Punch Up Collective

Canada Is Burning: We can do something about it
2023-08-29 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Toronto) | St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 400 Sparks St.
Life as we know it is falling apart. Extreme weather events and mass species extinction cover the globe. The government has failed to implement the radical change we need, we are facing the unraveling of the ecological, social and economic systems that underpin our lives. Don’t be a dupe to the government’s smoke and mirrors!
Come learn about what you can do — what everyone has to do! — to avoid the worst effects of climate breakdown and how you can make a huge difference!
Learn about On2Ottawa’s tactics and demands, and about how non-violent direct action is an effective tool for getting the change we so desperately need.
Everyone is welcome, bring a friend!

Day of Action for Affordable Housing
2023-08-28 17:30 - 19:00 | Alexander Community Center, 960 Silver St, Ottawa
Ottawa is in crisis. For every 1 unit of affordable housing that is built, 7 are lost, and over 150 people sleep on the street every night. Yet, our city council only approved $16 million on building new affordable homes.

We know we can do better – Currently the city spends $40 million on shelters, and we think at least the same should be spent on permanent, deeply affordable housing so we can start tackling the root cause.

That’s why this June we launched our petition to double the housing budget and we have gotten thousands of signatures – to finish up our Summer Canvassing Series and transition into the Fall we will be holding one final Day of Action to door knock across the Carlington!

Please RSVP using this link:
https://www.horizonottawa.ca/aug28_dayofaction

Ottawa Run for Palestine Annual Charity BBQ
2023-08-27 16:00 - 18:00 | Vincent Massey Park, Heron Road, Ottawa
Join us on Sunday, August 27 @ Vincent Massey Park (sections BCD) for the biggest BBQ of the season in collaboration with the Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians (APAC), the Palestinian Student Associations’ at both Carleton University and Ottawa U and the Palestinian Student Coalition!
Halal BBQ for sale: prepared and served by Sultan supermarket & meatshop.
DJ music
Shisha station (for sale)
Palestinian-dish food competition (a Prize for the top 3 winners)- stay tuned for more info!
Knafe for sale
Bouncy castles
Games and activities for the kids
Back to school raffle prizes
Cotton candy and Popcorn for sale
Second Cup station
Registration station for the Ottawa Run For Palestine 8th Annual 2K, 5K, 10K walk/Run taking place on Sep 16th @ Hogs Back Park)
Profits collected from the BBQ will be donated to the Al-Makassed Hospital neonatal unit in Jerusalem, Palestine through Islamic Relief Canada and part of the proceeds will also go to support City kidz-Ottawa and Children at risk-Ottawa
Come enjoy the last BBQ of the season with us. Can’t wait to see you all soon!

Critical Mass bike ride
2023-08-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Confederation Park, Elgin and Laurier, Ottawa
Confederation Park
Friday August 25, Departure at 6pm
People on bikes are people too!
Whose streets? Our streets!
We’re not blocking traffic, we are traffic!
No route, no leader, just fun.
Same place, same time, last Friday of every month.
Ride slow, stick together! Take the lane – safety in numbers. No route, whoever is in front leads the way! Thank the corkers and smile at drivers 🙂
How the ride works:
1. Show up before 6
2. Start circling the fountain at 6pm, and follow whoever leaves first
3. Ride around slowly on streets without bike lanes, take up the entire car lane. If it’s a 2-lane road, stick to just one lane unless it’s a big group.
4. Whoever is in front leads the group, but also places their bike to block cars when the group is crossing an intersection
5. The group must stay together for safety – it’s literally the name of the ride. If a traffic light turns red after the leaders, the tail of the group must run the light. If the light is red when the leaders get to it, stop and wait. There is no rush, no reason to run lights unnecessarily.
6. Be super friendly, make friends, have fun, smile and wave at drivers, and maybe just accept that rain isn’t so bad on a hot day

Ottawa March for Trans Rights 2023
2023-08-25 17:30 - 19:30 | Intersection of Bank St. and Laurier Ave, 174 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P1W6, Canada
Anti-trans hate is on the rise. We are asking trans and gender diverse folks, the people who love and support them, and other allies to join us in this year’s March for Trans Rights!

Friday August 25 at 5:30pm
Intersection of Bank/Laurier
Organized by a group of local trans and gender diverse people, our goal is to show the Ottawa Trans community that they’re not alone!
Bring your energy, your signs, and your families!
Event Accessibility
We are asking folks to please mask. Masks will be made available at the march if you cannot bring one. Although the event is outside, we will be gathered in large numbers and masking will greatly reduce the risk for our immuno-compromised community members.
The area in front of the stage will be kept clear of crowds for those who are seated.
We will also have chairs on site for those that need them.
If we missed something or you have a specific accessibility question, please send us an e-mail at transfestott@gmail.com
We have secured sign language interpretation in ASL. We are looking for an interpreter in LSQ. If you know someone who is an interpreter, please email: transfestott@gmail.com
Folks with mobility aids are encouraged to join for the march and will be prioritized! Individuals using mobility aids or with other access needs will be asked to lead the march, setting the pace for everyone! No one will be left behind.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
your donations help us cover costs, like paying speakers, buying poster materials, and providing snacks/masks! If you want to donate, please send us an e-transfer: transfestott@gmail.com
VOLUNTEER WITH US
We’re looking for volunteers committed to ending anti-trans hate in Ottawa! See the form in our bio to apply!
Looking for:
First Aid Volunteers
Peer Support
Accessibility Support
Movers and Lifters
Floaters (general support)
See the form in our bio to apply!
@transmarchottawa

SAFETY AND EXPECTATIONS
We want this to be a fun, positive, and family-friendly gathering, so bring your energy, your signs, and your kids, family and friends!!
Bring your passion, rage, joy, and sadness. All are welcome. But please be mindful of others, their experiences, and the space you take up.

With the rising anti-trans hate, we can oftentimes feel isolated and alone. This March is a chance to combat those feelings and lean into community.
Montreal had their Trans March earlier in August and it was attended by upwards of 5000 people. We expect this March to be just as spectacular!

If there are folks who are protesting the Trans March, we ask that you do not engage with them, and allow our marshalls and volunteers to create a barrier between us and them. We protect our own.

Climate Change in the Congo
2023-08-22 09:00 - 16:00 | University of Ottawa, 75 Laurier Ave East, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N6N5, Canada
Join UOttawa and ICCCASU on August 22 from 9am-4pm EST (University of Ottawa) for an impactful discussion on the consequences of climate change in the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R. Congo), focusing on renewable energy and climate financing solutions in urban areas. This event is of great significance for anyone engaged in climate change discourse, energy planning, policy formulation, and environmental science in Africa.

Solidarity Rally and BBQ with IBEW 636 Hydro Ottawa Workers
2023-08-21 11:00 - 13:00 | Hydro Ottawa Headquarters, 2711 Hunt Club Road, K1G 5Z9
Hydro Ottawa Workers, IBEW 636, have been on strike for almost two months. Join the Ottawa and District Labour Council, Ontario Federation of Labour, Canadian Labour Congress, Horizon Ottawa, Justice for Workers Ottawa and friends to show solidarity with workers and to let Ottawa City Council (sole shareholder, responsible for appointing Board of Directors, of Hydro Ottawa) that it needs to ensure a fair collective agreement is reached quickly.

All out against fascism – Defend Democracy in India & Protest the rise of Hindutva groups in Canada
2023-08-20 14:00 | Human Rights Monument, 220 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
All out against fascism – Defend Democracy in India & Protest the rise of Hindutva groups in Canada
Meet up at Human Rights Monument (220 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1L7), march to Parliament Hill
* Sign up for transport: https://forms.gle/t4xurEMvCWuyoVwP6 *
(short URL: http://bit.ly/IndiaProtestSignup)
Seventy six years after India gained Independence from British rule, the country is rapidly becoming an authoritarian state as a result of the actions of the Hindu nationalist government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Democracy is getting degraded, with institutions under attack. Fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, religion, and of the press, are severely curtailed. Minorities, whether it be Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, Kashmiris, Adivasis, refugees, or migrants, are becoming second-class citizens. Hindutva leaders engage in hate speech with impunity. Activists and journalists critical of the regime are being imprisoned.
The problem is not restricted to India. Groups espousing the Hindu nationalist ideology of “Hindutva” or Hindu Supremacy are also flourishing here in Canada (and elsewhere in the West). Hindutva is an exclusionary and discriminatory ideology that creates a climate of hostility and animosity. Operating through online platforms and cultural organizations, these organizations have been fueling hate, while also raising funds for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the most important organization in the pantheon of groups associated with Hindutva. Details and examples of the activities of groups in Canada are provided in an extensive report [1] published earlier this year.
We urge the Canadian government to take concrete actions: a) ensuring Canadian trade agreements with India are contingent upon respecting human rights and protecting vulnerable communities; b) publicly condemning the systematic discrimination against minorities in India; c) banning organizations in Canada that are affiliated to and funding the RSS, and their promotion of hate. See the joint letter [2] for a full set of demands.
This demonstration thus is a follow up to the joint letter addressed to PM Trudeau, signed by organizations and individuals. The march in Ottawa aims to symbolically deliver the open letter to Trudeau at Parliament Hill.
Join us in a march on Sunday, August 20, to denounce state-sponsored atrocities and systematic discrimination in India, call out growing Hindutva hate groups in Canada, and urge the Canadian government to act.
Please join and support democracy, justice, and equality in India and Canada.
* * Those of us who agree with this call but too far to join us in Ottawa, we encourage you to organize a parallel action in your cities. Let us know and we can support with materials and such.
Background information: See the joint letter to Trudeau at https://bit.ly/SupportIndianMinorities and https://howdymodi2023.com
Endorsed by:
Alternatives International
Canadian Council of Indian Muslims (CCIM)
CERAS (Centre sur l’Asie du sud)
Hindus for Human Rights—Canada
India Civil Watch International
International Council of Indian Muslims (ICIM)
Justice for All Canada
Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU)
People’s Health Movement Canada/Mouvement populaire pour la santé au Canada
Pro-People Arts Project Media Group O/A Sarokaran Di Awaz
Progressive Cultural Association Calgary
Punjabi Literary and Cultural Association Winnipeg
Rang Collective
SADAN – South Asian Dalit Adivasi Network- Canada
South Asian Diaspora Action Collective (SADAC)
The Quebec Public Interest Research Group at Concordia University (QPIRG Concordia)
(More to come)
[1] https://www.nccm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/RSS-Report-2023.pdf
[2] https://bit.ly/SupportIndianMinorities (aka: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mltW212d52WRFz38FhpgseREDTsshoiU/edit)

Capital Pride Festival 2023
2023-08-19 - 2023-08-27
Ottawa annual pride festival, featuring various events and activities throughout the week. Consult the website for full schedule and details on individual events.

Solidarity in Sounds: Benefit Concert with Anishnabe Moose Committee
2023-08-18 18:30 | SAW Gallery, 67 Nicholas Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N7B9, Canada
Join us for a night of music, celebration and resistance
**Friday, August 18th, 2023**
Club SAW, 67 Nicholas St, Ottawa
Doors open 6:30pm
Featuring Artists: Alicia Kayley, Dara Wawatie-Chabot, Keith Whiteduck, and many more!
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/solidarity-in-sounds-a-concert-for-the-anishnabe-moose-committee-amc-tickets-676068337597?aff=oddtdtcreator
Anishnabe Moose Committee has led the grassroots effort to protect the moose, their lands and their culture in their territory [https://anishnabeanikiwin.org/]
This evening will be all about celebrating and fundraising to support the AMC in their front line research and community-building work!
Supported by:
Biblioterre
Climate Justice Ottawa
Research for the Frontlines
Small Change Fund
Venue Information (also available at https://saw-centre.com/visit)
Accessibility: Club SAW is wheelchair accessible, including two accessible bathrooms; seating will be available. Let us know of any other accessibility requests and we’ll do our best to
Transportation and Parking: ​​
Public transit from Ottawa: When travelling by train, disembark at the Rideau O-Train Station and take the William Street exit.
When travelling by bus, disembark at the Mackenzie King Station, the Rideau Street Station or the Waller/Laurier Station.
Public transit from Gatineau: When travelling by bus, disembark at the Rideau Centre Station.
Metered street parking is available on Nicholas Street for $7 per hour from 7AM to 5:30PM, and is free after 5:30PM and on weekends.
Paid parking is available at the Novotel parkade (enter at 3 Daly Avenue) and at the Rideau Centre parkade (enter at 80 Nicholas Street or 5 Daly Avenue).
The Para Transpo drop-off entrance is on Daly Avenue between Arts Court’s main entrance at 2 Daly Avenue and the Ottawa Art Gallery entrance at 10 Daly Avenue.

OG500 Poetry Slam + Take Back The Ball
2023-08-11 19:00 - 2023-08-12 01:00 | National Arts Center, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1, Ottawa, Canada
Taking place in the NAC’s Azreili studio, this intense slam hosts talented poets facing off in a three-round competition for a $500 prize.
The OG500 features headlining poet Nasim Asgari
OG500 Ticket holders get FREE access to Take Back the Ball, a Kiki Ballroom competition and Afro-Queer Dance Party happening after the Slam,10pm at NAC 4th Stage
Take Back the Ball includes a workshop from Legndary kiki ball artists, teaching the fundamentals of serving realness, to be followed by an open ball with cash prizes. All are welcome, Afro-Black-Caribban folks to the front, please.
Take Back the Ball is co-presented by AIDS Committee of Ottawa and House of PainT. This event also features a performance by OK Naledi and live painting by Allan André.
Tickets to OG500, which include access to Take Back the Ball (capacity permitting): https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/house-of-paint-og500-poetry-slam-competition-tickets-653147751507?aff=oddtdtcreator
Tickets to guarantee access to Take Back the Ball: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/653182024017
Accessibility notes: The OG500 is presented in English only
NAC is a wheelchair accessible venue. Please contact info@houseofpaint.ca to request priority wheelchair seating and an additional ticket for your attendant, if applicable, for no extra charge.
Nobody will be turned away from either event for lack of funds. Reach out to info@houseofpaint.ca to request a community access ticket if the cost to attend is a barrier for you

Night School: Latin American Sci-Fi
2023-08-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Digital Arts Resource Centre, 67 Nicholas St.
Despite the lack of science fiction in the Latin American film industry, there are some overlooked exceptions that silently appeared during the bloodiest years of censorship. This lecture will focus on Argentine science fiction from the 60s and the parallels between the use of science fiction motifs and Argentine history. Explore how this genre uses the dialectics of Latino identity as a means of questioning and resisting an environment of constant socio-political terror, and what contemporary sci-fi can learn from these origins.
Speaker
Daniel Rojas is a Peruvian filmmaker and researcher from the Lima coast, currently residing in Toronto, Canada. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Audiovisual Communication from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. He recently successfully defended his thesis “Bring on the Apocalypse: Nostalgia and Tragedy in Hugo Santiago’s Aquilea” and obtained a Master of Arts in Film Studies from Carleton University. Daniel has dedicated his career to the study of the history of science fiction as a political genre, focusing on non-Hollywood sci-fi, and especially, Latin American science fiction films since the arrival of the Cinématographe to the South.

Prisoners' Justice Day
2023-08-10 12:00 - 14:00 | Human Rights Monument, 220 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Let’s join together for Prisoners’ Justice Day 2023
As members of the community in and around Algonquin Territory/Ottawa, we are coming together in solidarity for a non-violent protest against state violence and a vigil to commemorate deaths behind bars in honour of Prisoners’ Justice Day (PJD). Our goal is to bring attention to:

the harms of incarceration including the abuse, deaths, and inhumane treatment of people within prisons, jails, and other carceral institutions;
justice-seeking groups and the work being done within our communities to support imprisoned people and end imprisonment as a response to social problems; and
how to get involved to make transformative change and demand justice.

PJD is an event held annually to remember, learn, and take action for incarcerated people. Let’s pledge to work and make a safer humane world together where everyone can thrive.

Informal speeches will be made by formerly incarcerated people, family members, and community members, while allies and comrades read from imprisoned people. Space will also be made for anyone who wants to speak.
Date and time: Thursday, August 10th from 12:00 (noon) to 2:00 PM
Location: Canadian Tribute to Human Rights (a.k.a. Human Rights Monument), 220 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1L7

What to bring:

Yourself.
Friends, family, coworkers, or comrades (please share this invite!).
Water, sunscreen, umbrella, chair, or any supplies you may need to stay safe.
(optional) A protest sign/poster that supports the spirit of PJD and/or info about your group or activities related to justice for imprisoned people (e.g., pamphlets, business cards, QR codes
(optional) A song, a poem, or a few words of reflection to share

For more info about PJD, visit: https://cp-ep.org/prisoners-justice-day/

About Prisoners’ Justice Day:
“PJD emerged as a prisoner-initiated day of non-violent strike action to commemorate the death of Eddie Nalon in the segregation unit of Millhaven maximum-security penitentiary on August 10th, 1974. It was first observed in 1975, and in 1976 the prisoners of Millhaven issued a communication “To All Prisoners and Concerned Peoples from Across Canada”, calling for one-day hunger strikes in opposition to the use of solitary confinement and in support of prisoners’ rights, in memory of Eddie Nalon and Robert Landers, who also died alone in solitary confinement… Since that time, PJD has become an internationally-recognized day of solidarity and action, both inside and outside the prison”.
*Excerpt from Volume 18(1&2) of the Journal of Prisoners on Prisons

Hiroshima & Nagasaki Peace Memorial Lantern Ceremony
2023-08-09 19:00 - 20:30 | 5th Av. & Queen Elizabeth Driveway, along the Rideau Canal, Ottawa
To commemorate those killed by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan on August 6th & 9th, 1945 and to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons
Wednesday, August 9th 2023
7pm – creating messages of peace to
accompany lanterns
7:30pm – commemoration program, music
~8pm – lantern floating
Join us on unceded Algonquin territory at 5th Av. & Queen Elizabeth Driveway, along the Rideau Canal

Asinabka Film & Media Arts Festival
2023-08-08 19:00 - 2023-08-13 23:00 | Ottawa Art Gallery, 50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Asinabka Film & Media Arts Festival
– The Spirit Awakens –
August 8-13, 2023
OAG • SAW • G101 • Berlin Nightclub

The 12th annual Asinabka Festival is excited to present the best contemporary Indigenous film, music, and arts from Canada and around the world. The Festival takes place in person over 6 days with indoor and outdoor film screenings, a curated art exhibition, and a music showcase. Our schedule includes 18 separate film programs, including 6 feature length films, and over 50 short films, representing over 10 different countries.

* Tickets and Passes on sale Now
* Full schedule available on the festival website

Asinabka Festival is an Indigenous-run organization located in Ottawa on the unceded and un-surrendered territory of the Algonquin Nation. Our festival is open and inclusive to all attendees, everyone is welcome, but all guests and staff are expected to act with respect for one another. Racisim, homophobia, bullying, or aggressive behavior will not be tolerated.
This year all of our venues are wheelchair accessible, except the Music Showcase at Berlin Nightclub which is up two flights of stairs.

Click the following links for accessibility and visitor information:
https://asinabkafestival.org
https://artscourt.ca/visitor-info-en
https://oaggao.ca/visit/plan-your-visit/
https://g101.ca/gallery101
https://56byward.ca/

Video Camp for Girls+
2023-07-31 10:00 - 2023-08-11 17:00 | Digital Arts Resource Centre, 67 Nicholas St.
Video Camp for Girls+ is a 2-week Summer Camp program that provides youth aged 13-17 with hands-on video production training. Topics include camera and audio basics, shooting techniques, lighting techniques, and an introduction to video editing in DaVinci Resolve. Participants will learn how to handle equipment, set up for video shoots, and will work together in small groups to produce short videos that will be screened at the end of the 2-week program.
Women, girls, gender non-conforming people, and non-binary youth are often overlooked in the field of filmmaking, and this program aims to break this stereotype. We therefore encourage registration from trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming youth.

McNabb BBQ - People's Assembly on Housing
2023-07-30 12:00 - 17:00 | mcnabb park, Mcnabb park, Ottawa, K1R 7C5, Canada
Drop by McNabb park this Sunday, starting at noon. Come chat about the People’s Assembly on Housing and have some food and drink with us.
The People’s Assembly is meant to serve as a forum for people living in downtown Ottawa to share experiences and plan actions aimed at resisting the commodification of housing and fighting for better.

Propagations for Abolition
2023-07-29 10:00 - 16:00 | Arlington Five, 5 Arlington Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
The second annual ‘Propagations for Abolition’ event will take place at Arlington Five cafe on Saturday July 29th from 10am to 4pm. We will be raising funds for CPEP and Prisoners’ Justice Day initiatives on August 10th. 🌿
This event will feature the sale of a variety of plant cuttings, CPEP merch and Journals of Prisoners on Prisons. We will also have harm reduction supply available and provided by the Solidarity Alliance of People Who use Drugs (SAPWUD).
We will also be hosting a raffle featuring prizes from a variety of local artists and businesses. The raffle can be entered at any point up until July 30th, $5 per 1 entry. e-transfer to enter at jpp@uottawa.ca with the password: [REDACTED] – Please add PJD raffle as a message when sending.
Raffle Prizes include
Abolition Tarot Linocut by Reinpress
Art by Coblou
Prints by MinkPoor
Nous Savons Soap Bar
Bag of Lulo Coffee
CPEP Tote Bag
Editions of The Journal of Prisoners On Prisons
Plant cuttings
We are also accepting plant propagation donations from the community! If you’d like to contribute plant donations you may drop them off at Arlington Five from July 11th to July 29th. We may be able to pick up donations if you are the in the centretown area.

Coming Together: A Disability Justice and Social Justice Poetry Showcase
2023-07-27 18:30 - 20:30 | Social Innovation Atelier, 95 Clegg St, Ottawa
The Atelier invites the public to come to our disability justice and social justice themed poetry night on July 27th from 6:30PM-8:30PM! Our line-up of writers will share their poems with family, friends, and audience members.
You must register by July 24th to attend the poetry night. Please note that audience spaces are limited with a maximum number of 45 spots and it is a free event. We are so excited for you to get to experience the creativity of our presenters!
Register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/coming-together-a-disability-justice-and-social-justice-poetry-showcase-tickets-673100340237
If you have any questions, please email us at atelier@innovationsocialeusp.ca
Accessibility Details:
– Masks will be required.
– ASL Interpreters will be present.
– Para Transpo drops off at the main entrance
– Close to OC Transpo bus stops.
– Gender neutral/wheelchair accessible bathroom
– Scent free space
– Quiet Space
If you have specific access needs beyond what is listed above, please let us know and we will work together to meet them!

A Disability Justice and Social Justice Poetry Workshop
2023-07-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Social Innovation Atelier, 95 Clegg St, Ottawa
The Atelier invites participants from the disability community who are 18+ to take part in a poetry writing workshop with facilitator Conyer Clayton. The workshop will be focused around the themes of disability justice and social justice poetry writing. Previous poetry experience is not required.
The workshop will take place on July 20th from 6:30PM-8:30PM at the Atelier . Following the workshop, on July 27th from 6:30PM-8:30PM at the Atelier, we will be hosting a disability justice/social justice poetry night. This is an opportunity for workshop participants to share their poems with family, friends, and audience members.
You must register by July 10th to be a participant in both the workshop and the disability justice/social justice poetry night. Please note that spaces are limited with a maximum number of 15 participants. We are so excited for you to share your ideas and creativity with us! If you have any questions, please email us at atelier@innovationsocialeusp.ca
Accessibility Details:
– Masks will be required.
– ASL Interpreters will be present.
– Para Transpo drops off at the main entrance
– Close to OC Transpo bus stops.
– Gender neutral/wheelchair accessible bathroom
– Scent free space
– Quiet Space
If you have specific access needs beyond what is listed above, please let us know and we will work together to meet them!
More information about our workshop facilitator!
Conyer Clayton (they/she) is an award-winning writer, editor, and arts educator whose multi-genre work often explores grief, disability, the climate crisis, and gender-based violence through a surrealist lens. They are the author of But the sun, and the ships, and the fish, and the waves. (Finalist for the Pat Lowther Award and Raymond Souster Award), We Shed Our Skin Like Dynamite (Winner of the 2021 Ottawa Book Award), and many solo and collaborative chapbooks. They are the Nonfiction Editor for untethered magazine, a Poetry Editor for Augur, and a member of VII, an Ottawa-based poetry collective.

Pride Family Picnic
2023-07-16 14:00 - 17:00 | Britannia Beach Park, 102 Greenview Avenue, Ottawa, K2B 8J8
The PSAC-NCR Pride Committee is hosting its first Pride Family Picnic.
The event is open to everyone, not just PSAC members.
This event is an opportunity for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and allies to come together to celebrate our accomplishments, network and grow our movements.
Light snacks will be provided.

Beehive Collective Climate Justice, Art & Storytelling Event & Book Launch
2023-07-15 15:00 - 17:00 | Children’s Garden, 321 Main Street, Ottawa
Join the Beehive Collective on July 15th at 3pm for an afternoon of storytelling and arts-based cultural exchange! The workshop focuses on climate and environmental issues while emphasizing inspiring stories of community empowerment and solutions. This event is family friendly and will be lots of fun for both kids and adults! The event will be held at the Children’s Garden (321 Main St, Ottawa)

The Collective’s giant MesoAmerica Resiste graphic took over 9 years to complete and was a collaboration between 23 members of the collective and communities across central America. The event will also be a book launch for their recently released educational book project: The True Cost of Coal Kids Book. It is a rhyming narrative and activity book to complement their large mural artwork “True Cost of Coal”. You can find more images and presentations here: Workshops and Presentations (beehivecollective.org)

Mdou Moctar w﻿ith special guest S﻿iaka Diabate
2023-07-10 19:00 - 22:00 | Club SAW, 67 Nicholas St, Ottawa, K1N 7B9
Prodigious Tuareg guitarist and songwriter Mdou Moctar boldly reforges contemporary Saharan music and “rock music“ by melding Eddie Van Halen pyrotechnics, full-blast noise and guitar shredding, field recordings, drums rhythms, poetic meditations on love, religion, women’s rights, inequality and Western Africa’s exploitation at the hands of colonial powers to rip a new hole in the sky with the Afrique Victime album.
Siaka Diabate is a musician from Burkina Faso. His main instrument is the Kora, a West African harp, which he also made himself. His songs are mainly in Djoula, one of the main languages of Burkina Faso, and he loves singing about the most important thing in the world – love. Together with his group in Ottawa they combine traditional music with modern rhythms and rock the stage! Kora music is beautiful, sometimes calm and perfect for relaxing and sometimes full of energy for dancing!

OADC Birthday Bash!
2023-07-08 13:00 - 17:00 | Art House Cafe, 555 Somerset Street West, Ottawa
The Ottawa Abortion Doula Collective (OADC) is hosting a celebration at Art House Café (Somerset St W) on Saturday, July 8th from 1-5pm – and we’d love for you to join us!
We’re celebrating because it has been FOUR years that we’ve been supporting people in Ottawa through their abortions, with non-judgmental, compassionate and free support services.* We’re honoured to be doing this work – on unceded, unsurrendered Anishinaabee Algonquin territory – and we couldn’t do it without the support of our vibrant community.
We have a fun day lined up with a DJ on the patio, a silent auction of goods and services from local artists and businesses, door prizes, games, an art workshop, and more. The main event is free and open to everyone, and we’d love to see you there!
The vulva art workshop will be facilitated by a local feminist artist using watercolour. There are two sessions available (2-3pm and 3-4pm) for $30/person (materials included) which require pre-registration. At OADC we’re all about challenging stigmas, embracing our bodies, and having choices. This workshop will be an invitation to connect with yourself, regain the power over the representation of your body, and reclaim the beauty that lives within you. (Note: no mirrors or nudity involved)
Register here! http://bit.ly/43xbT4V
We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you on July 8th!
*OADC is a group of pro-choice, feminist volunteers who support people in Ottawa and the surrounding area through their abortions. We provide support for people before, during, and after a surgical or medical abortion. We share information, tell people what to expect, and connect them with more resources. We accompany people to their appointments, hold their hand while they wait, and support them to advocate for their choices. We offer people a ride home and listen to whatever they want to share about their experience (whether that’s something – or nothing at all – we take their lead).

Night School: Media Art & Climate Change
2023-07-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Digital Arts Resource Centre, 67 Nicholas St.
Explore the transformative potential of media art in addressing the urgent issue of climate change. Discover how media artists utilise visual expression, sound, immersive experiences, and storytelling to raise awareness, evoke emotions, and provoke critical thinking. We’ll delve into the role of media art in fostering a connection with nature, advocating for change, and galvanising communities towards a sustainable future. This Night School session will explore the intersection of art and environmental consciousness.
DARC’s Night School is a bi-monthly, free, lecture series designed to provide the basic fundamentals of media arts, theories, and current works of significance and interest. We want to demystify this constantly evolving form. This is a free event series for DARC members and members of the arts community at large. You are invited to join the lecture if you are: a DARC member, professional an artist, creator, arts/cultural worker, looking to experiment in a new discipline, or an admirer or advocate for video and media arts. Attendance at every lecture is not necessary but recommended!

Artists talk + Vernissage /Exhibition Land: echos and dissonances | Territoire: échos et dissonances
2023-07-04 18:00 - 19:00 | SAW Gallery, 67 Nicholas Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N7B9, Canada
​​*FR ci-dessous*
Artists talk + outdoor art exhibition opening / SAW Center courtyard 67 Nicholas st. Ottawa. 6:00 – 7:00pm (ends at 9:30pm).
You are invited to a presentation by the artists of the project “Land : echos and dissonances”, with Jobena Petonoquot, Craig Commanda, Mathieu Gagnon and Mathilde Forest, organized as part of the Dialogues: Encounters with Riopelle’s Oeuvre from Sea to Sea. The artists will talk about their creative process and the artworks they are presenting as a result of this cultural mediation project organized by the Atelier d’innovation sociale. The presentation will continue with a discussion of the issues raised during two citizens’ walks organized for the project, that aimed at re-discovering the Chaudières Falls area of Ottawa-Gatineau – and its ongoing transformations.
Artists websites :

Jobena Petonoquot https://www.instagram.com/indigenous_practicing_artist
Craig Commanda https://www.instagram.com/craigcommandacreations
Mathieu Gagnon and Mathilde Forest gagnon-forest.com
Mathilde Forest mathildeforest.ca
Dialogues Riopelle program website : https://www.dialoguesriopelle.com/#projects

About the project :
Territory: echoes and dissonances
This project brings together a group of visual artists, both indigenous and non-indigenous, to express their own vision on the idea of territory, inspired by the urban landscape of the Ottawa-Gatineau region. It was organized in together with the Atelier d’innovation sociale Mauril-Bélanger, an organization working for justice and social transformation.
This collaboration was marked by two walks and a workshop that enabled citizens to rediscover two historic sites in the midst of major urban transformations. On May 13, the poet and Kitigan Zibi Elder Albert Dumont led a walk to recount the cultural significance and sacredness of the Akikodjiwan site (Chaudiere Falls) to the Anishinaabe Nation. The May 14 event, with historian Michel Prévost and followed by a discussion workshop, explored the history and multiple transformations, past and future, of the LeBreton Flats and Chaudiere Falls, an area that was also important to the capital’s French-speaking community.
Nature, the post-industrial urban setting and the democratic process were at the heart of the discussions at this workshop. These encounters opened up a dialogue between citizens of different generations and cultures about the transformations of the landscape caused by the major real estate projects underway in the capital.
Drawing on these issues to varying degrees, artists were invited to create an artistic restitution inspired by these topics. Through their different approaches, they bring their own visions to bear, using both traditional and updated practices such as contemporary beadwork, or photographic or technological tools such as 3d modeling.
Echoing the legacy of Jean Paul Riopelle, the artists’ works question landscape, nature and the sacred in equal measure: urban territory is analyzed in Mathieu Gagnon’s images, reproduced as a motif in Mathilde Forest’s work, while the mastered materiality of Craig Commanda’s work evokes a bestiary, and Jobena Petonoquot’s a profund symbolism.
FRANÇAIS
Présentation d’artistes + vernissage exposition / Cours intérieure du Centre SAW, 67 rue Nicholas, Ottawa. 18h00 – 19h00 (fin de l’évènement à 21h30).
Vous êtes invité.e.s à une présentation des artistes du projet « Territoire : échos et dissonances » en présence de Jobena Petonoquot, Craig Commanda, Mathieu Gagnon et Mathilde Forest et organisée dans le cadre du programme Dialogues Riopelle – d’un océan à l’autre. Ceux-ci parleront de leur processus créatif et des œuvres qu’iels présentent suite au projet médiation culturelle organisé par l’Atelier d’innovation sociale. La discussion se poursuivra à propos des enjeux soulevés durant deux marches citoyennes organisées pour le projet qui ont permis de redécouvrir le secteur des Chutes des Chaudières à Ottawa-Gatineau – et ses transformations.
Sites web des artistes :

Jobena Petonoquot https://www.instagram.com/indigenous_practicing_artist
Craig Commanda https://www.instagram.com/craigcommandacreations
Mathieu Gagnon et Mathilde Forest gagnon-forest.com
Mathilde Forest mathildeforest.ca
Site web du programme Dialogues Riopelle : https://www.dialoguesriopelle.com/#projects

À propos du projet :
Territoire : échos et dissonances
Ce projet réunit un groupe d’artistes en arts visuels, autochtones et allochtones, pour exprimer une vision propre à l’idée de territoire en s’inspirant du paysage urbain de la région d’Ottawa-Gatineau. Il a été organisé conjointement avec l’Atelier d’innovation sociale Mauril-Bélanger, un organisme travaillant pour la justice et la transformation sociale.
Cette collaboration a été marquée par deux marches et un atelier ayant permis à des citoyens et citoyennes de redécouvrir deux sites historiques en pleines transformations. Le 13 mai, Albert Dumont, poète et aîné de Kitigan Zibi a guidé une marche pour raconter l’importance culturelle et l’aspect sacré du site d’Akikodjiwan (Chutes des Chaudières) pour la Nation Anichinabée.
L’évènement du 14 mai, en compagnie de l’historien Michel Prévost et suivi d’un atelier de discussion, a fait découvrir l’histoire et les multiples transformations passées et à venir des plaines LeBreton et des chutes des Chaudières, un secteur qui fût également important pour la communauté francophone de la capitale.
La nature, le cadre urbain post-industriel et le processus démocratique étaient au centre des échanges soulevés lors de cet atelier de discussion. Ces rencontres ont en effet permis d’entamer un dialogue entre des citoyen.ne.s de générations et de cultures différentes à propos des transformations du paysage causés par les grands projets immobiliers en cours dans la capitale. S’inspirant de ces questions à divers degrés, les artistes ont été invités à effectuer une restitution artistique inspirés ces enjeux. Par leur différentes démarchent iels amènent des visions qui leurs sont propres, par des pratiques à la fois traditionnelles et réactualisées telle que le perlage autochtone contemporain, ou encore par les outils photographiques ou technologiques tel que la modélisation 3D.
Faisant écho au legs de Jean Paul Riopelle, les œuvres des artistes interrogent autant le paysage, la nature et le sacré : le territoire urbain est analysé dans les images de Mathieu Gagnon, il est traité comme un motif dans le travail de Mathilde Forest, alors que d’une matérialité maitrisée un bestiaire est évoqué chez Craig Commanda, puis un symbolisme amené par Jobena Petonoquot.

Ottawa Transit Riders Annual General Meeting
2023-07-04 17:30 - 19:30 | Jack Purcell Community Centre, 320 Jack Purcell Lane, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P1M4, Canada
Share your concerns about public transit in Ottawa, and let’s plan on how to make transit more reliable, affordable, and accessible at our Annual General Meeting!
Agenda coming soon!
Faites-nous part de vos préoccupations concernant le transport en commun à Ottawa et planifions des moyens de rendre le transport en commun plus fiable, plus abordable et plus accessible lors de notre assemblée générale annuelle !
L’agenda sera bientôt disponible !

WHEN
July 04, 2023 at 5:30pm – 7:30pm

WHERE
Jack Purcell Community Centre
320 Jack Purcell Ln
Room 203
Ottawa, ON K2P 1M4
Canada
Google map and directions

We Bike For Our Kids
2023-07-02 10:00 - 12:00 | Somerset St. W. and Queen Elizabeth Drive
For those who love to bike, for those who love kids, and for those who want climate action: You’re all invited to join us for a family-friendly group bike ride!
We believe riding bikes is, first and foremost, fun! And it is an important part of climate action. But it can be intimidating for parents: how can I transport little kids, or big kids, where do I feel safe biking, how do I plan a route, what size bike does my kid need, does this helmet fit properly? That’s where meeting family bike friends can help! Come out and see a range of kid-toting bike options: child seats, trailers, long tails, bakfiets and ask any questions of the bike community
We encourage you to register with the link below (completely optional) but it always us to have a sense of who is coming and we can contact you Incase there are any changes! https://www.forourkids.ca/webikeforourkids_ottawagatineau
Schedule:
10AM – Meet at Somerset St. W. and Queen Elizabeth Drive
10:15AM – Bike Ride Begins! We will ride on completely car-free routes so everyone feels welcome and safe. We will go along the Queen Elizabeth Drive section closed to cars.
11:00AM (approximately) Arrive at Patterson’s Creek Park. Time to chat, visit the Bistro, have a cup of coffee, picnic and play! Bring your own blanket, snacks, and maybe some toys or games (there is no playground at the park).
RAIN DATE: Sunday, July 2
Join us throughout the spring, summer, and fall for more rides!
‘For Our Kids’ is a community of parents, grandparents and families who are concerned about climate change. We organize family-friendly activism and information activities and provide a space to connect and take action together. We strive to be a welcoming place for all parents, guardians, grandparents, caregivers, and community members to connect and act together.

Note: This event was originally scheduled for June 25th but rescheduled to July 2nd due to poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke.

Vanier Rally ~ Manif de Vanier
2023-06-28 14:00 - 16:00 | 233 Montreal Rd
Fridays for Future Ottawa is supporting 350 Canada’s Canada is Burning National Day of Action. The demonstration will be at the office of Vanier Hon MP Mona Fortier, who is also the President of the Treasury Board. Brings signs, smoke masks and a friend.

Family Drag Story Time
2023-06-28 10:00 - 12:00 | National Arts Center, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1, Ottawa, Canada
Free with Monkey Rock Music! Local drag celebrities China Doll and Cyril Cinder and Musicians from Monkey Rock Music are here to entertain children and families of all ages.
