Punch Up Collective

National Seniors for Climate Ottawa event
2024-10-01 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Toronto) | Knox Presbyterian Church Ottawa, 120 Lisgar, Ottawa, Canada
Join us at Knox Presbyterian for the National Seniors for Climate Ottawa event!

Liberating land from ecocide: “An Island and One Night” (“Une Ile et une nuit”)
2024-10-01 18:30 - 21:00 | Social Innovation Atelier, 95 Clegg St, Ottawa
Social Innovation Atelier, 95 Clegg St.
“ZAD,” or “zone à defender,” has entered the European lexicon as a general term for militant direct collective action against large-scale development projects. First coming into prominence in the collective opposition airport construction in Notre-Dame-des-Landes, France, (still the largest self-organized autonomous zone in Europe) the approach and tactic has spread widely. To be a “zadiste” is defined in the Le Petit Robert dictionary as “a militant occupying a ZAD to oppose a proposed development that would damage the environment.” In the Canadian context, we know relatively little about these concrete fights or the conceptual formation of this idea. Come hear from a visiting European radical who has spent time on many ZADs over the last years and will share insights and an autonomously created film illuminating this tendency.
What does life feel like in zones liberated from ecocidal capitalism? Will its residents – moved together by war and climate change – develop a kind of relation with the land they live on that simply abandons the bureaucratic methods of the last “green capitalists”? Residents of the Quartier Libre des Lentillières in Dijon, one of the most famous occupied zones in France, have produced an auto-fictional cinematic firework in a self-managed and collective manner, which makes the desire for radical-ecological change sensually comprehensible. It gives a magnificent insight into current radical French activist scenes around the strategy of the ZAD and can serve as a generous starting point for a trans-Atlantic discussion on how liberatory strategies of reclaiming territory can look and feel like in a world tainted by settler-colonialism, fascism and other toxic forms of exclusion.
The film An Island and One Night (“Une Ile et une nuit”) has screened widely in the European context, but is normally only shown when one of the activists from Lentillieres is with it. Activist/artist Kilian Jörg will be visiting North America for two months in the Fall of 2024, and was invited by the group who made the film to share it with us. Ottawa is one of the very few screening sites in North America!
About the film: An Island and One Night (“Une Ile et une nuit”) is a fictional film made collectively over the past two years by the residents and users of the Quartier Libre des Lentillères, a self-organized area on the last remaining market garden land in the city of Dijon. These eight hectares have been occupied and recultivated since 2010, in resistance to a concrete “ecocity” project that still threatens them today. In the middle of the city, these fallow spaces and abandoned houses have been transformed into a self-managed, multi-purpose district, where collective housing, market gardening, self-construction, festive and cultural events, etc. intermingle. It’s a place of struggle and solidarity of all kinds, as well as a veritable reserve of biodiversity.
In this film, we use the prism of the imaginary to talk about reality, about what we live here, how we got here, what we’re looking for and what we’re fighting against every day. It’s a musical and danced fiction, without heroes or heroines, with houses that are boats (and vice versa), pirates of all kinds and as many different languages… In short, the Quartier Libre des Lentillères is a treasure island into the eye of cinema!
Self-produced, self-distributed and based on volunteer participation, this film shot on 16mm silver film was built up over the course of the area’s life, in correlation with it, to the rhythm of events and seasons. From writing to filming to editing, each stage of the process was collective and participatory, with everyone sharing their know-how.
The film’s music is made up of original tracks composed during the making of the film, as well as pre-existing tracks from supportive bands who have played at the Quartier in the past.
The distribution of An Island and One Night will initially take the form of itinerant screenings – either free or on donation base, in keeping with this non-mercantile spirit. On the technical side, the film can be screened in digital or 16mm, depending on the location and the motivation.
Beyond the pleasure of sharing this creation with a large and diverse audience, this tour will be an opportunity to pass on through encounters our experience of struggle, self-organization and the invention of forms of collective life geared towards a good life for all, and respectful of all living beings.
www.piratesdeslentilleres.net/en
Space Accessibility:
The Atelier has a barrier-free entry with an automatic front door. The space is all one level, except for a very small lip to get onto the wood floor in the lounge area. There is one accessible washroom, and both washrooms are gender-neutral. There is dim lighting throughout the space. We are also a scent-free space.

Book Launch: From Havana to Hollywood
2024-10-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Wise Town Cafe, 329-A Elgin St, Ottawa
Join us to celebrate the release of Philip Kaisary’s new book, From Havana to Hollywood: Slave Resistance in the Cinematic Imaginary. Philip will be joined in conversation with Adrian Harewood, Stacy Douglas, and Aubrey Anable.
Wednesday, October 2, 6pm – 8pm
Wise Town Cafe, 329-A Elgin St.
Space is limited, please RSVP by email to bridgetrielly@cmail.carleton.ca
From Havana to Hollywood examines the presence or absence of Black resistance to slavery in feature films produced in either Havana or Hollywood–including Gillo Pontecorvo’s Burn!, neglected masterpieces by Cuban auteurs Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Sergio Giral, and Steve McQueen’s Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave.
Kaisary argues that, with rare exceptions, the representation of Black agency in Hollywood has always been, and remains, taboo. Contrastingly, Cuban cinema foregrounds Black agency, challenging the ways in which slavery has been misremembered and misunderstood in North America and Europe. With powerful, richly theorized readings, the book shows how Cuban cinema especially recreates the past to fuel visions of liberation and asks how the medium of film might contribute to a renewal of emancipatory politics today.
Philip Kaisary is the 2023–2025 Ruth and Mark Phillips Professor of Cultural Mediations and Associate Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies, the Department of English Language and Literature, and the Institute for Comparative Studies in Literature, Art, and Culture at Carleton University. He is the author of The Haitian Revolution in the Literary Imagination: Radical Horizons, Conservative Constraints.
Event made possible with support from ICSLAC and the departments of English, Law and Legal Studies, and the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program at Carleton University.
Part of the Authors Unbound Fall 2024 literary event series.

Sisters In Spirit Vigil for MMIWG2S+
2024-10-04 12:00 - 15:00 | Parliament Hill, Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A9, Canada
Join FSIS for the 18th annual SIS Vigil for MMIWG2S+ on Friday, October 4, 2024. We are gathering from noon to 3 pm on Parliament Hill on traditional Algonquin Territory.
This year also marks the 20 anniversary of Amnesty International Canada’s Stolen Sisters Report. There will be fierce Indigenous women speakers including Beverley Jacobs, Melanie Omeniho, Colleen Hele Cardinal, Diane Redsky and more! There will be a braid-cutting ceremony featuring Bridget Tolley and family.
With support from: Women of the Métis Nation, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), and Amnesty International Canada

International Day of Action: One Year of Genocide, One Year of Resistance
2024-10-05 14:00 - 17:00 | Parliament Hill, Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A9, Canada
OTTAWA: JOIN US October 5th on Parliament Hill to answer the global day of action for Palestine to mark one year of genocide against Palestinians and honor the resilience of our people in resisting zionism, occupation, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing as they have for the past 76 years.
This October marks one year of genocide, of indiscriminate bombing, forced displacement, and famine. In the span of one year, the Gaza Health Ministry has released the names of over 40,000 l innocent civilian lives lost, including over 15,000 children, with updated projections estimating 189,000 direct and indirect deaths as a result of Israel’s genocidal war against Palestine. Despite this, people of Gaza remained steadfast in their resistance against these oppressive forces and in demanding their liberation.
As our Canadian government continues to arm and fund the Zionist entity, we will march once again on October 5, a year into the active genocide, demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire, an end to Canadian complicity, including through the implementation of a two way arms embargo, and an end of the illegal blockade on Gaza.
Join us in sending a clear message across the world: we will not rest, we will continue to resist, until Palestinians are free wherever they live from the river to the sea.

Epistemicide in Gaza: The Targeting and destruction of Knowledge infrastructure
2024-10-10 14:30 - 16:30 | A720 Loeb Building, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
As part of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology Colloquium Series, Iyas Salim Abu-hajiar presents: “Epistemicide in Gaza: The Targeting and destruction of Knowledge infrastructure“.
Title: Epistemicide in Gaza: The Targeting and destruction of Knowledge infrastructure
Abstract: Epistemicide refers to the obliteration of knowledge systems, including physical infrastructure, educators, and scholars. In the ongoing war on Gaza, which has raged for a year, Israel has systematically targeted and destroyed nearly all educational facilities, killing thousands of students, teachers, researchers, and lecturers. According to the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, Israel’s military actions are not random but part of a deliberate strategy to erase education and the future prospects of young Palestinians, even after the war.Before the conflict, Gaza was home to 796 schools and 17 higher education institutions, serving nearly 87,000 students. Many of these facilities have since been bombed, and countless researchers, scholars, and students have been killed or assassinated. One example is Al-Isra University, south of Gaza City, where Israeli forces blew up the campus and destroyed the National Museum, which housed over 3,000 rare artifacts from Islamic, Roman, and Palestinian history. University administrators in Gaza have repeatedly called for the protection of educational institutions, describing these attacks as crimes and violations of international laws, charters, and norms.

Bio: My name is Iyas Salim Abu-hajiar, and I am a Palestinian born in Gaza. I hold a PhD in Global Studies from Kyoto, Japan, along with a Master’s degree from Gaza, Palestine, and a BA from Victoria, B.C., Canada. I taught and researched in both Japan, and Palestine, along with several years work in international development across Gaza, the West Bank, and Jordan. In 2018, I co-founded the Research Center for Human Dignity at Doshisha University in Kyoto, where I served as an Assistant Professor. Currently, I am an Adjunct Professor at the College of Public and Global Affairs at Carleton University.

Calling for solidarity with kanien'kehá:ka kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers)
2024-10-15 12:00 - 17:00 | Supreme Court of Canada, 301 Wellington Street, Ottawa, K1A 0J1
On Tuesday, October 10th the Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) will submit both conventional legal documents and traditional Kanien’kehá:ka legal documents to the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa for the first time in history. The submission of these documents represents the next step in the Mothers’ investigation into unmarked graves and clandestine mass burials of Indigenous women and girls on McGill campus at the former Royal Victoria Hospital and Allan Memorial Psychiatric Institute, in so-called Montreal.
At this historic moment, traditional Kanien’kehá:ka legal documents will be submitted and Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera protocols adhered to in the form of presenting wampum belts. Come and show your solidarity with the Kahnistensera in their pursuit of justice for their missing relatives at this press conference with independent special interlocutor Kimberley Murray.
Tuesday, Oct. 15, 12pm
Supreme Court of Canada
301 Wellington Street, Ottawa
K1A 0J1

Raise the Rates! Rally
2024-10-17 16:00 - 18:00 | Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier, Ottawa
Join the ODSP Action Coalition, the Disability Justice Network of Ontario, and the Raise the Rates coalition for a rally to demand doubling ODSP, and finally indexing Ontario Works to cost of living. Show up in support of your disabled comrades, kin, neighbours, friends, and enemies, and fight back against state austerity!
Social assistance recipients deserve dignity but under current policies struggle to afford rent and food.
Double ODSP! Index Ontario Works! No more deaths by disability poverty!

Cinema for Palestine: Artist Talk and Screening with Nada El-Omari
2024-10-17 18:00 - 20:00 | DARC Microcinema, 67 Nicholas St, Ottawa, K1N 7B9, Canada
DARC is proud to present “(re)collections of imagination,” a screening and artist talk featuring Palestinian – Egyptian filmmaker Nada El-Omari.
Constantly exploring new ways of self-narration, the Montreal-based artist will present and discuss her recent experimental short films, which are deeply informed by intergenerational memories, displacement and belonging.
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Nada’s inventive and exploratory filmmaking.

Support Abousfian Abdelrazik as Canadian Complicity in Torture Goes on Trial (Online and in Ottawa)
2024-10-21 06:00 - 2024-11-01 14:00
Join us in court beginning October 21 in Ottawa or online as the six week trial proceeds.
To register online to observe proceedings, visit: https://cas-satj.zoom.us/…/WN_fSbwmniiRZ2f7_T7xFLkGg
To receive court location details for Ottawa, contact tasc@web.ca
Abousfian Abdelrazik is “the victim of a series of gross injustices attributable directly or indirectly to Canadian state actors, including arbitrary and illegal detention, prolonged solitary confinement, torture, and forced exile and separation from his home and young children. These breaches of the Plaintiff’s fundamental human rights were flagrant, extreme and continuous over a period of six years. Most egregiously, many senior Canadian officials were fully aware that Canada could have ended the Plaintiff’s cruel and unjust ordeal at any moment by simply securing a flight home to Montreal. In this action, he seeks redress and compensation that vindicates his Charter rights and is proportionate to the unprecedented seriousness of this wrongful state conduct.” (from his lawsuit)
Canada has a loathsome history of rendering Muslim citizens to torture abroad and being complicit in their torture. The case of Abousfian Abdlerazik is the first time such a case is scheduled for a trial.
When a combination of civic action and a court action successfully brought him home in 2009, Abdelrazik told the Globe and Mail a “ chilling account of six years of imprisonment and forced exile abroad… Mr. Abdelrazik recounted stories of interrogation and alleged torture. He told of Canadian Security and Intelligence Service agents laughingly saying “Sudan will be your Guantanamo” when he begged to be allowed to return home.
His ordeal – described as Kafkaesque by the federal court judge who ordered him repatriated – is far from ended. But the Harper government made it clear that Mr. Abdelrazik couldn’t expect any support in his efforts to remove his name from the UN list.
Mr. Abdelrazik said one of the two CSIS interrogators was the same agent who questioned him at his home two days before he flew to Khartoum in March of 2003. Mr. Abdelrazik said he had called the Montreal police to get the CSIS agents to leave.
“One of them, he turned and said to me, ‘You will see…’ ” he said.
Although CSIS denies it arranged for Mr. Abdelrazik to be imprisoned in Sudan, heavily redacted government documents say he was arrested “at our request,” meaning Canada’s.After months in solitary with little food and occasional torture, Mr. Abdelrazik said one day his Sudanese jailers told him the “Canadian muhabarat want to talk to me,” using the feared Arabic term for secret police.
Mr. Abdelrazik says he was taken to a room with a table laden “with cakes and fruits and juice and bottles of water,” but before he could say anything, one of the CSIS agents said, “Remember I told you in Montreal that ‘You will see,’ … and now, you will see.”
Mr. Abdelrazik said he begged to be allowed to go home and offered to face any charges the agents wanted to press.
“I am not going to help a terrorist,” the CSIS agent replied, according to Mr. Abdelrazik. The agent added that Mr. Abdelrazik was “Sudanese, not a Canadian, and should stay in Sudan forever.”
“My country doesn’t need you,” the CSIS agent said. After the two left, Mr. Abdelrazik said the worst period of torture and abuse began.
Stay in touch at Stop Canadian Involvement in Torture, tasc@web.ca

Queer Death Salon - Advance Planning for End of Life
2024-10-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
We are continuing our 4-part series where we will discuss Advanced Planning for End Of Life as it relates to us in our communities. Over 3 remaining sessions, we will together go over each section of the LGBTQ+ Advance Care Planning Toolkit published by SAGE
https://lgbtagingcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAGE-Advanced-Care-Planning-Toolkit-Final.pdf
Tuesday, October 22 at 7 p.m. EST
We will review STEP 2 of the toolkit and discuss:
-caregiver resources
-your healthcare team
-palliative care for serious illness
-in case of emergency folder
There is no need to pre-read the materials. The material will be read aloud. We will discuss the toolkit information together, and help each other work out questions and special considerations around these topics. Each of the sessions is drop-in. There is no requirement to attend all sessions.work best for us. Each of the 4 sessions is drop-in. There is no requirement to attend all sessions. Go to our website for additional info on all sessions.

Centering Disability Justice in Non-Profits: Possibilities and Pitfalls
2024-10-24 09:00 - 17:00 | Social Innovation Atelier, 95 Clegg St, Ottawa
This event is designed for scholars, graduate students, disability community organizations, and individuals interested in supporting and integrating disability justice into non-profit work. It will be a unique opportunity to hear about emerging research, engage in discussions, and network.
Accessibility details:
– Wheelchair-accessible and scent-free venue
– Gender-neutral and wheelchair-accessible restrooms
– Para Transpo drop-off at the main entrance & close to OC Transpo bus stops
– Quiet space available
– We kindly ask that you wear a mask to help keep our community safe
To register, click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6F548_ZaW_sk8FcojRbP_QrNNVUXOPPvGBz74-qhY6rMb8Q/viewform .
For any questions, feel free to contact us at disabilityjustice.workshop@gmail.com.

Music to Movement Build
2024-10-25 19:00 - 23:00 | Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Ave, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Horizon Ottawa presents…
MUSIC TO MOVEMENT BUILD: NitroTurtle (and NuGruven)
Come join us for a night of incredible Funk / Jazz music at the Bronson Centre (Mac Hall)!
TICKETS ARE LIMITED! (Eventbrite $10-20):
Whether you’re someone who loves groovy live music featuring some of Ottawa’s top local talent, and/or you’re someone who wants to learn more about progressive organizing work in this city, this event is for you!
We’ll be raising money for Horizon Ottawa to be able to continue and expand its grassroots activism. The event will feature live band performances and short speeches by local activists.
This is a licensed event and drinks will be sold on site. A local Indian restaurant will also be selling food at the venue.
Venue is wheelchair accessible.
——————————-
LA MUSIQUE POUR CONSTRUIRE LE MOUVEMENT
Horizon Ottawa présente : NitroTurtle (et NuGruven)
Venez nous rejoindre pour une soirée de musique Funk/Jazz incroyable au Bronson Center (Mac Hall)!
LES BILLETS SONT LIMITÉS! (Eventbrite $10-20)
Que vous soyez quelqu’un qui aime la musique live groovy mettant en vedette certains des meilleurs talents locaux d’Ottawa, et/ou quelqu’un qui souhaite en savoir plus sur l’activisme progressiste dans cette ville, cet événement est pour vous !
Nous collecterons des fonds pour qu’Horizon Ottawa puisse poursuivre et étendre son militantisme populaire. L’événement comprendra des performances de groupe live et de courts discours d’activistes locaux.
Il s’agit d’un événement sous licence et les boissons seront vendues sur place. Un restaurant Indien local vendra également de la nourriture sur place.
Le lieu est accessible aux fauteuils roulants.

Remote Work to Reimagine the City Panel Discussion
2024-10-29 15:30 - 20:00 | Ottawa Art Gallery, 50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Imagine if… … our downtown was a more appealing place to live, work and play … we reduced congestion on our roads … our neighbourhoods had everything we needed within walking distance … there were more hours in the day to take care of all the things that matter most … we could turn the corner on the housing crisis We can achieve all of this and more.
Remote work can help us transform not only where and how we work, but the places we live.
Come join members of the labour movement and community sector for a panel discussion and celebration of the opportunities of converting Ottawa’s office spaces into better uses and transforming our downtown. Together, we believe that remote work is a powerful tool for building more efficient, healthier, and dynamic cities.
Panel discussion: 6:30 pm to 8 pmDance party ft DJ Trinidaddy: 8 pm to 11 pm
Cash bar will be available
Please RSVP: https://acepcape.wufoo.com/forms/z1rmjtaz1lzoetg/
***Imaginez si… … notre centre-ville était un lieu plus attrayant pour vivre, travailler et se divertir? … nos routes étaient moins congestionnées? …nos quartiers offraient tout ce dont nous avons besoin à distance de marche? … nous avions plus d’heures dans la journée pour nous occuper des choses qui comptent le plus? … nous pouvions mettre fin à la crise du logement? Nous pouvons réaliser tout cela et bien plus encore.
Le télétravail peut nous aider à transformer non seulement nos lieux de travail et notre façon de travailler, mais aussi les lieux où nous vivons.
Joignez-vous aux membres du mouvement syndical et du secteur communautaire pour assister à un débat de spécialistes et célébrer les possibilités de convertir au mieux les espaces de bureaux d’Ottawa et de transformer notre centre-ville. Ensemble, nous croyons que le télétravail est un moyen formidable de rendre les villes plus efficientes, plus saines et plus dynamiques.
Débat de spécialistes de 18 h 30 à 20 hSoirée dansante avec la DJ Trinidaddy de 20 h à 23 h
Il y aura un bar payant
R.S.V.P. : https://acepcape.wufoo.com/forms/zqft2vj03ewiyp/

Harmony Circle for Palestine with Albert Dumont and Friends
2024-10-30 18:30 - 20:00
For this Harmony Circle, Spiritual Advisor Albert Dumont will be joined by Aisling Quinn and Yipeng Ge. Aisling is a member of Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine – a collective set up to advocate for the protection of Healthcare Workers, infrastructure, humanitarian workers and all civilians. Yipeng is a primary care doctor and public health practitioner in Ottawa. In November 2023, Dr. Ge was suspended from his medical residency at the University of Ottawa for pro-Palestinian social media remarks critical of Israel. A petition demanding his reinstatement received over 65,000 signatures, indicating widespread support for Dr. Ge and raising concerns about free speech and the right to criticize government policy without risking professional repercussions.
We will talk about solidarity with Palestine among Healthcare Workers – the efforts being taken in Ireland and Canada, and the differences in approach. After the formal conversation, we will open up the meeting for a Sharing Circle where all participants are invited to ask questions or share what is on their heart in the chat. We will end the Harmony Circle with concrete social justice actions we can take to help. This is an invitation to do something in a time of great suffering, devastation and emotional turmoil.

Here are the important links for sharing …
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/8385325838217622/
Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/harmonycircleswithalbert/posts/122118762014513446
Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBRJLhRxoJi/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/harmonycircleswithalbert
Registration form: https://forms.gle/PBSPWbQbmaUWfLgTA

Please let me know if you need any other info or if you want it in a different format.

Sincerely,
The Harmony Circles Team – Albert, Evneeki, Nadia, Lindsey, Lisa and Sylvia

Film Screening: Gaza Fights for Freedom
2024-11-04 18:30 - 21:00 | Arts Court Theatre, 10 daly ave, Ottawa, K1N 7B9, Canada
Join us Monday, November 4th for a fundraiser film screening to watch “Gaza Fights For Freedom” (2019). Filmed during the height of the Great March of Return (2018-2019) the documentary tells the story of Palestinians who peacefully marched to the edges of their prison and stood in defiance of the unlawful “authority” that sequestered them there. How did the occupying forces respond? Chemical warfare, snipers firing live rounds, and the murder of 195 men, women, and children, with 29’000 injured. This film is a reminder that the genocide we are witnessing today where the Zionist regime has murdered upwards of 186’000 Palestinians, is not new. This film is a testament to the steadfastness of Palestinian’s and their heroic resistance and resilience in the face of the occupier.
The screening will be followed by discussion highlighting themes in the film. Tickets linked in bio. Snacks will be sold and all proceeds will go to the People Stand with Gaza Fundraiser Campaign.
We look forward to seeing you there!
🗓️ Monday, November 4th
⏰ Doors open at 6:30PM, Film starts at 7:00PM
📍Arts Court Theatre 2 Daly Ave Ottawa, ON
🎟️ $10 RSVP Click here to RSVP

Leveller Story Meeting
2024-11-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Online
Hey Levellers, it’s a new publication year and we’re in need of people for Mighty Volume Sixteen of The Leveller! This is also a good time to remind everyone of our increased honorariums:

$85 per written article
$35 for editing, photojournalism and illustrations per article.
$115 for features over 300 words with original reporting.

Join us for our next story meeting on Monday, 4 November 7PM. While we’re working on in-person/hybrid meetings, we’re still online here: meet.jit.si/LevellerNovember2024StoryMeeting

Story Meetings are where you can pitch article ideas, help brainstorm content, or be assigned a story. They’re also a way to learn about the Leveller and introduce yourself.
Can’t make it? That’s not a problem. Email operations@leveller.ca to pitch us a story any time. We’re following a schedule listed at the bottom of this email.

Unfortunately, we’re blocked on Meta’s Facebook, Instagram and Threads (hah), so we can’t promote there. Please forward this email to your friends and colleagues, as well as follow and share our posts:
Mastodon: @leveller_ottawa@mastodon.online
BlueSky: @theleveller.bsky.social
Lemmy: /u/leveller_ottawa
Twitter/X: @leveller_ottawa
Our Production Cycle is monthly. The due date for the next batch of articles will be 18 November with a publication date on 25 November. During the week before publishing, editors and proofreaders will be assigned to work with writers on their articles.
Our Guides will help you understand expectations for contributing. Please take a look at our Submission Guidelines if you would like to get published. Our Leveller News & Analysis Writing Guide provides the framework for our stories. Please read the Honourarium Policy for information on being paid.
Check out other ways to get involved with The Leveller – including joining the Editorial Board.

Protest Doug Ford's Bike Lane Ban
2024-11-05 11:00 - 12:00 | Mackenzie and Rideau Street, Ottawa
Doug Ford is coming to town, and we’re going to show him we won’t stand for his bike lane ban!

Come join our rally this Tuesday at 11 am to protest Ford’s new bill that limits cities’ power to build new bikes lanes and removes existing ones!

We can’t allow our provincial government to force our city to roll back any progress that has been made in making cycling routes safe.

Meet at the intersection of Mackenzie and Rideau outside the Château Laurier!

You can also send an email calling on your MPP, your councillor, the mayor, and the minister of transportation to oppose the bill using our tool: https://www.horizonottawa.ca/savebikelanes

Cinema for Palestine: TPFF Film Screening
2024-11-06 18:00 - 20:00 | DARC Microcinema, 67 Nicholas St, Ottawa, K1N 7B9, Canada
Join us in the DARC Microcinema on Wednesday, November 6th at 6:00 PM for a film screening of works from the Toronto Palestine Film Festival 🇵🇸
Digital Arts Resource Centre is excited to host a screening and artist Q&A with the Toronto Palestine Film Festival (TPFF). We will be screening three original works by TPFF Film Residency artists, to be announced soon! Registration for this event is not required but is encouraged to guarantee your seat. DARC’s Microcinema programming is always FREE, donations are welcome.

Kids Market for Palestine
2024-11-10 12:00 - 16:00 | Hall of Peace, 241 Northwestern Avenue Ottawa, ON K1Y 0M1, Ottawa, Canada
Join us at the Kids Market for Palestine, where children can showcase their talents and creativity while supporting a great cause!

Welcome to the Kids Market for Palestine! Join us at the Hall of Peace for a fun-filled day of shopping, games, and activities for kids of all ages. Support a great cause while enjoying delicious food, live music, and exciting performances. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make a difference and have a blast at the same time. See you there!
We are supporting Human Appeal’s campaign for Emergency Relief for Orphans in Gaza.

Diversity Hires - Canadian Comedy Tour
2024-11-14 08:30 - 22:00 | Absolute Comedy Ottawa, 412 Preston St, Ottawa, K1S 4M9
Comedians featured on viral sketches – DIVERSITY HIRES & Just for Laughs, CBC, Canada’s God Talent, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Asian Comedy Festival, Funny or Die, Sirius XM, and more
General Info ℹ️
📅 Dates: Sat. Nov 14, 2024
⏰Time: 8:30 to 10:05 PM
📍 Location: Absolute Comedy Ottawa – 412 Preston St, Ottawa, ON K1S 4M9
Price 🏷
Submission: $20 CAD
Event Highlights 💡
International Comedians
Diversity Hires Cast
A Night of Laughs, Drinks, and Good Times
PLEASE ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 8:00 PM TO BE SEATED.

Book Launch: Mother Trouble by Miranda Brady
2024-11-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Haven Cafe, 43 Seneca St., Ottawa, K1S 4X2
Join us for the launch of Mother Trouble: Mediations of White Maternal Angst after Second Wave Feminism with author Miranda Brady in conversation with Shoshana Magnet.
Thurs. November 14, 7pm – 8pm. Doors open at 6:30pm.
Haven Café, 43 Seneca St. at Sunnyside Ave.
Mother Trouble traces white maternal angst in popular culture across a span of more than fifty years, from the iconic Rosemary’s Baby to anti-vaxx mom memes and HGTV shows. The book narrows in on popular media to think about white maternal angst as a manifestation of feminism’s unrealized possibilities and continued omissions since the second wave. It interrogates intersecting systems of power which make mothers and their children the most impoverished people in the world and urges a greater appreciation in academic and popular thinking of the work that mothers do.
The book calls for an analytical expansion beyond gender to better address the erasure of reproductive labour, and especially that performed by migrants and people of colour. It illustrates the continued marginalization of racialized mothers and the disproportionate amount of labour performed by all mothers in a society where their work is devalued. Ultimately, Mother Trouble reveals how the unease around white motherhood in the media has become a proxy for the troubles faced by all mothers.
Miranda J. Brady is an associate professor of Communication and Media Studies at Carleton University.
Shoshana Magnet is a professor in the Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies at University of Ottawa.

Arms Embargo Now! Ottawa Protest
2024-11-16 14:00 - 17:00 | 1011 Polytek Road, 1011 Polytek Road, Ottawa
Join us on Saturday, November 16 for a rally against Gastops, the only place in the world that creates engine sensors for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 bomber jets.
November 16, 2pm, 1011 Polytek Road
This rally is part of a national day of action against the F-35 jets. Communities across Canada will come together to confront the deadly war machine.
Learn more about the national day of action here: https://armsembargonow.ca/f35/
SEE YOU THERE!

Forbidden Films at The Mayfair
2024-11-17 15:30 - 17:30 | The Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank St, Ottawa, K1S 3X3, Canada
Kinks & Coffee and Wicked Wanda’s are proud to present…
Forbidden Films at the Mayfair!
Join us for an afternoon of sensual cinema at the Mayfair, Ottawa’s oldest active movie theater, where we will showcase short erotic films that explore the spectrum of human sexual desire.
For the first edition of this new event series, we have partnered with Four Chambers, an independent, conceptual, pornography project that aims to expand the idea of what sex on film could say, do and be. The project remains deliberately ambiguous, rejecting labels for both their films and performers, existing in-between genres of both art and pornography and dismissing the need for a definition of either.
Before the screening starts, a panel of pleasure professionals will join together on stage for a facilitated discussion about issues related to the production of mainstream pornography (e.g., fair compensation, safe working conditions, agency, representation, consent, etc.) and important considerations for healthy and ethical porn consumption.
Come early to peruse our pop-up sexual wellness shop and network with other like-minded sex-positive people!
Schedule:
3:30 – 4:15 pm – Pleasure professionals panel discussion
4:15 – 5:15 pm – Four Chambers short films screening
*This is a 19+ event. Photo ID is required**
Student discount code is available. Please e-mail the organizer with your student e-mail to obtain it: kinksandcoffee2020@gmail.com

No Business as Usual During Genocide
2024-11-18 16:00 - 18:00 | Human Rights Monument, 220 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
The genocide in Gaza has not stopped for 14 months, and there are companies right here in Ottawa that are complicit and profiting off the continued violence. They benefit from trying to remain anonymous, trying to sweep the crimes they help commit under the rug, but we will not allow them! There will be no business as usual for anyone profiting off the blood of our people!
Join us on a walking tour of downtown Ottawa, where we will stop at each complicit weapons manufacturer and remind them, we know what side of history they are on.

Sit in for Gazan Families – Demand Action Now
2024-11-19 10:30 - 12:30 | Ottawa House of Commons, 111 Wellington St, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A0A6, Canada
Join Us for a Sit in for Gazan Families – Demand Action Now
On November 19th, we’re gathering in front of House of Commons in Ottawa to stand in solidarity with our families and other Canadian-Palestinians demanding urgent, fair action from our government.
Why This Matters:
As conflict and devastation continue in Gaza, Canada’s Gaza TRV program has left our families in crisis stranded by unfair restrictions, excessive security demands, and a capped number of applications. This sit in is our chance to come together, make our voices heard, and urge our government to lift the barriers, negotiate safe travel routes, and provide equal protection for all refugee families.
Be part of this urgent call for justice and change. Bring your chair, your voice and stand in solidarity for compassion, fairness, and action.

Queer Death Salon - Advance Planning for End of Life
2024-11-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
2SLGBTQIA+ people may face specific challenges in the legal and healthcare systems. You may need extra protections in advance care planning to ensure dignity and avoid conflict or discrimination.
We are continuing our 4-part series where we will discuss Advanced Planning for End Of Life as it relates to us in our communities. Over 2 remaining sessions, we will together go over each section of the LGBTQ+ Advance Care Planning Toolkit published by SAGE.
Tuesday, November 19 at 7 p.m. EST
We will review STEP 3 of the toolkit and discuss:
hospice care
end of life options
saying goodbye
body and organ donation
notification of death
registering a death
setling an estate

Palestinian Youth Movement General Volunteer Meeting
2024-11-19 19:00 - 21:00
Join us for a general volunteer meeting on Tuesday November 19 as we come together to continue building our organizing work in Ottawa. We will be discussing the PYM International Fundraiser: The People Stand With Gaza and divvying up work for several upcoming fundraising initiatives.
Throughout the devastation of this past year of genocide, we have been humbled time and time again by the people of Gaza as they continuously affirm their steadfastness and commitment to defending their land no matter the cost. Our duty in supporting our people’s steadfastness is greater than ever before. Join us as we take up our role in the struggle for liberation.
Location: Sent upon registration

Auction for Indigenous Women & Girls with Disabilities (Lynn Gehl)
2024-11-20 08:00 - 17:00
Facebook-based Auction for Indigenous Women & Girls with Disabilities #IWagWid

This is a fundraising auction versus a sale to support the continued work that I (Lynn Gehl) is doing regarding Indigenous Women and Girls with Disabilities. Follow #IWagWid for more information.

The rules of this auction are:

1 Canada only.

2 Members must appreciate intersectional oppression and issues of compounded disability due to racism and sexism, and in a way that best guides them to treat each other in a good way. I know there are competing needs and so we should try to be especially understanding.

3 The auction opens November 20th 2024 and closes November 29th, 2024; 12 noon EST.

4 Items will be numbered and posted and then members bid on them. Make sure you record your item number.

5 Some items will be posted with a starting bid reserve price; and some will require the winner bidder to cover the shipping.

6 Due to limited capacity I will not be accepting donated items.

7 On Nov 29th at noon a comment will be placed on each item that states “closed”.

8 Once the auction is closed funds, inclusive of shipping if required, from the successful bidder should be directed via etransfer to lynngehl@gmail.com. See 11 below.

9 Once the funds are received, a comment will be placed on the string stating the funds were received. This item will be shipped once all funds are received for all items.

10 If the funds are not received a reminder comment will be added. If there is no response the item will be offered to the next in line.

11 It is asked that the successful bidder add the ITEM NUMBER and FULL ADDRESS with name to the etransfer. It is asked that people use this format.

Your Name
Street Address
City, Province
Postal Code

Miigwetch,
Lynn

Trans Day of Remembrance
2024-11-20 18:30 - 20:00 | Human Rights Monument, 220 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
A Trans Day Of Remembrance vigil in Ottawa is being organized and is set to happen at 7:00pm on Wednesday, November 20th at the Human Rights Monument at 220 Elgin st.
Gathering and setup will start at 6:30, and speeches and speaking will commence at 7:00 with name reading likely starting around 7:30.
Bring warm clothing including a hat, mitts, warm socks, and anything else you need to stay warm. The vigil is often long and very cold. We will have some candles and hand warmers. If you have candles, candle holders, or drip cups, please bring them.
If you would like to speak at the vigil, please sign up using the link in our bio. A small honorarium will be offered (5-15 minutes). Priority will be given to transfeminine speakers. Palestinian and Jewish speakers are encouraged to sign up.
