Artists for Peace and Justice Hosts 9th Annual Gala Event with BOVET 1822 during Toronto Film Festival

The Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) Festival Gala, presented by BOVET 1822, returns in 2017 at a new downtown location, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). Held on September 10, the gala celebrates and awards leading cultural icons for their lifetime of service while raising vital funds for APJ's on going community development work in Haiti.

Co-chaired by Natasha Koifman and Suzanne Boyd, the event will be co-hosted by an influential team including APJ Founder Paul Haggis, alongside BOVET 1822 Owner Pascal Raffy, Ben Stiller, Cuba Gooding Jr., Morgan Spurlock, Shantelle and Yannick Bisson, George Stromboulopoulos and more.

This year's Peace and Justice Activism Award recipient will be Jackson Browne, celebrating his lifetime of activism and commitment to peace and social justice both in Haiti and around the world. Previous recipients include Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon. In its inaugural year,
APJ will also now present the APJ Canadian Changemaker Award presented by Birks to recipient Gary Slaight, honouring his work as a leading Canadian philanthropist committed to integrity and impact.

"The APJ Festival Gala, is our hallmark event of the year, allowing us to celebrate leading artists and entrepreneurs who embody our own fierce commitment to social justice while we continue to make remarkable strides in bringing education, healthcare and hope to the children of Haiti," says Paul Haggis, Founder, APJ. "We look forward to our ninth TIFF event this September and together, with our extraordinary community of Toronto supporters, being ever stronger voices and advocates for the kind of activism and service needed to help ensure a brighter future for some of the neediest on the planet."

Immediately following the 2010 earthquake, APJ funded the purchase of land and construction to build Haiti's largest free high school for the very poor, the Academy for Peace and Justice, which serves the poorest and most deserving youth in Port-au-Prince. The Academy reached 2800 students at full capacity in 2016 and celebrated its first graduating class, giving underprivileged children the opportunity to continue their education beyond the sixth grade.

Sponsorships are still available. For more information on the gala or to donate, visitwww.apjnow.org. Please also follow Artists for Peace and Justice on Twitter and Instagram @artistsforpeace, and use the hashtag #APJFest17 to see all event highlights. Charitable Registration #82296 2205 RR0001.

About Artists for Peace and Justice Founded by filmmaker Paul Haggis, Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) is a non-profit organization that encourages peace and social justice and addresses issues of poverty around the world. APJ's immediate goal is to serve the poorest communities in Haiti with programs in education, healthcare, and dignity through the arts. The organization is committed to long-term, sustainable development in direct partnership with the Haitian people. The model is simple: APJ believes in empowering local communities, fostering economic growth, and the power of education to change a nation. APJ is based in New York; David Belle serves as its CEO. To learn more, visit www.apjnow.org or follow @artistsforpeace on Instagram and Twitter.

AboutBOVET1822 Since its foundation in 1822, BOVET has artfully combined the most sophisticated mechanisms with the finest craftsmanship, employing artisanal techniques such as gem-setting, engraving, and miniature painting. Under the visionary guidance of Owner Pascal Raffy, BOVET acquired renowned Manufacture DIMIER 1738 in 2006 and immediately began producing the Maison's movements, hair springs, and dials in-house. His passion for Haute Horlogerie also led to the introduction of the remarkable Amadeo convertible case system, which draws inspiration from the exquisite 19th century pocket watches produced by BOVET for the Chinese Emperor and collectors worldwide. Today, BOVET demonstrates its excellence through varied collections that encompass models as emblematic and remarkable as the Braveheart, Ottantasei, Astrium and Shooting Star tourbillons, to name just a few of its icons.www.bovet.com