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Hog calling the golden pigs

"Oinks" will be heard throughout the city this weekend as the most affluent hogs are let out for the 16th-annual Golden Piggy Awards.
44126mondaymagpiggies
last year's Golden Piggy Awards saw quite the collection of notable nominees.

“Oinks” will be heard throughout the city this weekend as the most affluent hogs are let out for the 16th-annual Golden Piggy Awards.

The show, which started in 1998, has turned into Victoria’s favourite way to mock the rich in a parody of the Academy Awards. This year’s event will again aim to max out the 200-seat St. Ann’s Academy.

“We know we’re preaching to the choir,” says Art Farquharson, award producer. “It’s just a great chance to have a laugh together, whether you can change things or not.”

This year, Lance Armstrong, the National Hockey League, Paris Hilton, the  Kardashian Sisters and Gena Rinehart earned nominations in the “Spoiled Pork” category, while Nexen Petroleum, McDonald-Douglas Aircraft, SNC Lavalin, Excel Foods, Chinese National Offshore Oil Co. will be competing for “Pigs of a Feather.”

“Grunts without Borders” will be a challenge for Canadian mining companies in Peru, Tim Horton’s workers imported from Brazil, and HD Mining Co. Finally, the “Pigs of the Aporkalypse” award will be taken home by either Stone Energy, Enbridge Incorporated or West Fraser Timber.

While the winning names have already been released (spoiler: Enbridge always cleans up), the real squeals are in the performance. Actors like Kevin Neish and Farquharson will play out the infamous faces, while Sue Averill (a.k.a. “Miss Piggy”) will act as Mistress of Sowemonies. A few fan favourites will even play original ballads for the show.

The only serious part of the evening (burning social commentary aside) will be the impressive door prizes offered, like gift certificates to Red Fish Blue Fish, specially selected political DVDs (like the Dixie Chick’s Shut Up and Sing) and more.

See the pigs Sat., April 6, 2pm at St. Ann’s Academy Auditorium (835 Humboldt). 250-953-8828. M