of images from the 2008 Edmonton International Event at
https://www.flickr.com/photos/81683866@N02/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/81683866@N02/sets/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/81683866@ ... 646488003/ Amateur images
https://www.flickr.com/photos/81683866@ ... 592860782/ Professional images
https://www.flickr.com/photos/81683866@ ... 592941022/ Open mic
https://www.flickr.com/photos/81683866@ ... 648188793/ Saturday Gala Concert at Winspear Concert Hall
https://www.flickr.com/photos/81683866@ ... 593011822/ Saturday Late Night Party
https://www.flickr.com/photos/81683866@ ... 553554456/ Haven Social Club Songwriter-in-the-Round
https://www.flickr.com/photos/81683866@ ... 608139615/ Picnic on the River Bank
https://www.flickr.com/photos/81683866@ ... 593313032/ Survivors' Breakfast
in addition to the images at http://cohenites.blogspot.ca/search/label/MainPage

I assure you that as much fun as 2008 was, 2016 will be even much better!

All the best. - Kim

Okay... and thanks for saving me the time and 'trouble,' Lisa.
Not exactly doable by train, is it, either. I wonder about flights.

Mabeanie1 wrote: I have never been to Edmonton but I am not convinced that it would draw people in in sufficient nubers despite the proximity of the Rockies. Please prove me wrong Kim and Lisa!

Hey, don't drag me into this! I would never suggest Edmonton as a tourist destination. It's an okay place to live/work, but to visit? G-d no!

As for the Rockies, "proximity" is a relative term: it`s a four drive from Edmonton!

Four hours isn't so bad (we've been to Calgary a few time but never made it to Edmonton).

W

The Rockies are amazing and the drive there is quite interesting too! Jarkko, Dick and their wives went there in 2008 and had a great time! Highly recommended! And Edmonton itself is great! I am still discovering magical things about the city after 27 year of living here.

Do you know about my history in St. John's? That is very interesting too! The story of December 2004. You could go there and celebrate some Kim Solez history at the 17th bridge of the North Head trail on Signal Hill!

All the best. - Kim

The Signal Hill story is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAQokaCbnKo from 00:15:52 ( you can watch more if you want!). The course that I teach that this video is from was recently the subject of a feature article in the Edmonton Journal http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Figuring ... story.html . See also http://www.youtube.com/user/kimsolez and http://www.singularitycourse.com

Here is some information about the City of Edmonton: http://www.edmonton.ca/ http://yeglive.ca/ http://www.ckua.com/

Here is some information about the City of Banff in the Canadian Rockies: http://www.banfflakelouise.com/ http://www.banff.ca/ http://www.pbase.com/turnstyle/landscapes

Here is the information about Nerd Nite Banff where I am giving a presentation in the fall: http://banff.nerdnite.com/ Here is my presentation from Edmonton Nerd Nite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I3-WApzWWQ

All the best. - Kim

In 2008 we had an excellent view of the Edmonton Queen riverboat from our Picnic on the River Bank that was part of the Leonard Cohen Event. https://www.flickr.com/photos/81683866@ ... 608139615/ This time we could book the actual boat itself which is just the right size for an Event party! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Edmonton ... 9696393906 http://www.edmontonqueen.com/index.php?area_id=1000 https://www.flickr.com/photos/81683866@ ... 608139615/ Another memorable Event boat ride like in 2004!

Someone mentioned here that Dublin event sign-ups are lower than expected. That's sad, but I think partially due to what Harald alluded, when there is or may be another tour coming, some fans will be reticent about depleting funds to attend an "event," funds they may prefer to spend to see concerts. We would love to attend the Dublin event, but decided to keep our powder dry for some (hoped for) 2015 European concerts.

Regarding 2016, one locale where LC lived and wrote and recorded has not been mentioned--Nashville. Nashville would be fairly easily accessible by European fans, I think (caveat: like our friend Lizzie, I have not researched this travel opinion), and it has a deep connection with music.

One needs a local organizer with preparations and a plan already now for 2016. Nashville could be in 2020.

Leonard turns 80 this year. He is unlikely to be touring in 2016 so we will not have that factor reducing enthusiasm.

All the best. - Kim

I wouldn't count on that Kim. IF he goes out on tour in 2015 I think it is very likely that he will also be on tour in the summer of 2016 provided his health holds.

That aside, you put a very strong case for Edmonton but I would like to hear what others are proposing.

Wendy

What happens in 2016 may surprise you! When I visit Leonard over three days in 2005 http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/solez2005.html he said he might be inclined to attend a fan event "if I were right around the corner". After all he came close to attending the Montreal Event in 2000 (the idea was nixed at the last moment by Kelley Lynch). And he does have a natural affinity to Edmonton given his significant history here! http://www.slideshare.net/ksolez/leonar ... ed-in-2016

All the best. - Kim

Leonard's attendance at the Event is VERY unlikely, in Edmonton or in any other city.

Yes, Jarkko, I agree. The assumption should be that he will not be there. - Kim

jarkko wrote:We have learned that the Event activity is higher among the Europeans although not so many want to travel overseas. Only a handful of European members participated in the Events in Edmonton and Madison, and therefore missed so many memorable moments and unique programs. At the same time, it also looks like the Americans and Canadians are not active Event goers even though the get-together happened to be in North America.

That's percent of event participants from the rest of the world, outside the continent where the event was held (I didn't find information for Edmonton 2008 and Krakow 2012):

Hydra 2002 — 34 % (31 % if we consider Israel as part of Europe)
New York 2004 — 28 %
Berlin 2006 — 21 %
Madison 2012 — 32 %
Dublin 2014 — 18 % (according to the current list of participants)

I know, this is a controversial idea, but let's discuss the possibility of two events the same year. Personally I'd like to make my first Big Event appearance in 2016 rather than in 2018. This may sound selfish - but I'm sure, I'm not the one who thinks the same.
Edmonton is well-known as a strong center of LC-activity and it could be perfect for a North American meet-up.
At the same time, Hamburg would be more realistic for the Europeans. Well, at least, please count me in.

Thanks for valuable information, Roman!
Some numbers to add to your list:
In Krakow we had 15% from other continents (28 persons, 188 in total)
In Edmonton there were about 15 persons from Europe, Australia, and Japan, including 5 partners. I don't have the list but we checked our photos.
In Madison we had 10 persons from Europe and 2 from Japan (plus some no-shows)

At the recent Hydra meetup 2013 we had 15 persons from Canada and USA, 74 in total.