892. Affordable Events December 2 to 15 in Multicultural Toronto – 2019.

Winter has arrived. But we still have some free events. We also have some very expensive ones and fund raisers as we celebrate the season. You can ask your Iranian friends if they know the performers  at the very expensive concert we mention.

December’s events encourage giving to the less fortunate, but it’s a time for community get-togethers too. And why has it taken so long to fix Grassy Meadows? And how often do we get an event about Guam?

Arctic. Festival of Cool. Dec. 10-15. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West.

A Trek through Arctic Art and Culture. The second edition of Festival of Cool looks north to the Arctic Circle to explore the diversity of its people and Indigenous languages through contemporary music, film, visual art and thought-provoking panels – proving that extreme cold can be cool…”

For times and programs: https://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/festivalofcool/events/index.cfm?festival_id=336

————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Belgium. Saint Nicolas Fundraising. December 6. 6:30pm-8:30pm. $20-$30. Alliance Française de Toronto, 24 Spadina Road.

We cordially invite you to our annual Saint Nicolas Fundraiser and once again, we will donate proceeds to the Labatt Family Heart Centre at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).” Belgian Canadian Business Chamber. Tel. 416.816.9154. E-mail: belgiumconnect.com.

http://www.belgiumconnect.com/events/saint-nicolas-fundraising/  and

https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07egr4ewaue3265ac8&oseq=&c=&ch=

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Buddhist. Korea. Winter Sangha Potluck. Saturday December 7. 6pm. Zen Buddhist Temple, 86 Vaughan Road.

A service, seasonal vegetarian potluck dinner, music and friendship. Please bring your favourite winter dish, fruit, beverage or sweets.” https://www.zenbuddhisttemple.org/toronto. This is an opportunity to meet some local Buddhists and find out what attracted them to this religion.

Lanterns at Zen Buddhist Temple. Image©Ruth Lor Malloy 2011

—————————————————————————————————————–

Bulgaria.  December 12.  ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Caribbean. Pop-up Caribbean Christmas Market. December 14. 11am to 6pm. Free admission. Ralph Thornton Community Centre, 765 Queen Street East.

“Books & Magazines. Picture Cards & Greeting Cards. Fashion. Afro-Caribbean Dolls. Art & Craft. Handmade Jewellery. Skin/Hair Care & more… TASTE the Caribbean…Rum Cake, Sorrel, Ginger Beer, Patties and Doubles, Curry and Jerk, Plantain, Puddings and so much more.

PLUS: Come lyme with us…We’ve created several spaces for + Ludo (Ludi) Games & Domino.” https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/pop-up-caribbean-christmas-market-tickets-75615075727

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Christian. England. The Toronto Choral Society Presents “Messiah and Carols: A Christmas Celebration!”. December 6. 7:30pm. Tickets start at $45. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor Street West.

The perfect launch to this holiday season: an evening with selections from Handel’s Messiah, along with Christmas carols, performed by the 150-voice Toronto Choral Society, accompanied by the Talisker Players.

Image and text from: https://www.torontochoralsociety.org/concerts/2019-12-06

——————————————————————————————————————————————————-

First Nations. Write for Rights for Grassy Narrows. December 9. 6–8pm. Free.  Bring a potluck dish. Amnesty International, 70 St Mary Street. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/write-for-rights-for-grassy-narrows-tickets-84035170457?aff=ebdssbdestsearch.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

France. Annual Toronto French Book Fair. Thursday, December 5. 9:30am–9pm; Friday, December 6. 9:30am-9pm; Saturday, December 7. 9am-6pm. Free. Toronto Reference Library, Bluma Appel Theatre (2/fl), 789 Yonge Street. (Yonge-Bloor Subway),

Enjoy the latest and most popular in French literature. The Annual Toronto French Book Fair has a rich program for children, teens and adults and is one of the best sources to buy French literature in Toronto. Visit the website for more information. During these three days of festivities, we organize workshops, a competition for children, readings of authors, a large selection of French books available for purchase and a professional day dedicated to librarians.” https://www.salondulivredetoronto.com/

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Guam. U.S. On Native Testimony: Military Tribunals, War Crimes, and Imperial Judgment in Guam. Wednesday, December 4. 2-4pm. Free. Munk School of Global Affairs, 208N, North House, 1 Devonshire Place.

Keith L. Camacho, Speaker. Associate Professor, Asian American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles; Takashi Fujitani, Chair. In 1944, the U.S. Navy established the War Crimes Tribunals Program in Guam, one of several Japanese colonies located in the Pacific. For the next five years, the military commission reviewed war crimes cases about assault, murder, treason, and other acts against white civility… (and) more than 100 indigenous Chamorro and Chamorro-Japanese testimonies about Japanese militarism, policing, and torture in Guam….”

 Sacred Men: Law, Torture, and Retribution in Guam by Keith L. Camacho will be available for purchase at the venue. https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/ai/events/?keyword=Guam&start=04-12-2019&end=04-12-2019

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Hong Kong. Stand with Hong Kong Journalists – University of Toronto. December 2-31 (Monday – Sunday). 7am-11pm. Free. Hart House, 2/f Hallway, 7 Hart House Circle.

“Press Photo Exhibition on Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Law Movement. Since June 2019, the world has witnessed millions of Hong Kong (HK) citizens participating in the protests against a proposed controversial extradition law that would allow criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China. Critics say this would undermine HK’s judicial independence and could put dissidents at risk, including activists and journalists.

“Although the government announced on 2019.09.04 that it would withdraw this controversial bill, the situation in HK has not improved, and indeed has taken a turn toward the worse, with HK still facing more uncertainty and unrest, and amid growing indications that this uncertainty has affected China’s relationship with and standing in the international community.”

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/543406709774661/

——————————————————————————————————————————-
Hungary.
Kodaly Winter Tanchaz. December 7. 6pm-2am. Price TBA. Hungarian Canadian Cultural Centre, 141 Sunrise Avenue. Hosted by Kodály Ensemble

6pm – Dance showcase from four groups of the Kodaly Ensemble; 6:30pm – Gyermek Tanchaz; Felnott Tanchaz to follow!

“Delicious Hungarian foods will be available for purchase all night long. Fine Hungarian Spirits and Appetite wetting drinks will also be available.” https://www.facebook.com/events/518785568877683/?active_tab=about

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Iran. Persia. Homayoun Shajarian & Pournazeri Brothers. December 6. 9pm. Tickets start at over $231. Meridian Hall (Sony Centre), 1 Front Street East.

Homayoun Shajarian is one of the foremost classical Persian singers of his generation, and a superb instrumentalist. His collaboration with Pournazeri brothers for last decade has caused something of sensation in Iranian traditional music…

Non-Farsi speakers should cast aside any fears of a language barrier: Homayoun’s dramatic, operatic delivery, combined with his ensemble’s urgent percussion and strings, bears cross-cultural appeal.” https://www.blogto.com/events/homayoun-shajarian-pournazeri-brothers-toronto/

For video of Shajarian’s music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UImHlE_wNWQ&list=PL1Hu1hbV1pX51KZbfv1Xt47f1WMVtSPmO&index=4

Image from Meridian Hall website

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraq.  Iraq festival-Sufi Jazz by Mustafa Al-Azzawi. December 6. 7-9:30pm. $27.32–$60. Aga Khan Museum, 77 Wynford Drive. 

Traditionally Sufi music is designed to alleviate, consciousness, purify the heart and connect people with a greater love and higher power. A soulful Evening of a unique blend of Sufi and Jazz in a mystical “Ruhaniyat” atmospheres that will warm the audiences hearts and transform them to the state of ecstasy on a cold December evening.” https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-iraqi-festival-of-toronto-sufi-jazz-by-mustafa-al-azzawi-tickets-76724800945———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Jamaica. Annual Christmas Open House & Scholarship Presentation at Consulate General of Jamaica. December 12, 6-10pm. 303 Eglinton Avenue East. For more information:  artsandculturejamaica@gmail.com; tel. 905-272-5717. https://byblacks.com/events/event/2174-annual-christmas-open-house-scholarship-presentation-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Palestine.  Tales of a City by the Sea, A play by Samah Sabawi.  December 6-15. Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson Avenue.   https://friendsofsabeel.ca/featured/talesofacitybythesea/. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Russia.  Russian Nights. December 11. 6-8pm. Free? Barbara Frum Library, 20 Covington Road. 

Join us for Russian poetry and music salons hosted by local poets and musicians. Perhaps share a poem, short story or song of your own.” https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMEVT26002&R=EVT26002

Image from Toronto Public Library website.

————————————————————————————————————————

Toronto. Ice skating. Free outdoor rinks opened November 30 and most will continue until March 22, 2020 weather permitting. Some rinks have rentals. According to NOW magazine, the best places to skate are: Nathan Phillips Square, Harbourfront Centre, Bentway Skating Trail, Ontario Place, Grenadier Pond (with caution), Sherbourne Common, Col. Sam Smith Skating Trail, and Dufferin Grove Park. For a list of rinks: https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/recreation/skating-winter-sports/public-leisure-skating/

New this year is the rink at Union Station, said to be Toronto’s largest. It will close January 4: https://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2019/10/toronto-union-station-free-outdoor-skating-rink/.

Winter Toronto Tradition. Copyright ©2015 Ruth Lor Malloy

Ruth’s Note: TorontoMulticulturalCalendar.com chooses to promote events that encourage a feeling of community in our culturally-diverse city. Mention doesn’t mean endorsement as we try to include events we think readers will find stimulating in the cultures of other groups and an opportunity to meet people from other cultures. If you go to any of our mentioned events, please send us corrections or an account of your impressions. 

Let us know the kind of events that interest you. Please continue to send posters to ruthlormalloy@gmail.com. We don’t charge to include them and we don’t accept paid advertising. We are privately financed. Please post comments on “Leave a Reply” below and subscribe to receive our newsletters that announce new blogs. See above right.

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *