Local talent show’s name hits foul note
‘America’s Got Talent’ orders Niagara teen to change title of his online fundraiser for Pathstone
America’s got talent — and it has lawyers, too.
Niagara teen Evan Hardy found that out when he began planning a Jan. 31 online talent show to raise money for Pathstone Mental Health.
He called it Niagara’s Got Talent — and that’s when the lawyers took their cue.
Representatives from Fremantle Production Co., producers of the long-running TV series “America’s Got Talent,” contacted Pathstone with a gentle but firm message to cease and desist.
“(The lawyer) did say, ‘I applaud the work that you’re doing for mental health,’ ” said Kim Rossi, director of philanthropy for Pathstone, “but this
is a breach in violation of the trademark.”
She replied, agreeing to the change. She also described the service Pathstone provides for young people and the fact the talent show was a fundraiser organized by a high school kid, “hoping maybe I could guilt them into a nice donation,” she said with a laugh.
No luck.
“They told us to completely take it down,” said Hardy, 17, who attends Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School in St. Catharines.
“Everything we had, had to be taken down.”
He said he wasn’t put off by it: “The fact that they saw it is pretty cool.”
Rossi said Hardy apologized for the trouble, but “I said no, it’s OK, it will make a good story.”
The hour-long show will still go ahead as planned, online on Jan. 31 starting at 8 p.m.
The show formerly known as Niagara’s Got Talent has been renamed Stars of Niagara and can be viewed that night at Starsofniagara.com.
It will feature more than 10 young local performers and raise money for Pathstone, which provides mental health services to Niagara children and youths. The Starsofniagara.com website has a button viewers can access to donate money to Pathstone.
Hardy’s idea for the show sprang from the Believe Leadership Initiative Club, which was formed by Canadian Olympic hurdler Sarah Wells. Its goal is to help students develop leadership skills by getting them involved in projects they can feel passionate about.
For the show, participants will perform from home and submit their clips. Viewers will vote for the top three acts with prizes of $100, $75 and $50.
Lundy Manor and Oxford Living are sponsors, and all acts get their name entered for a chance to win a Pen Centre gift card.
“My goal was just to raise as much awareness and funds as possible for the walk-in clinics” Pathstone operates, said Hardy.
“I’ve had so much personal experience dealing with friends who have mental health issues” during the pandemic, he said. “From what I’ve heard, I think it is a lot worse now.”
Pathstone operates eight walk-in clinics across Niagara, but they are temporarily closed due to the province’s recently declared state of emergency.
However, crisis counselling is available 24-7 at 1-800-2634944 or online at Pathstonementalhealth.ca.