2024's Toronto Events

May 4, 2024 .

Jane’s Walk:

Parkdale Campaigns for affordable housing over the decades

According to the UN Declaration of Human Rights Article 25, housing is a right of all people however no such explicit right exists in Canada. In Parkdale, residents and community groups have asserted their right to housing through organizing, direct actions and legal reform initiatives over the decades.

Through the years, people have built housing co-ops, developed community ownership of housing, formed tenants’ organizations, launched rent strikes, and pressed for better housing standards, rent controls and direct government building of housing.

This walking tour will tell the story of the work of people in Parkdale to secure decent, affordable and healthy homes. The walk will be led by people who have participated in housing campaigns. Come visit the sites, hear from people involved; add your knowledge and experiences!

The tour will start outside the Parkdale branch of the Toronto Public Library, beside the globe sculpture. The walk will be between one and a half to 2 hours and will cover the distance of about 3.7 km.

The walk will end at the Danu Social House 1237 Queen St West. We will have a chance to debrief and talk about what we have seen and discussed on the walk. Bruce Davis from Public Progress will be at the Danu House and talk about policy and other initiatives to create quality, safe, affordable housing.

The tour leaders will be Tendon Dongtosang, Bob Rose, and John Doherty.

Presented in partnership with the Provocation Ideas Festival.

Saturday, May 4 • 1:00 pm.

Toronto Public Library Parkdale Branch,

1303 Queen Street West (at Dunn Avenue)

Meet at the globe sculpture.

Learn more about Jane's Walk.

May 24, 2024

Monologue, memoir, a feast of word-fun, and a deep-hearted treat for bookworms –– or for anyone who's ever lost someone or something they loved.

From storyteller Corin Raymond comes a poignant healing spell, and joyous love letter to the books we’ve loaned and lost, and to the secret paths they travel in the world to find us.

Reviews of BOOKMARKS:

Toronto singer-songwriter Corin Raymond returns to the fringe with another stellar one-man show, again revolving around his love of reading. A decade ago his solo spoken-word show, Bookworm, delved into stories read to him by his father as a child; Bookmarks explores the many books he’s loved, loaned out, lost and (sometimes) found again while on the road. The 60-plus-minute monologue is broken up into five- or six-minute stories — almost like an album, or chapters of a book — with Raymond fondly (and sometimes funnily) reminiscing about books that have helped him through difficult times, including coping with the loss of his mothers (to understand why it’s plural, you’ll have to see the show). Raymond’s got a beautiful, poetic delivery and dynamic stage presence that works brilliantly with his reminiscences — it all pulls at the heartstrings in a big way.

★★★★1/2

- Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg Fringe 2023

About Corin Raymond:

Corin Raymond is a Juno-nominated singer/songwriter who keeps his stuff in Hamilton, ON. Corin has been a full-time troubadour for twenty years and has made five studio albums –– his most recent, Dirty Mansions, was released in 2019 –– and he's only turned to independent storytelling for the financial security. His “memoir-o-logues” include Bookworm (2011) – “intimate, open-hearted and evangelical,” said Vancouver’s Georgia Straight – which won Pick of the Fringe in Vancouver, 2012. The Great Canadian Tire Money Caper (2015) tells how Corin and a worldwide-community paid for the making of an entire double-album with Canadian Tire money. His new show BOOKMARKS won Storytelling/Spoken Word Favourite at the 2022 Victoria Fringe and received ★★★★ 1/2 at the 2023 Winnipeg Fringe. “Corin Raymond is a storyteller who by the end of the night you’ll have known your whole life” – Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail.

Friday, May 24 • 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Innix College Town Hall

2 Sussex Ave,

University of Toronto

May 25, 2024.

Listen to the first episode of Canadaland’s Pretendians, launched this May, followed by a conversation, questions and answers with the podcast co-hosts and Canadaland's Executive Producer, Jesse Brown.

What do some of the most prominent and successful Indigenous artists, leaders, and thinkers have in common? They aren’t Indigenous.

There are dozens of cases of Indigenous identity fraud that we know about, and likely thousands that we do not. So why do these so-called “Pretendians” do it? How do they pull it off? And what happens when they are exposed?

 In each episode of this riveting new podcast series from Canadaland, co-hosts Robert Jago (Kwantlen First Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe) and Angel Ellis (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) reveal unbelievable stories of audacious fraudsters and investigate the complex phenomenon of Indigenous identity fraud. Pretendians will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about identity politics.

Robert Jago is a freelance writer, entrepreneur, and Indigenous rights activist from Richmond, British Columbia. Robert’s written for The Guardian, The Nation, the CBC, The Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, and many others. Robert is a citizen of both the Kwantlen First Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe.

Angel Ellis (Muscogee Creek) is the director of Mvskoke Media and a free-press activist. She is the real-life protagonist of the Sundance award-winning film Bad Press, a documentary thriller which documents the struggle for an independent press within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

Jesse Brown is the Executive Producer, podcast host and the publisher of Canadaland, an independent podcast network fueled by over 10,000 monthly supporters. He is the producer and co-writer of the podcasts Thunder Bay and Cool Mules. Jesse has won the National Magazine Award for Humour and the Hillman Prize for Investigative Reporting. He's also a co-founder of Bitstrips, makers of Bitmoji. 

Saturday, May 25 • 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

Innix College Town Hall

2 Sussex Ave,

University of Toronto

May 25, 2024.

Amidst a world of bedtime stories that capture our imagination, transport us to other worlds, and lure us into a deep and lasting slumber, emerges a wake-up story. This immersive performance installation is an invocation (invitation + provocation) to wake up - to our bodies, our longings, our lineages of resistance, to sharpening contradictions, to the everything-ness of These Times and our agency within them. Gentle yet unrelenting, clear yet contradicting, beautiful yet maddening, both story and storyteller labour in love to free our imagination, presence us in this world, and lure us towards a justice that can’t help but be poetic in its realization - within our lifetime.

About Mathura Temwa Mahendren:

Mathura is a storyteller by nature, and design researcher by nurture. Her practice is rooted in a commitment to designing and sharing tools, frameworks, and brave spaces that can hold individuals, groups, and relationships through difference, discomfort, grief, change, and ultimately, growth. Recognizing that our ability to move through these experiences is intertwined with how and how deeply we were taught to love, love is both the method and the madness that underpins all of her bodies of work. She is the author of the toolkit and audiobook Dismantling the Master's Tools: A Somatic Approach to Interrogating White Supremacy and the curator and subject of the metemwaphasis exhibit.

Saturday, May 25 • 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Innix College Town Hall

2 Sussex Ave,

University of Toronto

May 25, 2024.

Discover how my childhood in a Thorncliffe Park apartment sparked the instinct to gather people and curate experiences of shared magic. Part lecture, part adventure, join me on a colourful journey to the intersection of art, archive and social alchemy. Learn about my favourite elements on my creative palette and why this world needs far more wonder activists to help uplift our collective spirit and reimagine our shared future.

Featuring:

Nikola Steer is an multidisciplinary artist, cultural designer, and producer based in Toronto. Through her ever-expanding practice, she seeks to reconnect people with their shared humanity in a world where systems and technology seem to be intruding with increased acceleration. She uses storytelling, somatic practices, curiosity and play as entry points to shared questions and social discovery. Her installations and activations are designed to help us recognize bits of ourselves in the stories of others and to reacquaint ourselves with the abiding magic of being alive and in community. Nikola is the Director of Programming for Camp Reset, described as “an annual four-day phone-free, ‘no-work-talk retreat for adults that takes place at a traditional summer camp in Bancroft, Ontario,  where participants are invited to choose alternate names and engage in rest and play.”

Saturday, May 25 • 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

Innix College Town Hall

2 Sussex Ave,

University of Toronto

May 25, 2024.

Ready to unleash your inner firestarter? Join us for a scintillating fireside chat with two dynamic visionaries: Ivory, a powerhouse performer with a flair for the extraordinary, and Sapphira, a boundary-pushing architect of dreams. Get ready for a power hour of bold ideas as we delve into the stories of those who dare to dance to their own rhythm, From booty-shakin' to blueprint-shapin', Ivory and Sapphira will share their secrets to living authentically and reframing challenges, while inviting us all to consider the big questions that help us reimagine our collective future. Hosted by Nikola Steer.

Featuring:

Nikola Steer is an multidisciplinary artist, cultural designer, and producer based in Toronto. Through her ever-expanding practice, she seeks to reconnect people with their shared humanity in a world where systems and technology seem to be intruding with increased acceleration. She uses storytelling, somatic practices, curiosity and play as entry points to shared questions and social discovery. Her installations and activations are designed to help us recognize bits of ourselves in the stories of others and to reacquaint ourselves with the abiding magic of being alive and in community. Nikola is the Director of Programming for Camp Reset, described as “an annual four-day phone-free, ‘no-work-talk retreat for adults that takes place at a traditional summer camp in Bancroft, Ontario,  where participants are invited to choose alternate names and engage in rest and play.”

Ivory is a multi discipline performer known best for her booty shakin', shenanigan making, and a voice that just won’t quit. A singer/model/actor/dancer/body positive and disability advocate and graduate of Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, this former Miss Canada Plus has graced stages across North America, into the UK and the Caribbean, appeared in print media such as the Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, Globe & Mail and National Post, and across numerous TV Networks. An archer, equestrian, axe thrower and firebreather, Ivory boasts a spectacular bag of tricks which are sure to wow any crowd! Founder  of the Succulent Six, Canada's team of curvy superSHEroes (check out their TV show on CBC.CA and YOUTUBE!), guest chair on CTV’s The Social, panelist on 1 Queen 5 Queers (now streaming on CRAVE) and a proud member of Les Femmes Fatales, Canada's FIRST burlesque troupe for Women of Colour, you can follow her antics on Instagram and twitter @pureivorydotca or online at www.pureivory.ca. She’s not just a bombshell-she’s the whole damn Arsenal.

Sapphira Charles is an entrepreneur architect leading a multi-disciplinary architectural and design practice for the last 5 years.  Her practice is infused, inspired, and informed by her background in visual and performance art.  Prior to venturing on her own, she worked for over 15 years at a variety of award-winning architectural studios across Toronto.  She works in multiple scales and varieties that span from architectural theoretical concepts and architectural digital art from illustration, 3D modelling and animation to AI Design. She specializes in designing bold and unique small- or large-scale residential and commercial spaces from renovations, events, art installations and alterations to new builds. With her activist and utopian free spirit, she dreams of helping the world to become a more expressive, creative, colourful, socially just, and liberated space - where there are no limits to the imagination; all while having fun and being playful as an essential part of the creative process.

Saturday, May 25 • 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm.

Innix College Town Hall

2 Sussex Ave,

University of Toronto

May 25, 2024.

Followed by a panel discussion.

Saturday, May 25 • 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

Innix College Town Hall

2 Sussex Ave,

University of Toronto

June 3, 2024.

Join us in a thought-provoking panel discussion where we will explore the intersection of art and artificial intelligence. The speakers represent diverse disciplines including visual arts, music, and writing, and are all pushing the boundaries of creativity by integrating AI into their artistic practice. Discover how these innovators are harnessing the power of AI to inspire, challenge, and provoke thought and what it means to be a creator in the digital age.

Featuring:

Ryan Kelln is a Toronto-based software artist with over twenty years of experience spanning game and web development, interactive installations, and machine learning. A passionate advocate for open source and the Creative Commons, Kelln crafts art that celebrates themes of sharing, community, and creativity. His work is realized through ongoing projects that have evolved over a decade, as well as live performances with musicians and dancers. In 2023, he curated for the Provocation Ideas Festival When All Dreams Come True, an exhibition of works from both local and global artists that were made with, or about, generative AI. He also created the visual art using AI for the Provocation Festival’s Transmigration Concert, working with musician Dhaivat Jani, as well as the visual art for Provocation’s Neural Ballet, working with ballet artist Irina Lerman, combining original choreography and AI.  Kelln critically addresses technology while envisioning and advocating for inclusive, emancipatory systems. Beyond his artistic contributions, curation of generative art, and advocacy for art-making, his expertise in machine learning enables him to mentor emerging artists and educate the public through lectures and workshops.

Dhaivat Jani  is a Toronto-based award winning drummer/tabla player and a composer. A recent graduate from Humber College with a Bachelor of Music, his artistic ventures include 'Dhaivat Jani PLUS,' a contemporary jazz ensemble, and 'Electrio,' an experimental/electronic jazz trio. Beyond his roles as a bandleader, Dhaivat's versatility is evident as he serves as a sideman for various artists, both a drummer and tabla player. His contributions extend to multiple cross-genre recordings.  One of the recent standout collaborations in Dhaivat's career is Transmigrations, a project conceptualized and executed in collaboration with software artist Ryan Kelln. This innovative endeavor, showcased at the Provocation Ideas Festival, delved into the history of technological transformation, the essence of intelligence, and the recent revolution in generative AI tools.

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Chris Cowan  is a multidisciplinary artist living and working in the Ottawa Valley. Her art practice is untethered and dynamic, drawing from an obsessive fascination with the history of human visual art making, filtered through too much institutionalized conceptual fine arts education, and rooted in a sincere and joyful love of tactile, textured, colourful, sparkly, shinny things. She works in a wide variety of media, including, but not limited to: oil, acrylic, gouache and watercolour paints, latex house paint, pencil, markers, pen and ink, punch needle embroidery, photography, video, sound, lithography, intaglio, woodcut and book binding.

Karl Schroeder, Moderator  is an award-winning science fiction author who has been writing about Artificial Intelligence and related ideas for over 25 years. His dozen published novels include the informal “Rewilding” trilogy, comprising the books Ventus, Lady of Mazes, and Stealing Worlds. As well as writing, Karl is a consultant and speaker, holding a Masters in Strategic Foresight and Innovation from OCAD University. His newsletter can be found at https://kschroeder.substack.com.

Presented in partnership with the Toronto Public Library.

Monday, June 3 • 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

Toronto Reference Library - Beeton Hall

789 Yonge St. (Yonge and Bloor)

June 8, 2024.

Looking for a familiar face: The justice system and Canada’s diverse communities delves into the crucial intersection of representation, justice, and community. This critical conversation confronts pressing concerns related to the ramifications when the composition of our justice system fails to mirror the diverse tapestry of the communities it serves. Does this disconnect breed mistrust and hinder access to justice? The decision by Toronto Police to cease the collection of racial data also raises significant questions. What are the implications? How does it influence accountability, transparency, and the quest for equity within law enforcement? Join us as we navigate these complex issues and seek pathways toward a more inclusive and just system.

Featuring:

Christa Big Canoe is an Anishinabek woman, mother and lawyer. She is from Georgina Island First Nation. She has been the Legal Director of Aboriginal Legal Services since 2011. She took a 2.5 year leave of absence to be senior and then Lead Commission Counsel to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Christa has been before all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada; she represents families at Inquests; and has been before various tribunals providing Indigenous perspective and representation. She passionately advocates for Indigenous women and children in multiple forums and legal processes.

Dr. Julius Haag is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto Mississauga. His areas of interest include policing, youth justice, racialization, ethnicity and criminal justice policy. His research draws on urban sociology, critical race theory, and cultural criminology to explore the individual and community-level impacts of policing and criminalization on young people from racialized and marginalized backgrounds. In particular, his research focuses on the experiences of young people from the Afro-Caribbean community.

Keith Merith is the author of the recently published A Darker Shade of Blue: A Police Officer’s Memoir (ECW Press, 2024), a transparent first-hand account of a Black officer maneuvering through three terrifying yet rewarding decades of policing, all while seeking reform in law enforcement.

Kevin Donovan, Moderator,  is the Toronto Star’s Chief Investigative Reporter. His focus is on journalism that exposes wrongdoing and effects change. Over more than three decades he has reported on the activities of charities, government, police, business among other institutions. Donovan also reported from the battlefields in the Gulf War and the war in Afghanistan following 9/11. He has won three National Newspaper Awards, two Governor General’s Michener Awards, the Canadian Journalism Foundation award and three Canadian Association of Journalists Awards. As the Star’s editor of investigations for many years, Donovan led many award-winning projects for the paper. He is the author of several books, including “Secret Life: The Jian Ghomeshi Investigation” and the “Dead Times” (a fiction novel).

Presented in partnership wth the Toronto International Festival of Authors.

Saturday, June 8 • 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Habourfont Centre

Lakeside Terrace

235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON

June 8, 2024.

Through a mirror darkly explores the cultural phenomenon of true crime and examines why many of us are so fascinated by it. Learn about the body’s physical and psychological response to true crime and what it means for the way it’s reported on and consumed.

Featuring:

Kristi Lee is the creator, narrator and executive producer of Canadian True Crime podcast.  She is an Australian emigrant who founded the podcast as a personal creative passion project and remains the primary researcher, writer and producer. Kristi has a business marketing degree and a 20-year career in marketing and corporate communications in Australia and Canada. The idea for Canadian True Crime came at the end of 2016, when she decided to teach herself how to create a true crime podcast. She embarked on Canadian True Crime as a personal passion project and was surprised when the podcast soon gained an audience.

Kevin Donovan, Moderator,  is the Toronto Star’s Chief Investigative Reporter. His focus is on journalism that exposes wrongdoing and effects change. Over more than three decades he has reported on the activities of charities, government, police, business among other institutions. Donovan also reported from the battlefields in the Gulf War and the war in Afghanistan following 9/11. He has won three National Newspaper Awards, two Governor General’s Michener Awards, the Canadian Journalism Foundation award and three Canadian Association of Journalists Awards. As the Star’s editor of investigations for many years, Donovan led many award-winning projects for the paper. He is the author of several books, including “Secret Life: The Jian Ghomeshi Investigation” and the “Dead Times” (a fiction novel).

Part of the MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival.

Presented in partnership wth the Toronto International Festival of Authors.

Saturday, June 8 • 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

Habourfont Centre

June 9, 2024.

The Real World of Interrogation” explores the realities of criminal investigation and questioning through the lens of seasoned experts. Known for their innovative methods in police investigation, speakers will illuminate the intricacies of solving crimes and obtaining crucial information from suspects. From decoding behavioural cues to navigating legal boundaries, those participating in the session will gain valuable insights into the dynamic and often intense world of criminal investigation, and the actual procedures involved in solving crimes in the 21st century.

Featuring:

Kerry Watkins B.A., M.A., LL.M. is a former criminal investigator and investigative trainer. He conducted more than two thousand interviews of suspects, victims, and witnesses during his 30-year police career in which the majority of his time was spent in specialized units investigating a wide range of matters including police corruption, corporate fraud, and homicide.  As the principal interviewing instructor at the Toronto Police College from 2012 to 2018, he developed and taught innovative courses, earning the Chief of Police Award of Excellence in 2017. He has authored key texts on interviewing and investigation, with his work recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada. Kerry holds degrees in psychology, criminology, and law, and is pursuing a doctorate examining interrogation practices. Currently, he is a professor at Humber College and an expert commentator on investigative interviewing.

Ralph Steinberg was called to the bar in 1977 and has practised exclusively criminal and professional discipline law since that time. He has been certified as a specialist in criminal law by the Law Society of Ontario since 1996. He is a past president of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association and a past co-president of the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted (now Innocence Canada). In addition to his criminal defence practice he has acted as a member and alternate chairperson of the Ontario Review Board for several years.

David Perry is the founding chairperson of ISN (Investigative Solutions Network), a private investigation firm headquartered in Pickering, Ontario. For the past 10 years he has worked diligently with his partners and colleagues to establish ISN as an industry leader. With offices in Canada and the U.S.A, David has established a sophisticated network of skilled investigators on a global scale. Prior to starting his firm, David had a 28-year decorated career with the Toronto Police Service. He retired at the rank of Detective Sergeant after being in charge of and solving some of Canada’s most complicated and high profile cases. The majority of his police career was spent in the investigative field where he established a level of expertise in homicide, sexual assault, and other violent crime investigations. He credits the success of his current business on the ability to transition those unique skills into the private sector. David is often called upon by news agencies for his expert opinion on issues involving crime and policing. He has participated in local and national news stories, documentaries, as well as print publications and books. After a 40-year career, David remains passionate about the investigative profession and prides himself and his firm on delivering a standard of excellence to all of his clients.

Moderator: Arshy Mann is an award-winning journalist and the host of COMMONS, one of Canada’s most popular documentary podcasts. While working at Canadaland, Xtra, the Toronto Star and numerous other publications, he has reported on a wide range of issues, including the Toronto Gay Village serial murders, police misconduct and white-collar crime.

Part of the MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival.

Presented in partnership wth the Toronto International Festival of Authors.

Sunday, June 9 • 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

Habourfont Centre

Brigantine Room
235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON