CALL FOR ARTWORK FOR G8/G20 MOBILIZATIONS.

Leaders of the G8 and G20 countries are meeting Ontario in June 2010.

This is a historical meeting. Historical because it will probably be the

last G8 meeting. Historical because the G8 has dozens of promises that are

up and few it has met.

Historical because the year is 2010. A year that the indigenous and allied

struggles against the Olympics will peak, a year when No One Is Illegal!

May Day of Action will be on May Day (May 1), a year when Toronto will see

a mayoral elections, a year where large unions might go on coordinated

strikes in Ontario, a year that will probably see a federal election.

This G8/G20 Summits are going to be met with large community based

mobilizations. Mobilizations that will create and witness another world, a

world free of oppression, a democratic world, a world where each of us

participates in the decisions that effect us.

These mobilizations need an image. A design. A poster. A color scheme.

They require one designer.

One designer to craft a poster that 'inspires' 'liberation',

'community-power', 'self-determination', 'justice', that shows the

'multiplicity' of our anti-poverty, anti-occupation, migrant justice,

indigenous sovereignty struggles.

Could you make that design?

If so, email draft sketches to community.mobilize@resist.ca by 3rd January

2010.

A full list of phrases that the design should depict can also be

requested by writing to community.mobilize@resist.ca

Only selected designers will be contacted for further discussion.

The Toronto Woemn's Bookstore needs support urgently!!

Dear TWB community,

The Toronto Women's Bookstore is in crisis and we need your help!

Independent businesses and bookstores have been closing their doors this

year, and after 36 years it is possible that we will have to do the same if

we are not able to raise enough money to survive. TWB is one of the only

remaining non-profit feminist bookstores in North America, but despite all

of the events, courses, workshops, community resources and additional

services we offer, the fact that we are a store means that we do not receive

any outside funding and rely entirely on sales and the support of our

customers to stay in business.

Over the past few years, our sales have not been enough to sustain us and

this is why we are coming to you, our community, for help. If every one of

you donated $10 we would raise enough to keep going for 3 months, $20 each

would keep us in business for 6 months, and $30 each would be enough for us

to keep our doors open, hopefully for good. All donations will go directly

towards covering the bookstore's costs, and are a part of a larger plan of

action and structural change to make the business sustainable in the current

economy.

In the past, when feminist bookstores were closing down all across North

America, the support of the community is what kept TWB alive. You are the

reason that we are still here today, and we believe that with your help we

can once again work together to save this organization where so many of us

as readers, writers, feminists, artists, and activists have found a home.

You can make donations over the phone, on our website

www.womensbookstore.com (paypal link available soon), or in person at the

store. As a non-profit store we are not eligible for charitable status and

cannot offer tax receipts, but we are hoping to be able to offer tax

receipts for donations over $100 in collaboration with a non-profit charity

who shares our mandate, and we will have that information available on our

website and in store as soon as possible.

You can also help by spreading the word to your friends and community,

contacting us if you know of any funding we might be eligible for, promoting

this fundraising drive in your paper or on your blog, website or radio show,

organizing your own save the bookstore fundraisers or just passing the hat

at your holiday parties, giving a TWB donation as a gift, and of course,

coming in and bringing all your friends to the store for some holiday

shopping!

Thank you all for your support,

The Toronto Women's Bookstore Board, Staff & Volunteers

International Festival of Poetry of Resistance

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF POETRY OF RESISTANCE
Pre-festival event:

THE WALLS OF SHAME
THE GENOCIDAL BLOCKADES

LOS MUROS DE LA VERGUENZA
LOS BLOQUEOS GENOCIDAS
******************************

*********************************************************

****************************************************************************************
YES!
To the Right of Self
Determination of People!!
Free the Cuban Five, Mumia
Abu-Jamal and Leonard Peltier!!!

******************************************************
SUNDAY DEC 20, 2009 -2:00 PM
at Ellington's Music & Cafe
805 St Clair Ave. West.

************************************************************************************
-MC: CHARLES ROACH

Readings & Music by: GODOFREDO CARRANZA - GRUPO CHAAK-
ELIZABETH CORONA (MATLACTLI KIAHUTL) -
JEANNINE PITAS – LUZ MARINA ORTIZ -
MONICA ROSAS - JOSEFINA CHAVEZ -
CARLA MESA - NINA LA PORTA and others
*************************************************************
For more info contact: resistancepoetryfest@gmail.com

Maple Tree Literary Supplement

Maple Tree Literary Supplement, MTLS issue #5 live and hot at http://www.mtls.ca/issue5/index.php

*Editorial: “Of Grammatology and Writing”
*‘Roundtable’ with novelist, essayist and gardener, Merlyn Simonds
*Essay by John Ralston Saul
*Fiction by Olive Senior and sundry
*On the art of printing with Stan Bevington of Coach House Books
*Reviews by George Elliot Clarke and sundry
*Photos of literary events on the Festival of Life page
*Nnorom Azuonye asks hard questions of Chimamanda Adichie
*Artworks and more.
*poetry

In This Issue

Madhur Anand
Nnorom Azuonye
Claudia Del Balso
Nicolas Billon
Stan Bevington
Amatoritsero Ede
George Elliott Clarke
Julia P.W. Cooper
Benson Eluma
David Fancy
Harry Garuba
Carla Goldberg
Salim Gold
Patrick Iberi
Onyinye Ihezukwu
JL Jacobs
Michael Laverty
Julie Leroux
Allan E. Levine
John W. Macdonald
Ben Noble
Sanya Osha
Niran Okewole
Chukwuma Okoye
Céleste Parr
Justin Pfefferle
Dawn Promislow
Rebecca Rustin
Naben Ruthnum
John Ralston Saul
Halima Sekula
Olive Senior
Dianne Scott
Merilyn Simonds
Carly Stewart
Amanda Tripp
Kọlá Tubọsun
Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
J.A. Weingarten
S. Nadja Zajdman

http://www.mtls.ca/issue5/index.php

The Play: The Making of St Jerome.

The Next Stage Theatre Festival & eastBOUNDtheatre present
'The Making of St. Jerome'

THE PLAY | 'THE MAKING OF ST. JEROME':
After Jerome’s violent death, his older brother Jason embarks on a quest to bring the police officer that shot him to justice. Jason’s pursuit uncovers uncomfortable facts and plants a growing seed of doubt about Jerome’s innocence. Inspired by the 2004 fatal shooting of a Filipino-Canadian teenager by a plain-clothes police officer, The Making of St. Jerome is an exploration of guilt, grief, and brotherly love, set against the backdrop of a Coroner’s Inquest into the untimely death of a Toronto schoolboy. Inspired by true events.

Multiple-award winning director Nina Lee Aquino directs this powerful and haunting piece written by fu-GEN Theatre’s 2008-2009 Playwright-in-Residence Marie Beath Badian.

Written by Marie Beath Badian
Directed by Nina Lee Aquino
Set/Costumes by Jackie Chau
Lighting by Aaron Kelly
Sound Design by Romeo Candido
Choreography by Clare Preuss
Stage Managed by Kat Chin

FEATURING: Byron Abalos, Keith Barker, Aura Carcueva, Christian Feliciano, and Audrey Dwyer

Factory Studio 125 Bathurst St. Toronto, ON/ 75 Minutes /
Drama / General Audience / Strong Language / Gunshots
SHOW TIMES:
Wednesday January 6th - 9:00PM
Thursday January 7th - 7:15PM Special Group Rate
Friday January 8th - 9:15PM
Saturday January 9th - 9:00PM
Sunday January 10th - 7:15PM
Wednesday January 13th - 8:30PM Special Group Rate
Thursday January 14th - 5:30PM Special Group Rate
Saturday January 16th - 7:15PM
Sunday January 17th - 3:30PM

TICKET PRICES:
$15 – Evening Performances (7pm and after start time)
$12 – Afternoon Performance (6:59pm or before start time)
$10.80 Special Group Rate, groups of 5 or more

HOW TO PURCHASE:
By phone: 416-966-1062
Toll Free:1-866-515-7799

For additional show information please visit http://www.fringetoronto.com/nstf
http://themakingofstjerome.blogspot.com

All shows start on time
No latecomers will be admitted and no-readmittance
General seating for all performances
No refunds or exchanges

Invitation to Jovanni Sy's Workshop

Cahoots Theatre Projects would like to invite you to their upcoming workshop presentation of Jovanni Sy's

'A Taste of Empire'

which was featured during fu-GEN's 5th Annual Potluck Festival.

Performances are at the Compass Group Canada Culinary Arts Demonstration Theatre and Kitchen Lab at the North Campus of Humber College at the following times:

Thursday, December 17 @ 8:00pm
Friday, December 18 @ 8:00pm
Saturday, December 19 @ 8:00pm

Please visit www.cahoots.ca for additional information

SCHOOL Call for Submissions

Open call for submissions of underrepresented artwork and writing

to SCHOOL: Art and literature magazine of stuff they don't teach you

DEADLINE for submissions SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010.

www..schoolmagazine.ca

SCHOOL is an online magazine with strong anti-racist, queer and feminist roots. It publishes underrepresented work by emerging and established artists. Submissions are open to anyone. See submission criteria below.

Now accepting:

Artwork

Poetry

Short stories

Creative non-fiction

Personal essays

Artist Interviews

Copyrights:

SCHOOL Magazine reserves nonexclusive electronic rights over accepted works. This means the artist grants SCHOOL the permission to print their work on its website with full credit to the artist. If the work you are submitting has been published previously, please indicate by who and when upon submission.

Artwork

Send images in JPEG format in a low resolution (less than 300 dpi) attachment to the editor@schoolmagazine.ca. Please submit only three images at a time. In the title of the email, please include name of the artist and that it is an Artwork submission, i.e. “Tina Chin – artwork”. Also, include a short bio (120 words max).

All written submissions: send as Microsoft word document attachments to the editor@schoolmagazine.ca

Poetry

You can submit up to 3 poems at a time. Each can be up to 200 lines long. If longer, please send your request to the editor@schoolmagazine.ca. In the title of the email, please include name of the artist and that it is a poetry submission, i.e. “Tina Chin – poetry”. Also, include a short bio (120 words max).

Short stories, Creative non-fiction, Personal essays, INTERVIEWS

Please submit only one piece at a time. Prose must be double-spaced in 12-point font and 500 to 5000 words. We are looking for pieces that take thematic and stylistic risks. If your piece is longer, you can contact the editor@schoolmagazine.ca about potentially splitting it up into a serial to be published over several editions, bearing the piece is strong enough. In the title of the email, please include name of the artist and if it is either a short story, creative non-fiction or personal essay submission, i.e. “Tina Chin – creative non-fiction”. Also, include a short bio (120 words max).

Unfortunately, due to the current lack of resources SCHOOL cannot give feedback on submitted pieces..

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Have a great day!

- Kenji Tokawa

Editor-in-Chief

SCHOOL: Art and literature magazine of stuff they don't teach you

www.schoolmagazine.ca

HELP US GET OUR LOST WEEK OF YICHUD REHEARSAL BACK!

IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THE NEWS YET...

On November 18^th 2009, the Harold Green Jewish Theatre revealed to us and Theatre Passe Muraille that they regretfully had to pull Yichud (Seclusion) from their 2010 season. We learned that one of HGJT's major sponsors had withdrawn their financial support from the production because of “concerns that the content might be misinterpreted.”

Read more in the Dec. 2^nd Toronto Star Article here.

You can imagine that this news came as a BIG surprise to us. And with rehearsals set to begin on January 11^th, 2010, TPM was suddenly left with a $50,000 shortfall.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT WILL AMAZE YOU...

Theatre Passe Muraille immediately decided that Yichud (Seclusion) could NOT be abandoned, and that there was no other option but to try and raise this $50,000. We immediately jumped on board with TPM to assist with this new plan!

Over the past three weeks we have collectively managed to secure 4/5 of the necessary funding, which guarantees that the production is moving forward. We also know that we have the means to secure the remaining 1/5 of the funds. So we can now proclaim that our collaborative fundraising efforts have been 100% successful.

HOW ON EARTH DID WE DO IT?!

This remarkable success story was possible due to a wide variety of “angels” who have been extremely generous with their financial contributions and have expressed their profound support for Yichud (Seclusion) and its artistic merit.

SO YICHUD (SECLUSION) HAS BEEN RESCUED, RIGHT?

Almost...! As a result of HGJT’s sudden withdrawal, TPM was forced to make a number of cuts and compromises to the production budget in order to be able to move forward with the show at all. With this unbelievable fundraising success we now find ourselves in a position to look at recouping some of those losses. The most devastating of these cuts was the loss of our first week of rehearsal.

HELP CONVERGENCE THEATRE GET OUR LOST WEEK OF REHEARSAL BACK!

The cost of one week of rehearsal is $9,467. Virtually all of this will go to artists’ salaries. Are you able to contribute? Do you know someone who might be able to contribute?

If you’re a fan of Convergence Theatre and you’ve enjoyed our work in the past, please consider offering your support. Any amount, no matter how small, will help us be able to put on the production we originally envisioned.

WILL I GET A TAX RECEIPT?

YES! Theatre Passe Muraille is a registered charitable organization,

#11921 4344 RR0001. A tax receipt will be issued for all donations!

HOW DO I DONATE?

On-line: Go to www.artsboxoffice.ca Click on the “DONATE NOW” button. Under “FUND DESIGNATION” choose “HELP CONVERGENCE THEATRE!”

Cheques can be made out to THEATRE PASSE MURAILLE and mailed to:

16 Ryerson Avenue Toronto, ON M5T 2P3.

Be sure to write “Convergence Theatre – Extra Rehearsal Week” in the memo line.

I CAN’T AFFORD TO DONATE BUT I WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP!

1) Buy your tickets NOW! In person, by phone (416) 504-7529 or on-line:

http://passemuraille.on.ca/09-10-season/yichud/

2) Why not organize a group? Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more.

3) Help spread the word that Yichud (Seclusion) is still on! We run Feb. 6 – 27, 2010 in the TPM Mainspace.

4) And of course, FORWARD THIS E-MAIL!

With extreme gratitude for all of your continued support,

Julie Tepperman & Aaron Willis

playwright & director, Yichud (Seclusion)

co-Artistic Directors, Convergence Theatre

WAIT WAIT WAIT…BEFORE YOU GO, I'VE GOT MORE QUESTIONS!!!

Okay, go ahead...but if other people need to go, we don't mind!

CAN I ASK YOU TWO WHAT YICHUD (SECLUSION) IS ALL ABOUT?

This new play by Julie Tepperman has had previous incarnations at the Lab Cab Festival, the Ashkenaz Festival, and the Next Stage Theatre Festival. This brand new version has been expanded and re-written with the developmental support of Theatre Passe Muraille. Yichud (Seclusion) is set in Toronto’s Orthodox Jewish community and powerfully dramatizes issues of love, respect, honour & duty. The setting is specifically Jewish, but the story is universal and life affirming.

DO I KNOW ANY OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED?

Yichud (Seclusion) features: Diane Flacks, Richard Greenblatt, Jordan Pettle, Michael Rubenfeld, Julie Tepperman & Aaron Willis plus a live Klezmer band: Ronen Segal, Chris Willes & Jeff Wilson

Director: Aaron Willis

Consulting Director & Dramaturg: Richard Greenblatt

Designed by: Beth Kates

Musical Designer: Aviva Chernick

Project Consultant: Shira Schwartz

Stage Manager: Sandy Plunkett

WHAT ELSE ARE PEOPLE SAYING?

“Yichud (Seclusion) expands in the mind and heart.”

Glenn Sumi, NOW Magazine

“Tepperman and Willis know how to tear down the fourth wall, splitting the audience by gender and inviting a Klezmer band along for the ceremony.”

Paul Gallant, Eye Weekly

“Both moving and funny.”

Paula Citron, Classical 96.3 FM

“I adore this company – they’re very inventive…. Julie Tepperman’s writing is smart, perceptive, and at times it does cut close to the bone. Aaron Willis’ direction is clear, sensitive and detail-minded. The acting of the company is very fine. I look forward to when she fleshes this out into a larger play.”

Lynn Slotkin, CBC Radio One “Here & Now”

“Yichud (Seclusion) is the first play I have seen that engages with Orthodox Jewish custom with nuance, precision and artistic integrity. This groundbreaking play captures the beauty of Orthodox ritual without sacrificing its depth or complexity; it directly confronts the tensions that exist in the Orthodox world between tradition and modernity without placing them in opposition to each other.”

Shira Schwartz, Project Consultant and active member of Toronto’s Orthodox Jewish Community

This message has been sent to you by Julie Tepperman & Aaron Willis, co-artistic directors of Convergence Theatre. Please e-mail convergencetheatre@gmail.com if you would like to be removed from our list.

anitafrika! dub theatre raw works festival

mikey smith raw works festivals: dec 17, 18, 19: 7pm door, 8pm show @ anitafrika! dub theatre

hello beautiful village
anitafrika! dub theatre
is in it's second season
and second festival of the season

please come out to
the mikey smith raw works festival
featuring the first draft raw works of
the artists-in-residency at anitafrika! dub theatre

Poetry Reading - December 16th

Pivot at the Press Club is a poetry and fiction reading series happening every second Wednesday at the Press Club in downtown Toronto. Each event features a mix of fiction and poetry from both established and emerging talent. The Press Club is located at 850 Dundas Street West, three blocks west of Bathurst on the north side of the street. The event begins at 8 p.m.

Come out on Wednesday, December 16 to enjoy readings from Claudia Dey (Stunt), Edward Nixon (Free Translation) and Moez Surani (Reticent Bodies). Pay what you can!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009
8 p.m. at the Press Club
850 Dundas Street West

Invitation - ArtBar Reading

Moira MacDougall reads on Tuesday, December 8th, 8pm as part of the Art Bar Reading series:

http://www.artbar.og/calendar

Clinton's Tavern
693 Bloor Street
(West of Bathurst/East of Ossington)

Hope you can join in the fun!

Pomegranate Restaurant Storytelling for Shab-e Yalda

The Pomegranate Restaurant and Storyteller Ariel Balevi

invite you to join us in celebrating

Shab-e Yalda the longest night of the year

From Ferdowsi's Shahnameh

The Legend of Siyavash: Part 1 The Mountain of Fire

The Shahnameh, is a vast epic central to the cultures of Iran and Afghanistan. It was completed in 1010 CE by the Persian poet Ferdowsi. The epic tells both the legendary and historical saga of Iran from the creation of the world until the Arab Conquest in the 7th century. Within the epic are self-contained stories which are epics in and of themselves.

One of them, the Legend of Siyavash is perhaps one of the most celebrated and important particularly in Iranian cultural spheres. It has been remarked that the legend has some parallels with the narratives of the martyrdom of Husain which are so important to Shi'a Islam. As well, to this day, in certain remote areas of Iran, the legend of Siyavash is sometimes re-enacted in a ritual known as Siyvushun.

The Legend of Siyavash draws on an ancient tradition in Central Asia of the worship of an Adonis-like god Siyavash whose destruction and return every spring represented the renewal of the seasons. In the epic, Siyavash becomes a young prince who represents innocence in the face of familial and political conflict. His legend is one of integrity in perpetual conflict with deceit.

The first part of the story, which will be told for Shab-e Yalda, recounts how the prince confronts the false accusations brought on by his stepmother, Queen Sudabeh and the conflict that ensues between himself and his father, King Kay Kavus.



Sunday December 20th Story begins 8:30pm sharp
Dinner Reservations available between 6:00pm-8:00pm

Sunday December 27th (repeat) Story begins 8:30pm sharp
Dinner reservations available between 6:00pm-8:00pm

*Due to the popularity of the event, we are not able to take reservations larger than groups of 6

Pomegranate Restarant

420 College Street, Toronto

416-921-7557

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Help Write the Story of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights

This is an invitation to participate in a roundtable discussion in Toronto, Ontario on Tuesday December 1st, 2009 from 7−9 p.m., as part of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights' content and story-gathering tour across Canada. This is an opportunity to contribute your experiences and your perspectives to Canada's newest national museum, due to open in Winnipeg in 2012. Your feedback and input will help us as we develop the exhibits for the new Museum and identify ways in which we can continue to have an ongoing dialogue with all Canadians. The Museum's purpose is to explore the subject of human rights in order to enhance the public's understanding of human rights, to promote respect for others, and to encourage reflection and dialogue. For more information on this exciting new 'Idea Museum' click here or go to www.humanrightsmuseum.ca Please feel free to extend this invitation to colleagues, family, friends and other members of your community.

To reserve your place, or to refer us to someone you feel could contribute to these sessions, please e-mail us at rsvp@humanrightsmuseum.ca phone 1-877-295-6639 If you are unable to attend a session in person, but have some ideas or stories to share, please visit http://www.humanrightsmuseum.ca/share-your-story or call the toll-free number provided above. For media inquiries, contact Angela Cassie, Director of Communications and Public Engagement, 1-204-289-2006 or e-mail angela.cassie@humanrightsmuseum.ca Sincerely,

Webinar: Youth Participation and Migrant Voice

Diaspora Dialogues' Helen Walsh is launching the Q & A for this webinar!

Webinar: Youth Participation and Migrant Voice

Date and Time (By Timezone):

December 1, 2009
10:00 (Toronto, New York, EST)
15:00 (UK, GMT)
16:00 (Europe, CET)

From London, Paris, Oldham, New York:

Join Cities of Migration for an open 60-minute webinar on projects from Oldham, Paris, London and Lisbon that looks at the active participation of young people in community development and their views on identity and belonging.

• Oldham’s Peacemaker organization works with young people to help move formerly deeply segregated communities towards a new, integrated "commonsense vision of Britishness."
• The Belonging project (Manifesta) uses intercultural dialogue and video to explore identity and belonging in London/Newham, Lisbon/Casal da Boba and Paris/20th arrondissement.
• Florence Laufer will provide opening remarks on PLURAL+ and tell us why the UN Alliance of Civilizations has developed special youth programming. Helen Walsh, Diaspora Dialogues (Toronto) will launch the Q&A.

How to join: To participate, you need a computer with internet access and a landline telephone, not a mobile. Online and audio instructions will be emailed to confirmed participants.

To register for free webinar, click here. (http://citiesofmigration.ca/integration-learning-exchange/calendar/lang/en/ )

Book launch: EXPLODING THE POOL by Sandy Pool

Pulbished by Guernica Editions

Where: Bar Italia, 582 College Street
When: December 6, 2009 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

For the author's bio, go to:
http://www.guernicaeditions.com/author.php?id=317

Anusree Roy's LETTERS TO MY GRANDMA at Theatre Passe Muraille

November 25th to December 12th (the first week has already sold out!)

http://passemuraille.on.ca/09-10-season/letters/ for information.

It's about Love.
It's about Cerbral Palsy.
It's about a MAN with a disability.

CP Salon is a show Fides Krucker has been touring with Kazumi Tsuruoka for five years. Kazumi is a gifted performer who has Cerebral Palsy, a non-degnerative disorder. The performance brings together art and disability through music and theatre.

National Ballet School
Novemer 28, 2009
8 p.m.
372 Jarvis Street (Studio 5)
PWYC at the door (email fides@interlog.com for more informaton or by November 23 to ask for seats to be set aside).

Next performance: December 4, 2009
7 p.m.
York University (Joseph G. Green Theatre)

Sarena Parmar on The Border - Tonight!!

9 p.m. on CBC - The Border

Khali becomes personally involved in the case of Mina Diwan, a strong-willed Indian 18-year-old, who arrives in Canada looking for her "runaway groom". Using a false identity, Anwar Singh had married Mina in the Punjab and stolen her family's $50,000 dowry. Unwilling to return to her strict Indian family, Mina seeks out Canadian relatives to sponsor her for citizenship, but they, too disapprove of Mina's modern ways. ICS learns that one of Anwar's previous brides is missing and presumed dead. When Mina goes missing, Khali and the Squad must race to save her.

Go to: http://www.cbc.ca/theborder/ for a trailer.

Sarena Parmar was mentored as a playwright in the Diaspora Dialogues program in 2008. She performed her piece, "Inheritance", at Palmerston Library in February 2009 as part of Diaspora Dialogues partnership with the Toronto Public Library in Keep Toronto Reading.

PALACE OF THE END - Opens Tonight!!

Palace of the End opens tonight and runs until November 28th.

Go to : http://www.alumnaetheatre.com/0910palace.html for more information.

Also visit Jason Maghanoy's blog at http://jsquaredtheatre.blogspot.com/

Book Launch of Bernardine Evaristo's BLONDE ROOTS

Caribbean Studies and African Studies at New College (the University of Toronto) invite you to a conversation on slavery, reading and launch of the book: Blonde Roots. The discussion will be moderated by Professor Christian Campbell.

When: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Women's Studies Lounge at New College on the downtown University of Toronto campus.

Evaristo is an award-winning writer living in London, of Nigerian and British parentage with bloodlines in other countries, which she has written about in her semi-autobiographical verse novel LARA (Bloodaxe, October 29, 2009)

Her published books include one prose novel, one novella, (Hello Mum, Penguin, 2010), two novels-in-verse and one novel-with-verse. Other produced and published works include poetry, short stories, radio and theatre drama.

BLONDE ROOTS is Evaristo's first prose novel.

BLONDE ROOTS takes the transatlantic slave trade and turns it on its head: Africans
enslave Europeans.

Welcome to a world turned upside down. Welcome to the world of Doris. One minute she’s this cute little girl playing hide-and-seek with her sisters in the fields behind their cottage. The next, someone puts a bag over her head and she ends up in the stinking hold of a slave ship sailing to the New World. When she finally arrives on a strange, tropical island, she discovers she is a pig-ugly savage with a brain the size of a pea, whose only purpose in life is to please her mistress.
Doris observes slavery from both sides. As an adult she becomes the personal assistant of her formidable master, Bwana, a.k.a. Chief Kaga Konata Katamba I. She also experiences the horrors of life in the sugarcane fields, where slaves are worked to death under the blazing sun.

Doris dreams of escape, of finding those she has loved and lost, of returning home to her motherland: England.

Mayanak Bhatt's Immigrant Blog

Diaspora Dialogues mentee, Mayanak Bhatt, was mentored in 2009 by MC Vassanji in short fiction. This is the link to his blog


http://www.canadianimmigrant.ca/immigrantstories/immigrantblogs/article/5844

Amish Patel and Daniel Stoff at the Comedy Bar

When: December 5, 2009 10 p.m.

Where: The Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor Street West (at Ossington)

Price: $10 advance www.comedybar.ca/ $12 at the door

Watch a trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EdBzEVaoxQ

TSAR Publications Fall Book Launch

Monday, November 23, 2009

The Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen Street West
Toronto

Doors open at 7 p.m.

BOOKS BEING LAUNCHED:
Arrival of the Snake Woman - Olive Senior
Of Hockey and Hijab - Sheema Khan
Nuff Said - Michelle Muir
Enough to Be Mortal Now - Rienzi Crusz
Wilting Laughter - Chelva Kanaganayakam ed.
Winter, the Unwelcome Visitor - Shaista Justin
Her Mother's Ashes 3 - Nurjehan Aziz, ed.

Go to: www.tsarbooks.com for details including author bios

Canadian Labour International Film Festival (CLIFF)

The festival debuts in Toronto on Sunday, November 22

Go to: www.labourfilms.ca for details.

Regent Park Film Festival- Starts Today!!

http://www.regentparkfilmfestival.com

LIFT (Liason of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto) Fall 2009 Workshops for Writers, Directors and Actors

Click on the link below for full information.

http://www.lift.on.ca/mt/workshops.html

d'bi.young and di dubbin gang.stars dubreggae concert fri oct 30th @ 10:30pm @ the distillery district

http://www.canwestcabaret.ca/information.aspx?concert=dbiyoung

Written in Colour Writer's Symposium

The Toronto Women's Bookstore hosts its annual event: "Written in Colour Writer's Symposium" on

Saturday, November 14, from 9:00am to 9:00 p.m. at 918 Bathurst

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=182641683342&mid=15289c6G26820774G3f8df76G7

Gas Girls at Theatre Passe Muraille for ten days only!

We hope that you can join us for this award winning play!

Winner— Enbridge Emerging PlayRites Award 2009

Second place winner— Herman Voaden Award 2009

November 5 -14, 2009 Theatre Passe Muraille 16 Ryerson Ave, Toronto

Love for gas Gas for cash Cash for living Living for love...

Click here to buy tickets online for only $15 *seating very limited* Or call the Arts Box Office at 416-504-7529

Click here to visit newharlemproductions.wordpress.com

Sarena Parmar in Flashpoint

Sarena Parmar was mentored as a playwright in the Diaspora Dialogues program in 2008. She performed her piece, "Inheritance" at a reading at Palmerston Library in February 2009 as part of Diaspora Dialogues partnership with the Toronto Public Library in Keep Toronto Reading.

FLASHPOINT

Episode 303 - JUST A MAN

Model prisoner Anton Burrows (Roger Cross, THE L WORD) is up for parole but is denied when the victim’s family, the Amiris, speaks against him. Moments later, a ruthless gang incites a riot at Langstaff Maximum Security and takes the Amiris hostage.

WATCH ONLINE

http://shows.ctv.ca/FlashPoint.aspx.

Click Watch.

Episode 303 - Just a Man

FOOL - Festival of Oral Literature

http://www.foolfestival.ca/about

Thursday, October 22 to Sunday, October 25, 2009

FOOL – festival of oral literatures is a place where listeners and performers can explore the art of making mind-movies with voice, music, body, and story. We believe storytelling is an ancient and an avant-garde art, with branches in dance, puppetry, spoken word, dub, recitation, hip hop, and theatre. Intimate and direct, the storyteller conjures reverie by giving voice to our collective dreads, dilemmas, and dreams. Thank you for joining us for our first-ever FOOL!

Fresh to Def weekly parties at the Gladstone Hotel

Fresh to Def brings you Unruly Twin playing the best in rnb, hip hop, soca reggae and more. You'll be dancing peeps be chillin and its free.

*****

Fresh to def is a weekly party by and for 2-Spirit, Trans//Queer Indigenous, Black and Peeps of Colour. Everyones welcome.

OCTOBER PARTIES:

October 7th: Fresh to Def ft. Swagger with Lissa Monet

October 14th: Roots! A Raucous Night of Fundraising ft performances by Nat n Kim, Troy, House of Monroe, Ayo Leilani and more

October 21st: Fresh to Def ft. Unruly Twin

October 28: DANCE CREW night w/DJ Blackcat n House of Monroe
Us on Myspace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=485546662

Wednesday Nights at 11pm
Gladstone Hotel,1214 Queen W.

freshtodefwednesday@gmail. com
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169762914440
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=97878904560

Dare to Remember: African Jazz Night

With the help of my friend Waleed Kush, we are taking on a A Dare to Remember for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

I dare you to come and hear great live Pan African Jazz music at the Trane Studio!

What: Pan-African Jazz Night at Trane Studio
When: Thursday October 22, 2009, 7:30 pm onwards
Where: Trane Studio - 964 Bathurst street (2 blocks North of Bloor St.)
Cover charge: $10

The money we raise will go directly to African grandmothers, children, and women – ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things to turn the tide of AIDS in Africa.

If you are unable attend please support us in reaching our fundraising goal by sponsoring mr and donating on line now by going to:
http://stephenlewisfoundation.akaraisin.com/pledge/Participant/Home.aspx?seid=2660&mid=9&pid=156923

Donations of over $20 will receive tax receipts. (if you are not planning to attend).

Yoga Cannibal

YOGA CANNIBAL

Created & Performed by nisha ahuja

Directed & Dramaturged by Yvette Nolan

Theatre Passe Muraille Back Space

October 22nd - October 24th, 2009, 8pm

TICKETS

$10 At The Door (CASH ONLY)

Reservations: nisha@nishaahuja.com, 416.531.1402

Info: www.nishaahuja.com

Join Yoga Cannibal on Facebook

Feeling a little empty? Needing to fill a void?

*Ting!*

Welcome to Omega Orange Yoga Studio, and to our most successful yogini’s class. Yes, Monica may be heartbroken, but her success, fame and patented yoga can still lead almost anyone to enlightenment – for a price.

*Ting*

nisha ahuja’s Yoga Cannibal is a playful and cutting look at the consumption of culture in the quest for spiritual fulfillment.

"The crowd really ate this one up. …Good Pace…Good Energy…a lot of fun"

- CBC Radio One, Ottawa

Yoga Cannibal premiered as a workshop at Buddies in Bad Time Theatre’s Hysteria Festival in October 2007 and at Ottawa and Vancouver Fringe Festivals as a “Must See” (Xtra Toronto), and to enthusiastic audiences who called the production “powerful”, “funny”, “fresh”, “smart”, and “a rollercoaster of emotions”. Directed by Yvette Nolan (Artistic Director of Native Earth Performing Arts), Yoga Cannibal delivers you enlightenment (for a price) this fall at FemFest (Winnipeg) and Theatre Passe Muraille (Toronto).

Diaspora Dialogues + OAC Writers Resreve

Diaspora Dialogues is again a third-party recommender for the Ontario Art Council Writers' Reserve program!

The program runs from October 1, 2009 to February 16, 2010. You may apply at any point within that time period. However, we encourage you to send your application in early!

For more information, eligibility, guidelines and forms, visit the Ontario Arts Council website: http://www.arts.on.ca/Page119.aspx