17 Jul
Brazil, England, First Nations, India, Japan, and Russia have inspired cultural events in Toronto this week. You can meet and talk with Israelis and Palestinians here on a peace-making journey. You can feel the pain of one of the world’s most intense religious experiences during this period too. Here are a few of Toronto’s free or nearly free events that express the cultural diversity of our city including an unusual soccer match, not to be missed. And Toronto is blessed with many more events but we can’t list all of them here.
Black History. Emancipation Day Event. Tuesday, July 25. 3-6pm. Free with registration. “Ryerson University, in partnership with the Black Canadian Network and the Royal Commonwealth Society, will commemorate Emancipation Day with a focus on its local, regional and international impact with a film, exhibits, panel discussion and mix and mingle… during the UN International Decade for People of African Descent. Exhibit viewing at 3:30pm | film at 4pm | panel at 5pm | reception at 6pm.” Ryerson University, 245 Church Street, ENG 150 and Sears Atrium. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/emancipation-day-canadas-150th-tickets-462331847
Image of Pan-African flag courtesy of Rosemary Sadlier
Brazil. 14th Annual Brazilfest. Sunday, July 23. 11am-11pm. Free. “Canada’s Largest Brazilian Cultural Event.” Brazilian performers, bands, and food. Family area. Earlscourt Park, 1200 Lansdowne Avenue. Tel. 416–358-9820. http://www.brazilfest.ca.
Canada. Syria. Tibet. Exhibition Soccer Match. July 22. 6:30-8:30pm. Free but donations to cover cost of stadium appreciated.
“Parkdale Youth Soccer Camp (PYSC) is hosting a friendly match between parliamentarians, from both the provincial and federal government, and a refugee team of Tibetans and Syrians.
“PYSC is organizing this exhibition match as part of the ongoing Canada 150 celebrations across the country. The first Tibetan refugees came to Canada in the early 1970s, and more than 40,000 Syrian refugees have made Canada their home since 2015.
“We have Sonam Wangyal, former Tibetan National soccer team captain and Abdou Mousli, former Syrian Premier League player, and the current coach for the Syrian Eagle team in Toronto leading the refugee team…” Allan A. Lamport Stadium, 1155 King Street West. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/parliamentarians-vs-refugees-exhibition-soccer-match-tickets-36152767902?utm_campaign=new_event_email&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb_email&utm_term=viewmyevent_button#listing-organizer
Image: fondo-de-siluetas-de-multitud-de-futbol_1048-1405
Christian. Taste of Jesus in the City: Kick-off Concert/Fest. Saturday, July 22. 2-8pm. Free. Gospel Music, food, dance, worship, arts, etc. Yonge-Dundas Square. jesusinthecity.com.
England. Shakespeare in High Park. King Lear and Twelfth Night. Tuesdays to Sundays until September 2. 8pm. Pay What You Can. High Park Amphitheatre, 1873 Bloor Street West. https://canadianstage.com/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=shakespeare
Image courtesy of Canadian Stage.
First Nations. Peel First Nations Drumming. An evening of shared traditions and songs. Peel Art Gallery. Thursday, July 20. 7-8:30pm. Admission to the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) is free for the months of July and August so you can see its other exhibits too. “PAMA exists to share the story of Peel by providing diverse opportunities for creative exploration and discussion to help build cohesive communities. 9 Wellington St. E., Brampton. For other dates in the following months and more events: http://calendar.pama.peelregion.ca/default/Detail/2017-07-20-DRUMMING-CIRCLE-WITH-PEEL-ABORIGINAL-NETWORK
Image Courtesy of Peel Art Gallery.
India. South Asia. BollywoodMonster Mashup. Friday, July 21. 4 -11 pm; Saturday, July 22. 2-11pm; Saturday, July 22. 2-11pm. Free. Mississauga Celebration Square. http://www.bollywoodmonstermashup.com/schedule/
And https://culture.mississauga.ca/event/celebration-square/bollywoodmonster-mashup-2017-0 .
Image courtesy of www.bollywoodmonstermashup.com
Japan. J-Town Festival. Saturday, July 22. 10am-6pm. Free entry gives you lots of interesting fun at this Japanese shopping mall’s special day. 3160 Steeles Ave East, Markham.
Multicultural. Arts in the Parks. June 15 to September 15. Free. 230 featured events in 35 of Toronto’s parks. Theatre, music, dance, film, and community workshops. For schedule, performers and venues, see: https://artsintheparksto.org/event-listings/.
Image courtesy of Arts in the Parks.
Multicultural. Youth Day. A celebration of the arts of young people 14-29. Sunday, July 23. 11am-11pm. Free. “Market place… 12 hours of non-stop music across 2 stages; a Youth Art Gallery featuring visual art and photography; Live Art on the square; 2 Fashion Shows, and exciting new activations every year presented by our Corporate Champions. In addition to all of the diverse entertainment and retail opportunities, the event opens with an official Flag Parade and includes a 6 o’ clock Moment of Silence in memory of youth lost to violence.” http://www.youthdayglobal.com/toronto/the-event/
Palestine. Israel. Heart to Heart Reception. July 26. 6:30pm. Free. Young people from Palestine and Israel spend two weeks together in Canada. “If you want to meet this amazing group in person, register for the Community Reception taking place July 26 and help us celebrate together!” updates@allevents.in
Featured image from Heart to Heart
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Russia. Tuesday Night Live! July 25. 7-8pm. Free. Russian folk music. Amphitheatre, Earl Bales Park, 4169 Bathurst Street. Contact. 416-392-3846. Good weather only. https://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=35d3d8201c207410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD
Image from Earl Bales Park website
South Asia. Afghanistan. India, Pakistan. Bengal. Sri Lanka. 15th TD Festival of South Asia. July 22-July 23. 12pm-11pm. Free entry. Dancing, fashion shows, and authentic South Asian cultural programs. Cricket Open House, Beer Garden, Bollywood Pop-Up Museum, Bollywood Parade, Culture Alley, Tasting Tables & sidewalk sales. Kids Zone. Gerrard Street at Coxwell. http://gerrardindiabazaar.com
Tamil. Sri Lanka. India. Chariot Festival. July 9 to July 23. Free. The Chariot Festival is part of a two-week long worship festival with much religious activity daily from 7am to 12:30pm and 4:30pm-9:45pm. On July 22 at 1pm, an elaborately-decorated Chariot starts to circle the building pulled by worshipers. In the procession are some members dancing with hooks pierced through their backs attached to strings pulled by companions. Some have skewers piercing their cheeks. Some others are rolling on the ground. A couple might be suspended by hooks pierced into their legs and backs and bounced up and down. When asked why they are punishing themselves, they say it is an act of repentance for having done wrong, or a prayer for an important blessing like a child. If you are interested in religions of the world, do not miss this event. Sri Vinaayagar Varasithi Temple, 3025 Kennedy Road, #10, Scarborough. Tel. 416-291-8500. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sri-Varasiththi-Vinaayagar-Hindu-Temples-Of-Toronto/150723395024888
Hindu Tamil Chariot Festival. Image Copyright ©2016 Ruth Lor Malloy
We choose to promote events that express the world in our city. Mention doesn’t mean endorsement. We try to include events we think readers will find interesting and stimulating.
Please continue to send us posters and pictures about other upcoming affordable events that express Toronto’s exemplary cultural diversity. We don’t charge to post them and we don’t accept paid advertising. We will try to post as many as we can. Tell us about your adventures in multicultural Toronto. Subscribe to our mailing list for newsletters above. Follow us on www.twitter.torontomulticul. Leave a Reply below or email us: ruthlormalloy@gmail.com. – Ruth.
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