Punch Up Collective

Queer Death Salon - Loss by Overdose or Tainted supply
2025-05-06 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Toronto) | Zoom
Join us for a virtual gathering for people who have lost someone or multiple people to overdose and tainted supply and who are loooking to share space with people who have experienced similar circumstances.
These kinds of losses carry particular griefs related to stigma, invalidation of the loss, failure to ‘save’ a loved one, guilt, confusion, anger and more.
This is a facilitated drop-in discussion space, with the purpose of building connection, skill, and resources for 2SLGBTQIA+ people navigating end of life in our personal lives and in our communities.
Attendees are welcome to come with questions, stories, or special objects to share with the group.

Harmony Circle for Palestine with Algonquin Spiritual Advisor Albert Dumont
2025-05-07 18:30 - 20:00 | Online
For this Harmony Circle, Algonquin Spiritual Advisor Albert Dumont will be joined by Moriel Rothman-Zecher, Jerusalem-born novelist and poet. Moriel is the author of “Sadness Is A White Bird”, a heart-breakingly beautiful book that tells the story of a young man who is preparing to serve in the Israeli army while also trying to reconcile his close relationship to two Palestinian siblings with his deeply ingrained loyalties to family and country. This story follows somewhat closely to Moriel’s own life experiences.
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.

Rally for choice
2025-05-08 12:00 - 14:00 | Human Rights Monument, 220 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
It’s that time of year again, friends! Please join us Thursday, May 8 at 12PM at the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa to show up loud and proud for abortion rights and bodily autonomy.
On the heels of the federal election, we saw 42 anti-choice Members of Parliament re-elected and we’re not backing down. While anti-choice voices gather for the March for Life, we’ll be there to remind everyone: choice is not up for debate. Bring your signs, your friends, your sunscreen and your voice!
Event will start at the Human Rights Monument (220 Elgin St, Ottawa) and we will march to the west side of Parliament Hill.
This event is a safe space and we will not tolerate harassment of any kind towards community members.

No Faith in Fossil Fuels: Rally for the Planet
2025-05-12 11:00 - 13:00 | Parliament Hill, Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A9, Canada
Join us on Monday, May 12th from 11:30am to 1pm for a fun, family-friendly rally for climate justice on Parliament Hill! The demonstration is the culminating point of the two-day bike Pilgrimage for the Planet coming from Montreal to demand Canada sign onto the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FFNPT) – to end expansion of all fossil fuel projects. This call is supported by countless scientists, organizations, governments and municipalities – including the City of Ottawa! Meet the pilgrims and join in on their call to the federal government to take urgent climate action! Just two weeks after the federal election, it’s up to us to set the agenda on ambitious climate action from the next government!
You are also invited to the Poster Making Party, Saint Paul University Atrium, Thurs. May 8th – Drop in between 3 to 7:30 pm.

Defending Dissent: Bursting the Bubble By-law Panel
2025-05-12 19:00 - 20:30 | PSAC Building, 233 Gilmour Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Members of the Defend Dissent Coalition have been meeting to organize opposition to a proposed “bubble by-law” in Ottawa. City staff are currently studying options for banning protests within a certain distance of “vulnerable social infrastructure” like schools, healthcare facilities, and religious buildings using a similar by-law recently passed in Vaughan as a model.
Organizations and individuals within our Coalition are very concerned about the implications of a “bubble by-law” for Ottawa:

Under the provisions of Vaughan’s by-law, much of downtown Ottawa would be in the range where law enforcement could award fines up to $100,000 for protesting.
Legitimate and important protests take place near these locations, such as student walkouts, strikes, and protests over harmful events being held in religious buildings.
Ottawa Police and By-law Services have displayed bias in enforcement many times over the past few years, including but not limited to:
Allowing “Freedom Convoy” protests to proceed and cooperating with organizers
Ticketing and arresting residents for normal protest activities like using a megaphone

As a part of our efforts to advocate against a bubble by-law we are hosting a panel discussion, “Defend Dissent: Bursting the Bubble By-law”, on May 12th, 2025, from 7:00pm PM to 8:30 PM in the Wyllie Room at PSAC headquarters (JK Wyllie Conference Room, ground floor, 233 Gilmour Street Ottawa). The goal of this panel would be to educate members of the public about the implications of this proposal and to mobilize attendees to take part in our efforts by contacting their representatives at the city and signing up to delegate on the day of the decision, May 15th.
Some of the issues we are planning to discuss include:

Precedents and legality of legislation limiting expression
Importance of protecting dissent in the capital city
Ottawa’s and Canada’s history of criminalizing protest
Labour action implications for teachers, nurses, public servants, etc.
Alternative strategies for helping communities manage protests that cause harm

Click here to learn more about the Defend the Right to Dissent Coalition.

Inter Pares’ 50th anniversary celebration
2025-05-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Ottawa Art Gallery, 50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Join us in Ottawa or online! // Joignez-vous à nous à Ottawa ou en ligne !
We are pleased to invite you to an evening of reflection, celebration and inspiration with social justice activists—to mark Inter Pares’ 50th anniversary!
Ottawa Art Gallery | Alma Duncan Salon May 12 | 7 – 9 p.m. EDT Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Socializing is very welcome after the event until 10 p.m.
The evening will feature a conversation with dear allies Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio (Likhaan Center for Women’s Health, Philippines), Jamie Kneen (MiningWatch Canada), Esperanza Moreno (Board member, Inter Pares) and Mariamé Ouattara (gender and development expert, Burkina Faso), with opening remarks from Brian Murphy (former staff member, Inter Pares).
This event is free. Light refreshments provided. Cash bar. Panelists will speak in English and French. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided. To attend the event online and have access to simultaneous English-French interpretation, please click “reserve a spot” and register for a virtual ticket.
The event will also be livestreamed on Inter Pares’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InterParesCanada
The Ottawa Art Gallery is an accessible space.//Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à une soirée de réflexion, de célébration et d’inspiration avec des militantes et militants pour la justice sociale pour marquer le 50e anniversaire d’Inter Pares!
Galerie d’art d’Ottawa | Hall Alma Duncan Le 12 mai, de 19 h à 21 h (HAE) Ouverture des portes à 18h30 Les participant-e-s sont invité-e-s à se retrouver pour discuter après l’événement jusqu’à 22 heures.
Cette soirée sera l’occasion d’une conversation avec nos proches allié-e-s, la Dre Sylvia Estrada Claudio (Centre Likhaan pour la santé des femmes, Philippines), Jamie Kneen (Mining Watch Canada), Esperanza Moreno (membre du conseil d’administration d’Inter Pares) et Mariamé Ouattara (experte en genre et développement, Burkina Faso). Brian Murphy (ancien membre de l’équipe d’Inter Pares) prononcera les remarques d’ouverture de la soirée.
Cet événement est gratuit. Rafraîchissements légers fournis. Bar payant. Les panélistes s’exprimeront en anglais et en français et un service d’interprétation simultanée sera proposé. Pour participer à l’événement en ligne et bénéficier d’une interprétation simultanée français-anglais, veuillez cliquer sur « réserver une place » et vous inscrire pour obtenir un billet virtuel.
L’événement sera également retransmis en direct sur le site Facebook d’Inter Pares: https://www.facebook.com/InterParesCanada
La Galerie d’art d’Ottawa est un espace accessible.
FEATURING // AVEC
Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio (Likhaan Centre for Women’s Health, Philippines)
Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio is a doctor of medicine (UP Medicine 1981) who also holds a PhD in Psychology (UP Diliman,1996). She is Professor Emeritus of The Department of Women and Development Studies of the College of Social Work and Community Development. She was the Dean of CSWCD before her retirement. She is author 2 books, “Rape Love and Sexuality: The Construction of Woman in Discourse” (UP Press, 2002) and “And Then She Laughed: Experiences in Counseling Women” (Anvil Press, 2015). Like most Filipinas, she is known to friends by a nickname, Guy. Guy currently writes a regular column for Rappler, the Philippines’ leading digital media company.Guy considers herself an activist and academic because she has spent most of her life working in social movements. She is co-founder, and now Chair of the Board of Directors of Likhaan, a 29-year-old women’s health NGO that operates 10 community-based clinics in five Metro Manila cities and three provinces.
At the international level she has served as Vice President of the Asian Association of Women’s Studies, Vice Chair of Isis International and the Chair of the Board of the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights//Sylvia Estrada Claudio est docteure en médecine (UP Medicine 1981) et titulaire d’un doctorat en psychologie (UP Diliman, 1996). Elle est professeure émérite au département des études sur les femmes et le développement du College of Social Work and Community Development. Elle était doyenne du CSWCD avant de prendre sa retraite. Elle est l’auteure de deux livres, “Rape Love and Sexuality : The Construction of Woman in Discourse” (UP Press, 2002) et “And Then She Laughed : Experiences in Counseling Women” (Anvil Press, 2015). Comme la plupart des Philippines, elle est connue de ses ami-e-s sous le surnom de Guy. Guy écrit actuellement une chronique régulière pour Rappler, la principale société de médias numériques des Philippines.
Guy se considère comme une activiste et une universitaire, car elle a passé la majeure partie de sa vie à travailler dans des mouvements sociaux. Elle est cofondatrice et actuellement présidente du conseil d’administration de Likhaan, une ONG de 29 ans spécialisée dans la santé des femmes, qui gère dix cliniques communautaires dans la métropole de Manille et dans trois provinces.
Au niveau international, elle a été vice-présidente de l’Asian Association of Women’s Studies, vice-présidente d’Isis International et présidente du conseil d’administration du Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights.
Jamie Kneen (MiningWatch Canada)
Jamie Kneen is the Canada Program Co-Lead and Outreach Coordinator for MiningWatch Canada, working on mining policy advocacy and individual mining projects in western and northern Canada, leading policy reform and providing strategic and technical support to communities affected by mineral exploration and mining projects. He also leads the organization’s strategic research and communications, as well as research and advocacy in Africa (and previously, Latin America), as well as on mine waste management, mining and Indigenous rights, uranium mining, and environmental assessment policy and practice in Canada. With a degree in Biology (ecology concentration) from McGill University, Jamie has been involved with environmental and resource management issues, including mining and Indigenous land rights, for many years.//Jamie Kneen est co-responsable du programme canadien et coordinateur de la sensibilisation pour MiningWatch Canada. Il travaille sur la défense de la politique minière et sur des projets miniers individuels dans l’ouest et le nord du Canada, menant des réformes politiques et fournissant un soutien stratégique et technique aux communautés touchées par l’exploration minière et les projets d’exploitation minière. Il dirige également la recherche stratégique et la communication de l’organisation, ainsi que la recherche et le plaidoyer en Afrique (et auparavant en Amérique latine), ainsi que sur la gestion des déchets miniers, les droits miniers et autochtones, l’extraction de l’uranium, et la politique et la pratique de l’évaluation environnementale au Canada. Diplômé en biologie (concentration écologie) de l’Université McGill, Jamie s’intéresse depuis de nombreuses années aux questions de gestion de l’environnement et des ressources, notamment à l’exploitation minière et aux droits fonciers des autochtones.
Esperanza Moreno
Esperanza Moreno has worked in the international cooperation and solidarity community for more than 25 years. She was Deputy Director of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation -CCIC (today named Cooperation Canada – CC) for over 12 years and of Oxfam Québec for over 10 years. She also held senior leadership positions with the Organisation Canadienne pour la solidarité et le developpement-OCSD and served on the Boards of CCIC, Equiterre, Oxfam Québec, Consejeria para proyectos- PCS, Inter Pares and Mining Watch Canada. For the last 10 years she is an organizational development consultant with non-profit and human rights organizations and networks in Latin America and Canada. She holds master’s degrees in political science from the University of Ottawa and in Psychology from the Université du Québec in Montréal. She is based in Montreal.//Esperanza Moreno travaille dans le milieu de la coopération et de la solidarité internationales depuis plus de 25 ans. Elle a été directrice adjointe du Conseil canadien pour la coopération internationale (CCCI) (aujourd’hui appelé Coopération Canada – CC) pendant plus de 12 ans et d’Oxfam Québec pendant plus de 10 ans. Elle a également occupé des postes de direction au sein de l’Organisation canadienne pour la solidarité et le développement (OCSD) et a siégé aux conseils d’administration du CCCI, d’Equiterre, d’Oxfam Québec, de Consejeria para proyectos (PCS), d’Inter Pares et de Mining Watch Canada. Au cours des dix dernières années, elle a été consultante en développement organisationnel auprès d’organisations et de réseaux à but non lucratif et de défense des droits de l’homme en Amérique latine et au Canada. Elle est titulaire d’une maîtrise en sciences politiques de l’Université d’Ottawa et d’une maîtrise en psychologie de l’Université du Québec à Montréal. Elle est basée à Montréal.
Mariamé Ouattara (Gender development expert, Burkina Faso)
Mariamé is an expert in Gender and Development and an Advocacy Specialist. She has been working for more than thirty years in Burkina Faso and West Africa to promote gender equality and the rights of women farmers. She was involved in the founding of the Coalition for the Protection of African Genetic Heritage (COPAGEN). She is currently working as a regional gender equality expert on the EGALE-WA project (gender equality through agroecology in West Africa).//Mariamé est une experte en genre et développement et une spécialiste du plaidoyer. Elle travaille depuis plus de trente ans au Burkina Faso et en Afrique de l’Ouest pour promouvoir l’égalité de genre et les droits des agricultrices. Elle a participé à la création de la Coalition pour la protection du patrimoine génétique africain (COPAGEN). Elle travaille actuellement en tant qu’experte régionale en matière d’égalité de genre dans le cadre du projet ÉGALE-AO (égalité de genre par l’agroécologie en Afrique de l’ouest).
Brian Murphy (Former staff member, Inter Pares)
Brian Murphy is an independent analyst, organizer, educator, and writer, and a former member of the staff team of Inter Pares. Brian’s focus on education as social action began as a literacy specialist at Conestoga College (Kitchener) in 1966. After two years in West Africa with CUSO (1968-70) he completed a Masters degree at University of Ottawa with a thesis on the implications of the literacy practice of Paulo Friere. He served as Program Coordinator in Adult Basic Education at Algonquin College before joining Inter Pares in 1979, where he participated in the staff team until the end of 2006. His current activity includes participation in the Steering Committee of the Ottawa-based International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group (ICLMG), which he helped found. A Second Edition of Brian’s book, Transforming Ourselves, Transforming the World, An Open Conspiracy for Social Change was published by Daraja Press in 2021 (Introduction by David Austin). Brian writes at Murphyslog.ca .//Brian Murphy est un analyste indépendant, un organisateur, un éducateur, un écrivain et un ancien membre de l’équipe d’Inter Pares. Brian a commencé à s’intéresser à l’éducation comme action sociale en tant que spécialiste de l’alphabétisation au Conestoga College (Kitchener) en 1966. Après avoir passé deux ans en Afrique de l’Ouest avec CUSO (1968-70), il a obtenu une maîtrise à l’Université d’Ottawa avec une thèse sur les implications de la pratique d’alphabétisation de Paulo Friere. Il a été coordonnateur de programme en éducation de base des adultes au Collège Algonquin avant de se joindre à Inter Pares en 1979, où il a fait partie de l’équipe du personnel jusqu’à la fin de 2006. Il participe actuellement au Comité directeur de la Coalition pour la surveillance internationale des libertés civiles (CSILC), basée à Ottawa, qu’il a contribué à fonder. Une deuxième édition du livre de Brian, Transforming Ourselves, Transforming the World, An Open Conspiracy for Social Change, a été publiée par Daraja Press en 2021 (introduction de David Austin). Brian écrit sur Murphyslog.ca

Book Launch: Red Flags by David Camfield
2025-05-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Octopus Books, 116 Third Ave, Ottawa, Canada
Join us for the launch of Red Flags: A Reckoning with Communism for the Future of the Left by author, social justice activist, and labour studies prof David Camfield. David will be joined in conversation by queer activist and labour organizer Genevieve Latour.
Tues May 13th, 7pm-8pm. Doors open at 6:30pm.
Octopus Books, 116 Third Ave.
RSVP via email: events@octopusbooks.ca
An anti-capitalist, anti-authoritarian introduction to the history of the USSR, China, and Cuba that asks: Were they actually on the road to communism?
Red Flags traces the path from the 1917 Russian Revolution to the construction of the world’s first “actually existing socialist” society: the USSR. It also looks at the post-revolution societies created along the same lines in China and Cuba. Using the intellectual tools of historical materialism, Red Flags argues that they were not in fact moving towards communism because the social relations remained fixed in class exploitation. The workers were never liberated.
At a time of burgeoning anti-communism from both conservatives and liberals, this book is an accessible, vibrant synthesis of the history of communism that draws on the latest research to develop a rigorous analysis of the contradictions and uneasy truths the left needs to confront if it is to build a genuinely liberatory alternative to capitalism.
David Camfield is a professor in the Labour Studies Program and the Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Manitoba. He is the author of Future on Fire: Capitalism and the Politics of Climate Change, We Can Do Better: Ideas for Changing Society, and Canadian Labour in Crisis: Reinventing the Workers’ Movement and has written many articles on Marxism and left politics. David is on the editorial board of Midnight Sun and hosts the podcast Victor’s Children.
Genevieve Latour (she/her) serves on the national executive of the Canadian Associate of Professional Employees (CAPE), to which she was elected in 2023 as part of the Members for Change team with a mandate to radically transform the union. Dedicated to building power in our communities and forging links among grassroots movements and labour organizations, she is active with Queers for Palestine as well as queer and Palestine solidarity initiatives within her union.

Queer and Trans Solidarity With Palestine
2025-05-16 19:00 - 21:00 | St. Paul Amphitheatre, 233 Main Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S1C4, Canada
Join us for a community event (panel discussion with invited speakers) to learn about queer and trans solidarity with Palestine!
May 16, 2025 • 7pm – 9pm
Doors open at 6:30pm
St. Paul University Amphitheatre, 233 Main St.
Featuring:

Maša Davidovic (Ottawa)
Maria Fakhouri (Ottawa)
Natalie Kouri-Towe (Montreal)

Speakers at this event will address the following questions:

Why do so many queer and trans people identify with and support the struggle for Palestinian liberation?
What are some examples of present and historical connections between these struggles?
What is pinkwashing and how does Israel use it to legitimize apartheid, occupation, and genocide?
Why is connecting the queer, trans, and Palestinian struggles a powerful strategy for building an even stronger liberation movement?

Blocking for Events
2025-05-17 12:00 - 14:00 | Online
Community Solidarity Ottawa will share its current methodology for neutralizing far right agitators at events, and protecting event attendees. There will be an opportunity for general discussion among attendees, allowing them to ask questions, discuss current trends in far right tactics and rhetoric, and exchange tips and tricks for neutralizing their attempts to harass and intimidate community members.
Register here.

International Day Of Action - 77 years of ongoing Nakba
2025-05-17 14:00 - 17:00 | Human Rights Monument, 220 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Join us on Saturday May 17 at 2pm at the Human Rights Monument to mark the 77th year of ongoing Nakba under apartheid israel’s genocidal conditions. For 77 years, the Palestinian people have been subjected to genocide, siege, occupation, and forced displacement, enduring brutality at the hands of the zionist colonial project. In the past 57 days alone, the zionist entity has imposed a complete siege on Gaza, barring the entrance of any food, water or medicine despite dire conditions and international outcry.

Yet, despite decades of zionist aggression, Palestinians continue to resist, fighting for their land, their liberation, and their return. As the genocide in Gaza intensifies, violence across our land escalates, and attacks on our movement grow, now is the time to show that the masses stand with Palestine.

This Nakba 77 March, let us join thousands across the globe to demand:
1) An end to the genocide in Gaza;
2) A full and immediate two-way arms embargo on Israel;
3) The release of all Palestinian political prisoners;
4) Lifting the siege on Gaza and allowing immediate humanitarian aid and reconstruction;
5) An end to the Zionist occupation of all Palestinian land

Film Screening and Discussion: The Lab
2025-05-18 14:00
Join us for a screening and discussion of the 2013 documentary The Lab that dives into the weapons industry of “israel”. This will be a hybrid event with an option to gather in person in Ottawa, or join virtually. We will show the documentary and close with a discussion. Masks will be made available.
To get the location or link, register here.

Book Launch: Unsilenced – Poems for Palestine
2025-05-20 11:00 | A720 Loeb Building, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
Panelists:
John P Portelli, Editor
Firoze Manji, Publisher
Leila Marshy and other contributing poets
Prof. Nahla Abdo
Moderated by Adrian Harewood

Learn about Ottawa’s radical history on a walking tour
2025-05-22 08:00 - 2025-10-20 17:00 | The streets of Ottawa-Gatineau
Learn about Ottawa’s radical history on a walking tour
Take your radicalism outdoors this summer so you and your friends can learn from previous generations of troublemakers on a radical historical walking tour.
My name is Brian McDougall. Since 2014, I’ve given hundreds of radical tours to visitors, residents, and local activists.
Why do we need to know our history? It’s true that history doesn’t repeat itself, and it can’t provide us with ready-made formulae to guide us today. But, knowing the inspiring stories about how others fought for social justice – whether they won or lost – helps to sharpen our ability to think through the strategic and tactical issues we face today.
Peoples’ History Walking Tours:

Building the Rideau Canal and the making of the Ottawa working class
Protest, strike, and rebellion in the history of Canada’s capital
An unauthorized history of Parliament Hill: From Indigenous land to headquarters of Canada’s elite
Indigenous peoples and colonialism in the history of Canada’s capital
From sacred site to industrial wasteland: colonialism and class struggle in the Chaudière District
More than taverns and brothels: French Canadian, Irish, and Jewish struggles against oppression in Lowertown
The rise and fall of federal public service militancy in Ottawa-Gatineau, 1965-2023
Colonialism and resistance in Canada’s capital: lessons from Indigenous, Irish, Black South African, and Palestinian struggles
Failure to revolt? Why Winnipeg had a general strike in 1919 while Ottawa’s was aborted

How good are the tours? In 85 reviews on Trip Advisor, 79 tour participants rated their experience 5 stars out of 5. You can read their comments here: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g155004-d7035441-Reviews-Peoples_History_Walking_Tours-Ottawa_Ontario.html
What does a tour involve? Tours are given in English, last from 3 to 3.5 hours, and mainly take place in the center of Ottawa, May to October.
Who leads the tours? I do. I’m a former university teacher and federal public servant, land long-time socialist, trade unionist and social justice activist in Ottawa-Gatineau. I’m currently active with the Palestinian solidarity caucus and the national education committee of my public service union: the Canadian Association of Professional Employees.
How much does a tour cost? Tours cost $35 per person and require a minimum of four participants. Groups can be as large as 20, with those of 10 or more eligible for a discount.
How do you book a tour? Organize a group and select a preferred day and time. (Tours are organized on demand.) Then send me an email brian.phwt@gmail.com or book through my website https://ottawahistorytours.com Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions.

"It takes a village to kill a child": The complicity of science and tech in the Israeli genocide of Palestinians
2025-05-22 18:30 - 20:00 | Online
Researchers from No Tech for Apartheid and Science for the People Canada have documented the use of science and technology in the production of military equipment currently being deployed against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Canadian companies are manufacturing parts for the F-35 jets currently being used to bomb Gaza, while tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon provide cloud services to the Israeli occupation. Join us to learn how science and tech workers in North America are complicit in genocide and how people working in and outside of these companies can help shut down the war machine.
Register here.
Speakers
Hasan Ibraheem is a Syrian organizer with No Tech For Apartheid and ex-Google software engineer. Based in NYC, he’s recently written a letter to workers at Google, Amazon and Microsoft titled, “Does My Code Kill Palestinians?”. Hasan encourages everyone to read this letter, especially aspiring tech professionals.
Derek Rasmussen is a legal researcher and peace activist who has done essential work to expose Canadian weapons-part manufacturing companies’ roles in Israel’s genocide against Palestinians. Derek is one of the co-authors of the SftP report, “It Takes a Village to Kill a Child” and has also published on this topic in Breach Media.

Film Screening and Panel Discussion: Working for Freedom
2025-05-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Arlington Five, 5 Arlington Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Join filmmakers and people with lived experience of working in Ontario prisons for a viewing and panel discussion of Working for Freedom.
Cost: pay what you can (proceeds go to Prisoner Legal Supports)

Shut Down CANSEC
2025-05-28 07:00 | EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Join us May 28 at 7 am at the EY Centre to protest yet another display of imperialism and war profiteers hell bent on perpetuating genocide and destruction of the earth. For them, mass murder is a lucrative business, and governments, like Canada, pave the way.
We (not the threat) will protest weapons companies (actual threat) whose revenues STEADILY INCREASE as trade continues and human rights violations persist.

National Day of Action for Climate Justice
2025-05-28 11:00 | Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier, Ottawa
Landlords are cashing in on green retrofit funding, low- and moderate-income tenants are once again left behind—facing sky-high rents, no AC, broken windows, and unaffordable energy bills.

On May 28th, ACORN members will take action nationwide to demand real climate justice for tenants.

What we’re calling for:– Full Rent Control in every province– A national ban on fixed-term leases– Tenant protections in all retrofit funding: affordability, cooling, and anti-eviction guarantees– Transparent agreements between funders, landlords, and tenants– National energy poverty programs like OESP in every province– City-wide max-heat bylaws to protect tenant health

We’ll be taking the opportunity to launch our new report:“Crumbling Apartments in a Warming World: How Tenants are in an Energy Cost Crisis”
The findings are clear: tenants are suffering while the government hands out funding with no strings attached. Let’s fight for tenant rights, climate safety, and affordable homes.

Join us in cities across Canada on May 28th. Bring your voice. Bring your neighbours. Bring the heat!!

Working for a Liveable World: A Climate and Labour Solidarity Teach-In
2025-05-28 18:00 | mcnabb park, Mcnabb park, Ottawa, K1R 7C5, Canada
New date!! (Due to weather)
Join us for a teach-in to explore the rich and ever-growing history of solidarity between the environmental and labour movements. We will be sharing stories from historians, labour and climate activists of successful or ongoing campaigns that build a sustainable future and worker power.
We’ll have a bake sale with proceeds going to Labour 4 Palestine! Bring a blanket or chair!
Can’t wait to see you there!

Telling Your Queer Story
2025-05-29 19:00 - 2025-05-30 21:00 | Zoom
Taking place over TWO SESSIONS May 29th and May 30th from 7-9 pm eastern each day.
Facilitated by Jeffrey Canton and Hosted by Queer Community Deathcare
We often share anecdotes about our daily experiences as 2SLGBTQIA+ without realizing their potential as stories. This workshop will teach you how to transform these “moments of being” into a compelling work of art.
By focusing on one or more meaningful life experiences, you’ll learn to shape a written piece that highlights the importance of these moments and connects deeply with readers. As a storyteller, Jeffrey Canton also wants to encourage participants to tell their stories aloud – perhaps making a video of you relating your story

Collaborative zine making night at the Ottawa Trans Library
2025-05-31 17:00 | Ottawa Trans Library, 1104 Somerset St. West, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 3C8, Canada
Come work on zines with us as we work on the next issue of The Dragon Flyer, the Ottawa Trans Library’s community zine. Write, draw, scan, cut, and paste with us on our community zine or your own project, or just come hang out with us. We are collecting stories, jokes, poems, art, and more from the trans and non-binary community in Ottawa and our friends and families.
The zine workshop is a collaborative event to discuss, share, and work on zines together.
Come tell your story. We will provide paper, templates, and whatever art supplies we have. No experience necessary. All ages welcome, children under age 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
Masking the day of the event is encouraged. Accessibility note: There are two stairs at the door entrance. We have a ramp we can bring out for the door on request. There’s a washroom but it’s not large enough for many mobility devices.

Just Voices Spring Concert 2025
2025-05-31 19:00 - 21:00 | First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, 30 Cleary Ave, Ottawa
Join us for a celebration of song and social justice!Guest Performer MARIA HAWKINSAdmission – $5 – $20 Pay what you can.
Benefiting the Ottawa Food Bank

Big Gay Screening
2025-06-04 18:00 - 21:00 | DARC Microcinema, 67 Nicholas St, Ottawa, K1N 7B9, Canada
It’s time to get GAY! DARC’s annual BIG GAY SCREENING will be taking place on Wednesday, June 4th! 🌈
This FREE screening, presented in partnership with Qu’ART, will feature short films by queer Canadian artists celebrating queerness, exploring queer narratives, and highlighting the vastness of queer experiences.
Don’t miss this opportunity to support for talented artists from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community! Get your gays together (and allies and loved ones) and join us for this celebration of queerness at the Digital Arts Resource Centre! 🏳️‍🌈

Women in Black Vigil
2025-06-06 13:00 - 14:30
Jewish women will stand in silent vigil across from the Israeli embassy at 50 O’Connor Street Friday June 6 between 1pm-2pm holding empty pots with one sign reading:
Stop the starvation
End the war
Save the hostages
End the occupation
Women in Black is a world-wide independent network of women committed to peace with justice and actively opposed to injustice, war, militarism and violence.

Meet the MacDonald-MacLaren Tenant Union!
2025-06-07 09:00 - 15:00 | Minto Park, 315 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
In February 2025, Concorde Properties, led by Jordan Tannis, served eviction notices to the tenants of 17 MacDonald and 53 MacLaren in Centretown.
In the months since, the developer has forced entry into tenants’ units, harassed them, and done construction work on the building without permits, including tearing down people’s balconies while they were in their homes. Tenants say their building hallways are littered with dangerous construction debris and smoke detectors disconnected, among other safety concerns.
The tenants have formed a union to fight the renoviction and need the support of their community. Come out to Minto Park on Saturday, June 7 to meet the tenants, and find out more about how to support their fight. And follow @fightoftheconcorde on Instagram to keep up with the renoviction nightmare.

Pique
2025-06-07 14:00 - 2025-06-08 02:00 | Club SAW, 67 Nicholas St, Ottawa, K1N 7B9
Pique summer edition — the boldest annual instalment of Debaser’s celebrated music and multi-arts festival series — takes over downtown Ottawa’s Arts Court complex. Featuring dynamic performances, thought-provoking exhibitions, and interactive installations across indoor and outdoor stages, Pique is a convergence of creativity and innovation that bridges international cultures with local communities.
Celebrated for its curatorial eclecticism, Pique brings together techno innovation, queer cabaret, laid-back indie/alternative, glitch punk, collisions of tradition and futurism, participatory installations and lots more to the festival’s summer edition.
Pique is all-ages. Tickets to Pique are pay-what-you-can. Suggested range of $45-75 includes taxes and fees.

Sign & Mask-Making - Prep for June 14 NO TYRANTS Ottawa
2025-06-10 17:00 - 19:00 | Broadway Bar & Grill, 1896 Prince of Wales Dr
Come join us as we make signs and masks to get ready for the June 14 international day of action in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies. We’re encouraging everyone to get creative as we seek to protest and ridicule the increase of TYRANNY emanating from Washington.
This is also a great opportunity to learn more about Indivisible Ottawa and meet with others interested in promoting equality and democratic values both in the US and abroad. We’ll have some supplies, but please bring whatever materials you may have for making signs, masks and costumes!

NO TYRANTS
2025-06-14 14:00 - 15:30 | US Embassy, 490 Sussex St, Ottawa
We don’t put up with mad tyrants.
NO TYRANTS is an international day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies. We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the courts. They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies.
On June 14—Flag Day in the US—Donald Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday. A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else.
On Saturday, June 14, we’re taking to the streets internationally. We’re not gathering to feed his ego. We’re building a movement that leaves him behind.
On June 14, Indivisible Ottawa is STANDING UP and saying NO TYRANTS in solidarity with hundreds of Indivisible groups in the US, Indivisible Abroad, Democrats Abroad, concerned Canadians and allies around the world to say no tyrants, no dictators and NO KINGs in the US.
Bring friends, family, colleagues, signs and, if you can, dress as Tr*mp clowns (or one of his cronies.) Think bad blonde wig, orange face, long red tie, and get creative!
A core principle behind all No Kings/No Tyrants events is a commitmen to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.

Arms Embargo Now! Ottawa Protest
2025-06-14 14:00 - 17:00 | Human Rights Monument, 220 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Ottawa Join us on Saturday June 14th, at 2pm, at the Human Rights Monument to demand this government implement a full and immediate arms embargo on the genocidal zionist regime and finally recognize Palestine, without condition!

This week, a UN meeting is being held in New York to discuss recognizing a Palestinian state. The time to recognize is long overdue and we call on this government to do so without condition. But recognition alone means nothing if western governments continue their shameful complicity in Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. While countries discuss this around a table, countless families are left buried under rubble, and many more are deprived of food, water, and medical aid.

Recognition will mean nothing as long as Canada continues to profit from the export of the military equipment used to slaughter the people of Gaza. We need an arms embargo now!

DATE: Saturday, June 14
TIME: 2PM
PLACE: Human Rights Monument

"The Other" screening + panel
2025-06-14 17:30 - 20:30 | Somerset West Community Health Centre, 55 Eccles Street, Ottawa, K1R 6S3
Join us for a screening of The Other. The award-winning documentary on peace-builders and co-resistance fighters in Palestine-Israel will be followed by a panel discussion featuring the director, Joy Sela, and members of the Canadian Friends of Standing Together coalition (C-FoST), Karen Golden and Raja Khouri. Meet like-minded individuals committed to achieving a just and sustainable peace in Palestine-Israel.

Solidarity with the Ramsook brothers
2025-06-16 18:00 - 20:30 | Rideau Hub, 815 St Laurent Blvd - Room 215, Ottawa
Garick and Ramesh Ramsook came to Canada with the hope of improving their lives and that of their families. They were employed by Polat Construction, a company located in the Ottawa area. The brothers worked to support Canada’s construction industry, a vital industry particularly during the current housing crisis that exists.

Employed under Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program, they were subjected to wage theft, occupational hazards and workplace harassment. The Ramsook brothers, along with other migrant and Canadian workers organized their workplace with the Carpenters Union. Shortly thereafter, the workers were terminated. Since their termination, the workers have endured hardship.

This, however, is not a story of migrants falling through the cracks. Four migrant workers, including the Ramsook brothers, filed successful applications with the Ministry of Labour alleging wage theft under the Employment Standards Act. Across the province of Ontario under the Ford government, the province has failed to enforce decisions of the Ministry of Labour to the tune of over $60 million dollars. Polat Construction was found guilty and compelled to return
over $140,000 in wages.

The Ramsook brothers have appealed part of the decision to the OLRB to request further remedies and are awaiting a decision regarding their appeal.

The federal government has found that Polat Construction violated the rules of the TFW program. Currently the employer is on the feds’ non-compliant list. The company was fined $161,000 with a five-year ban from employing temporary foreign workers. Despite these stiff penalties, the federal government has failed to enforce monetary penalties for non-compliance, to the tune of 40% or $4.5 million dollars since 2017.

The Ramsook brothers have decided to return home. Both the provincial and federal government have failed them. To honour their courage, sacrifices, and their demand for dignity, fairness and respect, we would like to invite you for a discussion and fundraiser to show solidarity with these comrades.

Registration: https://forms.gle/ZVRKh9rGkNKs5TRR8

Zoom link for meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/280034454

Article backgrounder: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/they-came-from-jamaica-for-work-now-theyre-homeless-and-out-thousands-of-dollars-in-lost-wages/
