Alianait seeks Aeroplan points to lower performer travel costs

Donating Aeroplan points will help fly artists to perform in Nunavut, such as Yellowknife songwriter Pat Braden, who is scheduled to perform in Iqaluit on March 31. (PHOTO COURTESY OF PATBRADEN.COM)

To cut costs, the Iqaluit-based Alianait arts festival has partnered with Aeroplan to bring performers and their back-up teams to Nunavut.

Aeroplan is a loyalty reward program offered to customers of Air Canada and through affiliated airlines, such as First Air and Canadian North.

The program allows flyers to collect points they can use to purchase other travel products and services.

From now until April 11, Nunavummiut and festival supporters across Canada can donate their Aeroplan points to Alianait.

Only 15,000 Aeroplan points are needed to cover the cost of a round-trip flight from Ottawa to Iqaluit, which can run about $1,500.

The donated points will be used to fly artists and musicians to Nunavut to perform in concerts and host workshops in different communities.

A sample donation form is available at the Alianait website at www.alianait.ca.

Since the arts festival decided in 2011 to scale back on its mainstay summer music event, the organization continues to offer year-round entertainment.

Other Iqaluit shows scheduled in the 2012 line-up include:

• March 31: Yellowknife storyteller and songwriter Pat Braden;

• May 26: Award-winning fiddler, singer and stepdancer April Verch;

• September 8: Nova Scotia folk singer/songwriter Dave Gunning; and,

• November 17: Suzie Vinnick, roots-blues singer songwriter.