THE ST. THOMAS TOM ZOMBIE FESTIVAL IS A MECHANISM NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE OTHORDER AND THE TOM ZOMBIE HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO CONTROL THE ANCIENT AND SEEMINGLY LIMITLESS POWER OF THE TRIARC, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE GODSTONE.
FOR THE CONTRACT OF VEILS TO SURVIVE, THE CURSE MUST BE GIVEN PROPER RECOGNITION. SO WE, THE PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT LAND BESEECH YOU: COME OUT AND HELP US PROTECT OUR HOMES. FOR IF WE FALL, YOU WILL MOST CERTAINLY BE NEXT...
// WHY THE FESTIVAL WAS NEEDED
SINCE THE CURSE WAS FIRST SET IN MOTION OVER TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO, THERE HAVE BEEN WELL OVER A HUNDRED TOM ZOMBIE INCIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE TALBOT TRAIL REGION AND BEYOND. EACH INCIDENT LEFT TRAGEDY IN ITS WAKE—UNDEAD ARMIES, MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCES, AND COMMUNITIES GRIPPED BY TERROR.
THUS IT WAS THAT THE IDEA FOR THE CONTRACT OF VEILS WAS CONCEIVED. WHAT COULD CONTROL THE TRIARC INDEFINITELY BY BEING FOREVER VIGILANT? WHAT COULD ALLOW THE TORMENTED AND ENRAGED SOULS OF TOM AND CROW FLOWER TO PERSIST AND BE SATISFIED? AND WHAT COULD PROVIDE THE TRIARC WITH THE RECOGNITION IT REQUIRES AND DEMANDS?
THE ANSWER IS A FESTIVAL—AN EVENT THAT CAN DRAW THE MASSES YEAR AFTER YEAR AND FIND A HOST TO CARRY THE CURSE.
// ARCHIVED FOOTAGE: 2013-2014
LOCATION: ST. THOMAS, ON
DATE: SEPTEMBER 2014
ROLE: CHARACTER PERFORMER
STATUS: SUCCESSFUL ENGAGEMENT
MEDIA COVERAGE: REGIONAL
IMPACT: HIGH VISIBILITY
YEAR: 2014
VENUE: ELGIN COUNTY RAILWAY MUSEUM
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
KEEPER OF THE CONTRACT
HISTORICAL LANDMARK VENUE
HERITAGE SITE PRESERVATION
// IMPACT METRICS
// MISSION OBJECTIVES
GUARD SOUTH WESTERN ONTARIO FROM THE DEADLY TOM ZOMBIE CURSE THROUGH THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL AND THE CONTRACT OF VEILS.
STIMULATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY BY BRINGING TOURISM DOLLARS, FILLING HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS, AND SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES.
EDUCATE ABOUT LOCAL HISTORY, SUPPORT HERITAGE LANDMARKS, AND PRESERVE THE STORIES THAT DEFINE OUR REGION.
HELP COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES PARTICIPATE, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION AND GROWTH.
ENRICH LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE BY CREATING WORK FOR ACTORS, PAINTERS, WRITERS, MUSICIANS, AND OTHER CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS.
ENCOURAGE AND CELEBRATE DIVERSITY BY SHOWCASING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DIVERSE CANADIAN COMMUNITIES IN COLLABORATIVE AND ENLIGHTENING WAYS.
A PROVEN MODEL FOR SUCCESS
AFTER TWO SUCCESSFUL YEARS, THE ST. THOMAS TOM ZOMBIE FESTIVAL GREW, BROUGHT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS INTO OUR REGION, HUNDREDS OF VISITORS, HOSTED CELEBRITIES, AND GOT DOZENS OF MEDIA STORIES WRITTEN ABOUT IT AS FAR AWAY AS TORONTO—ALL WITH VERY FEW RESOURCES BUT AMAZING GRASSROOTS INTEREST AND SUPPORT.
THE TOM ZOMBIE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS A PROVEN ANSWER.