2026 Events & Workshops
SOOFSTOCK Presents… SOOF Tunes at Lunn’s
“I grew up seeing my grandfather work on the farm and in the forest. It’s how we eat, breathe and live. I was taught that nothing is as important as the land we live on.” – Mark Bezanson.
Many thanks to all that joined SOOF on Saturday April 25th at Lunn’s Mill Beer Company for our second concert of 2026! It was a terrific afternoon of live music featuring performances by Mark Bezanson, Gregory McOrmond and Alex Meisner. SOOF is grateful for their support and donating their performances and for Giving Nature A Voice.
SOOF would also like to thank and acknowledge all those that contributed to making this event possible: Chloe Shackelton, Laura Bright, Lorne Allan, Robert Bright, Tammy Redden, Lunn’s Mill Beer Company, and Sion Sound Studio.
SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER:
WE ARE ALL TREATY PEOPLE RALLY #2
On March 3, 2026, the second Shoulder-To-Shoulder: We Are All Treaty People Rally took place on the Granville Street side of Province House in Kjipuktuk (Halifax). Allies showed up when they were called. We gathered in the street together and stood shoulder-to-shoulder, making our demands for Treaty Rights, environment and democracy known, loud and clear.
We Are All Treaty People. Msit No’kmaq (All My Relations).
SOOFSTOCK Presents… Music at the Museum
“We believe in being a voice for the creatures who don’t have one. If we are heard today then perhaps the creatures of the forests will still be heard tomorrow.” – Permanent Resonance
Many thanks to all that joined Save Our Old Forests (SOOF) on Saturday February 21st at the Macdonald Museum for our first concert of 2026! The concert featured local musicians who donated their performances to SOOF and for Giving Nature A Voice. Guests were treated to the soulful and ‘pretty music’ of Still River, beautiful harmonies by Permanent Resonance, and Lorne Allan’s originals accompanied by Sue Littleton on cello.
SOOF is grateful for the support of the musicians and for all those that contributed to making this event possible: Amanda Suutari, Chloe Shackelton, Crystal Veinot, Laura Bright, Lorne Allan, Robert Bright, Rhonda O’Grady, Tammy Redden, The Macdonald Museum, and Sion Sound Studio.
2025 Events & Workshops
2025 Art Advent Calendar
The 2025 Art Advent Calendar was inspired by SOOF’s Call To Action, announced at the end of November 2025 after citizen scientists reported new flagging tape on the Corbett peninsula of the Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area. 24 artists from across Nova Scotia / Mi’kma’ki volunteered their art to be featured in this advent calendar, with the message, “All we want for Christmas is for the Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area to be Protected.”
SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER:
WE ARE ALL TREATY PEOPLE RALLY #1
On the afternoon of Saturday, November 15th, 2025, hundreds of people gathered in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) at the Commons to stand Shoulder-To-Shoulder with the land and water defenders of Tqamuoweye’katic (Hunter’s Mountain) and across Mi’kma’ki.
The Rally opened with a sacred prayer led by Mii’kmaq land and water defenders. Elder/Dr. Albert Marshall said it best: “The energy that is generated here, I know will motivate and empower others to do the very thing that we are no longer going to be silent [for].”
Also in his speech, Elder Marshall suggested that the PC government pool together “some extra money and buy an old pair of glasses and a hearing aid for the Premier, so hopefully, he will not only see but hear… People [in this province] are no longer going to remain silent and in denial of how our Earth is being used indiscriminately.”
Alexina Doucette, a land defender & Treaty Rights holder, who has been devoted to protecting Tqamuoweye’katic in Unama’ki (Cape Breton), continued, “No matter what colour you are, no matter where you come from, this is our home. […] In our ways, we are supposed to leave the land better than we found it. And right now, we’re failing our future so bad”.
Michelle Paul – water defender, land defender, Treaty Rights holder – called to the crowd of 450+ people proudly, “We issued the call, and you answered the call!” The crowd cheered, and she continued, “We’re going to need to continue this – this is not a one-time thing… I need you to know that we are all in this together.” Michelle concluded her speech saying “I want you to know that the energy you feel today, we can keep that going – that energy is called love, the love you have for Mi’kma’ki.”
SOOF’s president, Nina Newington, captivated the audience with her poetic and motivational words. “This is the way forward — Shoulder-To-Shoulder. If we want a livable future, then this [rally] must be just the beginning… There is so much joy and strength to be found in standing together and getting in the way of what damages the earth. I felt that joy and strength flowing through Hunter’s Mountain both times I’ve been there.” Nina then asked the crowd directly to take the following pledge, which she herself has made to this earth: “I will do what I can.” The crowd cheered and repeated back to her, “I will do what I can!” Nina concluded her speech by saying, “If enough of us make this pledge, and we [Mik’maq and settlers], we will change the world… when they flow together, one thousand trickling streams become a roaring river.”
These are simply a few highlights; so many other speakers offered beautiful words of wisdom and lived experience of fighting for the land and for Treaty Rights.
The Rally closed with a drumming ceremony featuring a young dancer, serving as the perfect reminder of why and for whom we gathered in Kjipuktuk to speak up for: the next seven generations.
SOOFSTOCK 2025
SOOFSTOCK 2025 was a great success and we welcomed over 300 people to the Bridgetown Legion on Saturday, August 23 to help raise money for both the Save Our Old Forests Association and the West Dalhousie Community Hall. The festival is 100% volunteer run and organised, and this year had the added challenge of a last-minute venue change. It was an amazing turn out and we are thrilled to share that SOOFSTOCK 2025 raised $3154 for the West Dalhousie Community Hall. Thank you to our financial sponsors: Municipality of the County of Annapolis and the Valley Credit Union.
