841. Affordable Events Sept. 15-23 in Multicultural Toronto – 2018.

You can find a wide range of events inspired by a wide range of countries in our city. History of the Baltic states. Irish fun on Centre Island.  Polish, Mexican, and Ukrainian festivals. Serious events aimed at inner peace, tolerance, justice, freedom, multiculturalism, and world peace. Opportunities to personally experience the world abroad and through books and authors. A unique Filipino procession on water, and an annual tribute to a Ukrainian poetess. A chance for adults to learn to appreciate Toronto hip-hop. And to find out just where is Saint Kitts and Nevis? and Wiphala?

Most of these events are free or almost free. Most are reflective of our status as a world-encompassing city. And these are just the tip of the ice berg.  Toronto is full of many such events. Aren’t you curious to find out what they are about?

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. 100 Years of Baltic Republics: Statehood and National Cultures in the Globalizing World. Friday, September 21. 1-5:30pm. Free admission. The Vivian and David Campbell Conference Facility, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, 1 Devonshire Place. The second day of this conference is at 1pm at Tartu College, 310 Bloor Street West : http://www.bloorstculturecorridor.com/things-to-do/2018/09/conference-100-years-baltic-republics-statehood-and-national-cultures

For other Munk events: https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/events/.

Ireland.  Celtic Island 2018. Saturday, September 15. $15 online. $20 at the entrance. Non-participating kids under 12 free. Ticket price includes food, subject to availability. Centre Island. Celebrating Irish Community Dance groups from around the city. Fun activities for the kids. Live bands. Ceili dances available to join. Tickets: Sean O’Shea PRO  – St Patrick’s Parade Society Toronto. Www.st.patricks.com.
Ferry: Toronto Centre Island. http://www.centreisland.ca/centreville/plan-your-trips/park-map.html . Thanks to Maureen Oleary for informing us about this event. For joining her monthly mailing list of Irish events: moleary2001@rogers.com.

Image from https://stpatrickstoronto.com/

Mexico. Mexican Independence Day Celebration. September 15. 11am-9pm. Free. Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West. Music, food, dance, contests, Mariachi, etc. Tel. 416-621-9589. website: https://www.southwesternontario.ca/events/8879317–mexican-independence-day-celebratio/

Image copyright 2018 Ruth Lor Malloy.

Multicultural. Festival of Inner Peace. September 14. 7–8:30pm. Free. MacLeod Auditorium, Medical Science Building, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle. “Music and Meditation Event that encourages art that entertains and enlightens.” https://www.eventbrite.com/e/festival-of-inner-peace-toronto-tickets-49643831035

Multicultural. Jewish. Freedom Day. Tuesday, September 18. 11:30am-1pm. Free. Yonge-Dundas Square. “…to commemorate the life of Holocaust survivor and human rights advocate Simon Wiesenthal and to carry on his legacy of tolerance, justice and human rights.
“Now in its 9th year, Freedom Day has expanded into a highly anticipated, multicultural celebration of Canadian values. Over 3,000 students from public, Catholic and private school boards from across the greater Toronto area and beyond gather annually at Yonge-Dundas Square to actively participate in the festivities and be inspired to take action in making Canada a more inclusive, multicultural society.” https://www.ydsquare.ca/component/rseventspro/event/1508-freedom-day.html
For more information: https://www.friendsofsimonwiesenthalcenter.com/education/education-and-diversity-programs#freedom-day

Multicultural. Go Global. September 22. 11am. Free. Keynote panel discussion: Careers for Globetrotters 11:30am-4pm; Exhibit hall open 12pm-4pm; Seminars, networking sessions & panel discussions. “Drop in anytime during the show to speak with exhibitors!  Be sure to check the schedule in advance, and plan your visit around speakers and sessions that interest you.” Mattamy Athletic Centre at Maple Leaf Gardens, Downtown Toronto, (College subway station). 50 Carlton Street. https://www.letsgoglobal.ca/toronto/date-and-location.html. This event gives you information on how you can experience the world directly by getting involved with employers, agencies and schools abroad.

Multicultural. No War 2018. September 21-22. This important conference is beyond the budget for mentioning in this Blog. However, it can be live-streamed for free on your computer. See: https://worldbeyondwar.org/nowar2018livestream.

For information about this conference: https://worldbeyondwar.org/nowar2018/

Multicultural. World Peace Day. A Celebration of Women™ . September 16. 10am-5pm. $40 includes all-you-can-eat buffet lunch. Exhibitors, live entertainment, door prizes and more! http://acelebrationofwomen.org/?s=world+peace+day . Also: https://www.facebook.com/AcelebrationofW/photos/gm.2206174826063514/10160488036225018/?type=3&theater.Multicultural. 29th The Word On The Street. September 23. 10am-5pm. Free entry. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West. Book and magazine fair. Among its many literary offerings, this large, popular festival will include author readings: https://thewordonthestreet.ca/toronto/4-ironclad-reasons-why-you-should-come-to-wots-plus/
Also: https://thewordonthestreet.ca/toronto/festival/schedule/; 416-504-7241.

Philippines. Bicol. Our Lady of Penafrancia Fluvial Parade, Mass & Fellowship. September 15 Feast Day. 8:30am Assembly. 9:30am procession with statues to lake. 10-11:30am fluvial parade on Lake Ontario. Bluffers Park Marina, 7 Brimley Road, Scarborough. See: https://www.penafrancia.ca/fluvial-parade-2018/. For more information, please call :
Jenifer Amaranto 416-781-3105; Felix and Mayette Reyes 905-896-4958; Paeng Nebres 416-618-1362.

Poland. Annual Roncesvalles Polish Festival. North America’s largest celebration of Polish culture. September 15 and 16. Most events free. Local and international music, including Polish folklore, polka and Euro dance bands, and entertainment on multiple stages. Saturday night Dance Under The Stars. 40 restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and bistros, along Roncesvalles, and lots of traditional Polish fare, including pierogi, kielbasa, bigos, cabbage rolls, and much much more! Schedule at: https://polishfestival.ca/schedule-highlights. Roncesvalles Avenue and Dundas almost to Queen. Closest subway station Dundas West.

Saint Kitts and Nevis. Official Flag Raising. Independence Day. September 19-21* Courtesy flag pole. Toronto City Hall. Phone Protocol office for time 416-392-7666. For this and other flag raisings this month, see: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/awards-tributes/tributes/flag-raising-half-masting/2018-flag-raising-listing

Image of flag from Wikipedia.

Toronto. Youth Culture. Unity Festival. September 13-15. Schedule and times: http://unitycharity.com/2018festival/. “You are invited to witness Toronto Hip-Hop artists including breakdancers, spoken word artists, MCs, visual artists, and beatboxers!” http://unitycharity.com/our-work/ entry? For more information: http://unitycharity.com/contact-unity/

Image from Unity Festival media.

Ukraine. Ceremony at Statue of Lesya Ukrainka. That country’s great poet. September 20. 6pm. Concert. High Park. https://bit.ly/2OfJp9m. Map of location: https://bit.ly/2p1Bxx5

Ukraine. Toronto Ukrainian Festival, North America’s largest Ukrainian festival. Celebrating 22 years in Bloor West Village. September 14-16. Free. On Bloor Street West between Jane Street and Glendonwynne Road, so easy access from either Jane or Runnymede subway stations. Schedule: http://www.ukrainianfestival.com/2018-program.html. Mainly Ukrainian vendors, performers, food, dance lessons, midway, refreshment garden, etc. Look for jerk-flavoured perogies. One of the highlights is the Saturday parade at 11am along Bloor Street West from High Park to Jane. www.ukrainianfestival.com

Ukraine. Image Copyright ©2016 Ruth Lor Malloy

U.S.-Canada. Moving from Militarism to Peace: A Conversation with Medea Benjamin. September 23. 2-4 pm. Free. Auditorium, Noor Cultural Centre, 123 Wynford Drive, North York. Life-long activist and author Medea Benjamin will discuss US foreign policy and militarism, including the continuities between regimes, and the complicity of Canadian governments, as well as how activists mobilize through the anti-war movement.

Medea Benjamin is the co-founder of the women-led peace group ‘CODEPINK’, and the co-founder of the human rights group ‘Global Exchange’. Event Co-Sponsors: Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, York University; Multi-Faith Centre, University of Toronto; Unifor Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy, Ryerson University; Women and Gender Studies, University of Toronto Mississauga; Ethics, Society & Law Program, Trinity College, University of Toronto. https://noorculturalcentre.ca/?p=17388

Image of Medea Benjamin from https://www.facebook.com/NoorCulturalCentre/

Vietnam. Tet Trung Thu. Mid-Autumn Festival. Sept. 22. Free. Oakdale Community Centre, 250 Grandravine Dr. Organized by the Vietnamese Women’s Association of Toronto (VWAT) Family Services. For information telephone 647-723-2165 or 416-837-0858.

At Vietnamese Moon Festival, 2011. Image©Ruth Lor Malloy 2011

Wiphala. Official Flag Raising. Wiphala represents some native peoples of the Andes that include today’s Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and parts of Argentina, Chile and Colombia. September 23. 3pm. This friendly group usually has music and performances as well. For more information: Marco Guzman at 416-457-7224 or Susana Condori at 416-466-5999.
For this and other flag raisings this month, see: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/awards-tributes/tributes/flag-raising-half-masting/2018-flag-raising-listing/

Jesus Leon (Quechua Peru) & Marco Guzman in front of Wiphala flag. Image copyright Ruth Lor Malloy 2018

Note from Ruth: TorontoMulticulturalCalendar.com chooses to promote events that encourage a feeling of community in our culturally diverse city. Mention doesn’t mean endorsement but we try to include events we think readers will find stimulating in the cultures of other groups. If you go to any of our mentioned events, please send us corrections or an account of your impressions so we will know whether or not to promote these events in future. Please continue to send us posters. We don’t charge to post them and we don’t accept paid advertising. Post comments on “Leave a Reply” below. Email us at: ruthlormalloy@gmail.com. Subscribe to our Newsletter above.

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