The Halifax Workers' Action Centre's 2nd Annual Open Mic Night
2023-10-07 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Halifax) | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
Join us for a night of fun, music, and solidarity at the Halifax Workers’ Action Centre’s Open Mic Night Fundraiser!

>> Get tickets HERE
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This in-person event will take place on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS B3K 3B5.
Enjoy labour-minded performances by local artists, prizes, and a silent auction – all for a good cause!
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The Halifax Workers’ Action Centre is a non-for-profit, dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of workers in our community.
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So mark your calendars, gather your friends, and come on down to support the Halifax Workers’ Action Centre!
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Tickets are on a sliding scale of $25-$50
All funds raised will directly support workers in their fight against workplace injustice.

Accessibility notes:
For information about venue accessibily, including an accessibility video tour (with captions of the Lobby and Theatre), a floor plan, and information on parking and Halifax transit information, please visit: https://busstoptheatre.coop/accessibility/
You can also email info@busstoptheatre.coop or call 888-639-1169 ext. 2.
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If you wish to speak to a Halifax WAC organizer about event accessibility, or have any other questions, please email us at halifaxwac@gmail.com or call 902 221 0755 ext. 2

Canadian Labour International Film Festival
2023-11-10 19:30 - 21:30 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax Festival of Working People in the Arts is proud to partner once again with the Canadian Labour International Film Festival for a satellite screening of films from their 15th annual festival.

The screening takes place November 10, 7:30 PM, at the Bus Stop Theatre Co-op.

This year, we will be screening Bergie (South Africa) by Dian Weys, Shiringa: Amazon White Gold (Peru) by Oscar Akamine, Lentejas (Spain) by José A. Campos, HongKongers:A Re-Collection – My Destiny or My Choice? (UK) by Green Bean Media, Allegory (Spain) by Tino Fernández, Puanum (Dream) (Canada) by Josée Benjamin, and Serigne (Spain) by Rodrigo Hernandez Tejero, Adriana Cardoso Navarro, & Edu Marin.
All films are translated as needed through subtitles in English.

Total run time: 87 minutes. The screening will be followed by a moderated discussion for those interested.

Admission is by donation.

THE FILMS:

Bergie (South Africa) by Dian Weys (7 min)
The term “bergie” is a South Africanism that refers to people that are homeless. This short film presents the viewer with a problem – a law enforcement officer has to remove homeless people sleeping on a path in the city in order to make way for a 10km fun-run. To do this, he has to wrestle with fundamental questions about the dignity of human life. Language: English & Afrikaans.

Shiringa: Amazon White Gold (Peru) by Oscar Akamine (9 min)
This documentary follows Jorge Escompani, a “Shiringa” master, as he shows us how he extracts natural latex from the Shiringa tree. The extraction of latex from the Shiringa tree has led to the death of thousands of indigenous people due to slavery during “the fever of latex” in the 19th century. Current practices reflect a respectful relationship between the trees and those who depend on it for survival. Language: English & Spanish.

Lentejas (Spain) by José A. Campos (8 min)
A humorous look at the gig economy and what work is like right now for many white collar workers who have to hustle for every contract and need multiple contracts to make a living. Workers can be anywhere – it just depends on the backdrop, and how long you can hold the illusion together. “Lentils (Lentejas): if you want, eat them; if you don’t, leave them.” Language: Spanish.

HongKongers:A Re-Collection – My Destiny or My Choice? (UK) by Green Bean Media (18 min)
This documentary follows the experience of Siu Tat MUNG, who was a leader in the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), as he recounts his experiences during the last few years it was in existence. HKCTU members voted to disband the union on October 3, 2021, following pro-democracy protests in 2019-2020. At least 29 Hong Kong trade unions were dissolved throughout 2021. Siu Tat Mung explains the conditions in Hong Kong and the reasons for asking his family to relocate to Great Britain. Through his story we are able to experience the difficult situation evolving for Trade Unionists and others working in Hong Kong in 2021. Language: Cantonese.

Allegory (Spain) by Tino Fernández (13 min)
Ten participants are about to start a race in which the most important thing is not to win, but to arrive, in the race of their lives. This film is an allegory for the working class about class struggle and life. It raises good questions through its poetic approach about what life is all about. Language: Spanish.

Puanum (Dream) (Canada) by Josée Benjamin (5 min)
This short documentary, directed by an Innu filmmaker, features Jordan, a young french speaking, indigenous fisherman. As we spend a typical day on his boat fishing for whelk, he tells us the story of his journey towards becoming the captain of a fishing boat. Language: French.

Serigne (Spain) by Rodrigo Hernandez Tejero, Adriana Cardoso Navarro, & Edu Marin. (27 min)
In this extraordinary documentary, we follow Serigne Mbay, a politician, and his inspirational story, as he works to educate his fellow citizens and politicians about the effects of current European fishing trade agreements on his home country of Senegal. The landscapes and the portraits of the people in this film are breathtakingly beautiful. Language: Spanish.

NEW DATE: Possibilities of Dialogue
2023-12-13 20:00 - 21:00 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
NEW DATE! – December 13th

Inspired by the parallels between making a dance and having a conversation, Possibilities of Dialogue is an abstraction of a collaborative creative process; with moments of listening, curiosity, disagreement and spontaneity unfolding through movement and text. The work is a participatory, experimental dance performance rooted in lineages of western contemporary dance and is co-choreographed and performed by David Norsworthy and Marielis Garcia.
Presented in collaboration with Kinetic, Live Art Dance and Votive Dance with support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council.

ISRAELISM film screening
2024-02-08 18:30 - 20:30 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
**Postponed due to weather – NEW Date & Time**
**Thursday, February 8th – 6:30PM**
Presented by
Independent Jewish Voices, Atlantic Canadian Palestinian Society, Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax and the Bus Stop Theatre Co-op.

FILM WEBSITE: https://www.israelismfilm.com/
When two young American Jews raised to unconditionally love Israel witness the brutal way Israel treats Palestinians, their lives take sharp left turns.
They join a movement of young American Jews battling the old guard to redefine Judaism’s relationship with Israel, revealing a deepening generational divide over modern Jewish identity.
After this screening, you will meet some of the filmmakers and you can participate in Q & A with them.

Masking is strongly encouraged.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-of-the-film-israelism-tickets-801927826717

For more information, contact jjv-halifax@ijvcanada.org,
902-240-2782

Bread & Roses: Can You See Us?
2024-05-01 19:00 - 20:30 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
English & French bilingual performance | Performance bilingue anglais-français
>>Register Here for FREE Childcare
ASL interpretation will be available

“Bread and Roses: Can you see us?” is an original performance created by visual artist and labour organizer Tricia Robinson Illustration (she/her) and poet and social justice activist Laura Doyle Péan (they/them). This collaborative performance tackles topics of invisibilized labour, union work, collective liberation and the importance of solidarity in the face of intersecting social crises. Building on their decade of community organizing experience within the labour, racial, social and climate justice movements, the two tiohtià:ke/mooniyang (Montréal) based artists attempt to shine light on forms of labour that are too often hidden and devalued.
Live on stage, Tricia will create original visual artwork in several mediums as Laura Doyle Péan recites some of their moving poetry with themes of domestic and care labour, activism, unions, and freedom. The conception of Tricia’s art pieces will be projected onto a screen, allowing the audience to witness her creation process live and close up. The projection of her work will serve to honour the labour and care that goes into creating illustrations, embroideries and linocuts, hence putting emphasis on our understanding of art as labour, as well as pridefully using mediums that have such a rich history within liberation and activist movements. Unapologetically feminist and pro-worker, Tricia and Laura, with care and devotion, are using this performance as a way to open conversations about the labour movement and unionism as a whole, and the importance of recognizing forms of labour that have historically been undervalued, criminalized, and disregarded.

Bios:
Tricia
Tricia Robinson is an illustrator, photographer and labour organizer located in Montréal, Canada. She has been working creatively in whatever she can get her hands on since the early 2000s and has been a freelancer since 2013. Initially shying away from having personal politics and social issues merging with her work, these themes are now what completely encompass her creative work. Her work often adds elements of humour and hope to important topics like workers’ rights, labour activism, the perils of capitalism on our well-being, and the importance, value, and future liberation of the working class. She is a music college drop out with self taught skills and a very strong determination to be her own boss. She also absorbed skills and experience from the abundance of love, support, and skill sharing from her community. Her illustration career coincides with her work within labour unions in Canada, and her drive and desire to educate and authentically empower workers to collectively fight for their rights. She is part of the founding of Syndicat General in Montreal, a new trade labour union that helps workers organize and build combative and durable unions, whether their workplace has 2-2000 employees.
Instagram: @triciarobinsonillustration
Facebook: www.facebook.com/triciarobinsonillustration
Website: www.triciamakes.com

Laura:
Laura Doyle Péan (they/them) is a 24-year-old queer Haitian-Quebecois multidisciplinaryartist, poet and activist whose practice focuses on the role of art in social movements. Laura published their first book, Cœur Yoyo, in 2020. The English translation of their book, Yo-yo Heart, came out in 2021 with the 87 press. Laura holds a column in the literary magazine Lettres Québécoises, and has published poems and short stories in many others. They are also a member of the editorial committee of the literary magazine Moebius, and have sat on many literary prize juries, including, most recently the jury for Radio-Canada’s poetry prize. Born in Nionwentsïo (Quebec city), where they first got involved in intersectional feminist, LGBTQIA2S+, migrant justice and racial justice organizing, they moved to Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang (Montreal) in 2019, to attend university. There, they joined the fossil fuel divestment movement, and made their first steps in union organizing to fight for a better collective agreement for their coworkers and themselves. These experiences led them to gain a renewed understanding of the inextricability of the struggles for workers’ rights and the struggles for climate justice.
Instagram: @esmeralda_dpxx
Credit for the photo of Laura: Amélie Marcil – https://www.facebook.com/ameliemarcilgraphiste

Portrait of the Artist as an Essential Worker
2024-05-03 17:00 - 19:00 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
NEW: ASL interpretation will be available

Work by Sarah Mosher and Hannah Genosko
In collaboration, Mosher and Genosko use printmaking and textile processes to illustrate their experiences as essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are both professional artists who were employed in ‘casual’ day jobs in sectors that were labeled essential and became full-time during the COVID-19 pandemic: the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation and Canada Post, respectively. With their similar experiences they dig deeper into the ‘essential’ label where art and work don’t often intersect. They explore the repetitive nature of labour through the repetitive nature of printmaking, and create images relevant to their experience; the images are printed on the uniforms they and their coworkers wore during their time of essential sector work. Folk quilting traditionally uses old clothes and other found materials for utility, and the shape of the garments inform the geometry of the quilt. The uniforms are sewn into quilted banners that do not follow a traditional repeating pattern or conform to a rectangle, but rather use patchwork and appliqué techniques to create an uncertain feeling. This method reflects the ever-changing and disjointed nature of the pandemic.
Sarah’s instagram is @realpzzazz
Two large quilts on display at the Bus Stop Theatre, April 1st to June 30th
Reception and Artist Talk, May 3rd 5:00PM – 7:00PM

Working Class Heritage Tour: By Choice Or By Force
2024-05-04 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-05-11 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-05-12 13:00 - 14:30 | Peace and Friendship Park, 1170 Hollis St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 2P6, Canada
3rd edition tour with a new itinerary!
The 2024 Working Class Heritage Tour will focus on the story of immigrants and migrants to Halifax, both those who came by choice, force or a lack of other options. It will shed light on how these people shaped the physical landscape of the city, the lives of those who lived here and how their stories have been largely erased. Engaging the public through stories they may have some familiarity with, such as the story of Black sleeping car porters and the Acadian Expulsion, this tour will also introduce lesser known stories, like the story of who built the forts in the harbour, the Chinese community who found a home in Halifax, and the Lebanese and Syrian immigrants who worked as peddlers and the enslaved people who were sold on the Halifax waterfront. We will also talk about the lost community of Greenbank, located in the South End and the nearby foundries that employed people in dangerous work that kept the province running. This tour will be of particular interest to those from racialized and migrant communities who do not always see themselves reflected in the stories about the province’s history.
With Labour folklorist, Emma Lang
Emma Lang is a public heritage professional, folklorist and tour guide. She’s been sharing her research and excitement in labour history to anyone interested for more than 20 years.

>> Click here for detailed Accessibility Notes

ASL interpretation will be available on May 11.

Green Bank area, 1953 – HRM Archives
Charlie Wah laundry back room – Photo: J.J. Lee
Grain dock 1987 – W.R. MacAskill NS Archives

Hip Hop: The Next Gen
2024-05-04 21:00 - 23:30 | The Seahorse Tavern, 2037 Gottingen St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K 3B1, Canada
Calling all rap lovers old school and new!
Next Gen is about renewing Hip Hop‘s legacy by respecting the past and making space for the future. Can legacies evolve? Are legacies shared? Can you bop to boom bap and trap back to back? Join us on May 4th at the Seahorse to find out.
Presented by General Khan and Feat. Special Guest DJ OKAY TK
Hip Hop: The Next Gen is a musical experience that focuses on the next generation of rap legacies.
Chieffy | J u í c e | BASYL | LXVNDR | Yohvn Blvck

Left to right: BASYL, Chieffy, J u í c e, General Khan, LXVNDR, Yohvn Blvvk, OKAY TK

General Khan
General Khan is a local artist and community organizer, born and raised in Kjipuktuk, Mi’kma’ki (Halifax, Nova Scotia). General Khan’s art style is influenced by her lived experiences with oppression such as white supremacy, colonialism, displacement, racism, Islamophobia, ableism, and more.
General Khan is also a local community organizer. She is known for her overwhelming passion and commitment to dismantling systems of oppression. At most actions, you’ll find her on the megaphone chanting. Those closest to her know her for her big smile and an even bigger heart.
To learn more about General Khan, follow her @iamgeneralkhan

Okay TK
OKAY TK is a DJ based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. TK has won multiple awards and DJ competitions over the years. Continues to perform on the national stages. His performances are about connecting with the listener through his song selection, technical ability, and stage presence.
@heyokaytk

Chieffy
Cheiffy is an Afro – Indigenous Hip Hop artist hailing from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, whose music explores the topics of race, poverty, mental health, and spiritual growth. Sonically his music lives in the traditions of hip hop blues and rock and roll his music is a unique blend of boom bap, trap, and abstract hip hop. Cheiffy is known for a laid back delivery allowing his lyrics to sink in and be digested by the listener, while also having an ear for melody and a taste for hooks.
@chieffybear

J u í c e
J u í c e brings a unique blend of raw lyricism and infectious beats to the forefront of Canadian music. Hailing from Halifax, his music reflects personal experiences and societal observations. With a magnetic stage presence and unwavering dedication, J u í c e is leaving an indelible mark on the hip hop landscape, captivating audiences far beyond the streets of Halifax.
@Schwalen_

BASYL
For BASYL, music is more than just a career; it serves as a profound avenue for self-expression. Hailing from the heart of the Middle East, BASYL; a Palestinian rapper crafts a unique style that blends the melodic vibes of R&B with meticulously crafted lyrics and an infectious, rhythmic flow. BASYL delves into themes such as freedom of speech, oppression, personal growth, and love through his music. His latest single, “As Of Late,” offers a tantalizing glimpse of his forthcoming EP, “Love Bombers,” currently in the works.
@baselsabri

LXVDR
LXVNDR is an east-coast Hip Hop artist based out of Halifax. Her flow bounces around from hardcore, to lofi and even R & B! In the recent past she has been nominated for multiple music ns awards and ECMA’s.
Her music has been spun on DJ Premier’s radio station “Live From HeadqCourtez” 3 weeks in a row, with recent cameos in Maestro Fresh Wes’ TV series as well as appearing in Classified and Masta Ace’s “Sure Enough” music video !
Recognized by Chuck D as “the Canadian Queen of Hip Hop” she is very focused on advancing her musical career! Truly never knowing exactly what you’re going to get with LXVNDR, the only thing that can be guaranteed is : A VIBE!
@missslxv

Yohvn Blvck
“As the blistering Antiguan heat cools with the sunset, a teenage Edwin Yohance Hull is setting up mics and PAs on the docks. His birthplace is home to anything but a thriving rap scene. He, and the same fifteen faces, are the scene. Darkness overtakes the Caribbean oasis, and another Rap Night is underway. He performs to a small audience of supportive rap groups–people who helped him get his start. The moment is fleeting, as conversations about Hull and his family moving to Canada are becoming much more serious. He would have to leave the rap community he helped build behind, or at least for now. On the plane to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2013, Hull is unknowingly being launched into a new phase of his identity. He will become known as Yohvn Blvck, and usher in a new era of Canadian rap.”
@yohvnblvck

Resting Space
2024-05-05 13:00 - 16:00 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
A Workshop by Becoming Old Growth
What is your relationship with rest? Our personal experiences with burnout led us to global rest movements and the anti-capitalist rest manifesto of “Nap Bishop” Tricia Hersey. What changes when we recognize exhaustion as a collective issue rather than a personal one? In this three-hour workshop, we invite participants into a guided, communal resting space. Through gentle, unstructured opportunities to listen, write, draw, move, and make sound—or simply rest—the artists will guide participants to reflect on these questions, emphasizing the role of rest as a natural and necessary balance to labour.
Participants will be invited to share their ideas and experiences with the artists following the workshop session. Cushions and blankets will be available and you are welcome to bring your own comfort items to use during the workshop.
Registration Details
Please register in advance via this registration form:
>>REGISTER HERE
Age:
Workshop geared for adults and mature youth. No arts experience required.
Accessibility:
Please indicate accessibility needs in the registration form by Monday, April 29th.
Note:
We will try to accommodate accessibility requests, however we cannot guarantee as all requests can be met. We will email you if we cannot fulfill your request.
Childcare:
On site childcare available upon request, please fill out child care info in the registration form above and submit by Monday, April 29th.

About Becoming Old Growth:
Becoming Old Growth is a multidisciplinary, participatory trio that uses sound, listening, movement and poetry to encourage a deeper inhabitation of place, awakening our selves and senses to the future already enfolded within past and present. BOG’s kinetic name, inspired by a provocative article by Dan Longboat and Joe Sheridan, reflects our shared desires to learn, evolve, and deepen our understandings, as non-Indigenous residents of Mi’kma’ki, of “the relationship between where one is and what one thinks”. In their article, Longboat and Sheridan write that “Old growth minds…build an ecology of mind that stands in the middle of the temporal arc to see future and past synchronically in equal bending horizons.” Contemplating the rhythms and cycles of the living earth through our work, the histories of this place and its possible futures, we take the first steps along a path to Becoming Old Growth—shifting away from disconnection and placelessness towards “recovering the necessary relationship between healthy ecologies of land and human minds.”

Left: Susanne Chui (Photo credit: Béatrice Schuler-Mojon)
Centre: Erin Donovan (Photo credit: Courtney Mac Photography)
Right: Basma Kavanagh (Photo credit: James Arthur MacLean)
Social Media Tags:
@BOG_collective
@chui.susanne
@hearhereproductions
@basma.kavanagh

Crafters Resistance
2024-05-08 17:30 - 20:00 | Every One Every Day, 2169 Gottingen St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K 3B5, Canada
*Time Change!*
May 8th, 5:30pm to 8:00pm
Think of the Worst Theatre Presents:
Learn crafting history and the importance of quilting in community resistance. Help develop three quilts which all represent buildings in Halifax that could be housing. To be presented together at the end of the workshops over a great community meal.
Community Quilting Workshops

Work together to share stories and histories while learning how to quilt! All levels of quilting are welcome, materials will be provided! Come make a square, enjoy company, and learn crafting history.
Quilting will be taught by Think of the Worst members as well as other community members. The quilting squares will be assembled into three large quilts that resemble local buildings that should be affordable housing. The designs are based off of 2277 Maitland St (formerly St.Patrick’s-Alexandra school), 5381 Spring Garden Rd (formerly Halifax Memorial Library), and 2786 Agricola St (formerly The Bloomfield Centre). The quilts will be acts of protests and will be done through guided instruction as well as a place to host community conversation about craft and the labour movement.
These sessions are completely free of charge as we work on small pieces over a durational performance art piece to create something big together!

Drop in Quilting Dates:
Friday March 15, 11:00-12:30
Friday April 5, 11:00-12:30
Saturday April, 13 11:00-12:00
Friday April 19, 11:00-12:30
Presentation of Quilts and Community Meal:
To celebrate the completion of 3 quilted art pieces you’re invited from 5:30pm-8:00pm Wednesday May 8 at EveryOne EveryDay
There will be a cooking session happening from 6:00pm-8:00pm.
Vegan Soup, Snacks, Dessert, and Bread will be provided.
We look forward to seeing you there, celebrating a wonderful space in our community, and sharing a meal. Feel free to bring a dish to share if you are so inclined.

Poster credit: @classicgraphic.co

Reel Justice / Animating Justice
2024-05-09 18:45 - 21:00 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
Returning for the first time since 2019, Mayworks is excited to present the Reel Justice program of short films. Showcasing shorts from across Atlantic Canada and the country at large, this year’s program highlights those who push to create space for themselves in places that often feel hostile or unwelcoming.
Total runtime: 74 minutes
>>Register Here for FREE Childcare
Reel Justice will be followed by Animating Justice (AFX) and a short Q&A with filmmakers from both programs.

Reel Justice Program:
Sisterhood Softball by Farhiya Ahmed (7 min)

Lacking a dedicated space, a group of muslim women create their own softball group to play the sport they love, but feel excluded from.

What Do you Think by Brandon Boyd (11 min)

Autistic Haligonians work to create space within the local filmmaking community.

The Body of My Name 名自字体 by Rosie Choo Pidcock (4 min)

Five Chinese Canadians return to their elementary school to reclaim their names through dance.

Black Boys Skate Too by Danica Ricamara (6 min)

Black skaters make a space and culture for themselves.

My Type of Hair by Juliet Mawusi (9 min)
My Type Of Hair is a short film that tells the origin of Black Beauty, the struggles since slavery and after for Black women to keep their natural hair, and even to find the right products for their hair type.

Miss Campbell: Inuk Teacher by Heather Campbell (15 min)

Part oral history and part visual poem, Miss Campbell: Inuk Teacher is the story of Evelyn Campbell, a trailblazer for an Inuit-led educational system in the small community of Rigolet, Labrador.

Songs of Unama’ki by Dawn Wells and Jeff Miller (22 min)

A look at The Mi’kmaw artists keeping tradional music alive, and those taking it into the future.

Animating Justice
Reel Justice will be Followed by a short program offered by the Animation Festival of Halifax (AFX)
Start time at 8:15 PM | Total runtime: 27 min

One of Those Families by Stephanie Joline (3 min)

A deeply personal animated short film that brings together the exquisite hand-painted illustrations of Mi’kmaw artist Pauline Young, the animation expertise of Struan Sutherland, and the poignant poetry of Rebecca Thomas.

Meet the Creatures by Veronica Dymond (4 min)
Tension arises when an alien brings her human fiancee home to meet the parents.

Born in a Body by Elliot Ciz and Brody Weaver (10 min)
A segment from the 60m experimental animated documentary which repositions the trans community as experts of their own lives, bodies, and (medical) needs to reconsider liberation and wellbeing.

Hadis by Nazrin Aghamaliyeva (10 min)

In a world ruled by crows and discrimination, a young girl decides to fight for justice.

Our Legacy: Many Voices, Many Stories
2024-05-10 19:00 - 21:00 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
An evening of stories, songs and celebration!
Our Legacy: Many Voices, Many Stories is a tribute and celebration of Black families, stories and songs. The Black family has been through 400 years of existence in Nova Scotia and continues to be the backbone of African Nova Scotian communities. We stand on their shoulders and despite the racism, segregation and discrimination our families continue to stand strong and determined.
We are because of them!
>>Register Here for FREE Childcare
Join Shelley Fashan and her curated lineup of guests as they share their voices and stories spanning generations.

Shelley has a lengthy history of community involvement, activism and volunteerism. She has served on the East Coast Music Association, the Nova Scotia Arts Council, which was responsible for creating the Portia White Prize. the Lieutenant Governor Masterworks Award and a founding member of the Nova Scotia Mass Choir and the African Nova Scotian Music Association. She currently sits on the boards of the Charles Taylor Theatre and Media Arts Association, the Eastern Shore Cooperator and The Descendants of African Americans Living in Nova Scotia, the Akoma Property Commitee and the Advisory Council of the Road to Economic Prosperity.
Shelley is a cultural producer who has produced several Singer/Songwriter Circles of local artists, including a tribute to African Nova Scotian Roots Artists, “Four The Moment” and most recently in May 2019, she produced a most successful evening called “ Sistas In the Struggle Black Feminist Panel and the How We Won Tribute and showcase in honour of the longest running occupation and protest in Canada on Gottingen Street.

Florence Mae West

Florence Mae West is a direct descendant of Africville. She is the daughter of Frederick West, the son of Former Africville Resident Lena May West. Many considered her Nanny to be “The Spirit of Africville” because of her legacy of Old Negro Spirituals she shared each Sunday at Seaview Baptist Church, many of which Florence learned at her feet as a child during family Spiritual times in the living room. Florence grew up watching her Nanny, and her daughters “The West Sisters” share this rich legacy of Old Negro Spirituals in many venues. Today, Florence is grateful to God to be able to carry on this legacy.

Linda Carvery

Former President of the award-winning Nova Scotia Mass Choir, Linda embarked on a solo career, recording her first CD Yesterday/Today.
Linda has expanded her musical horizons by performing in the Neptune Theatre productions of the musicals Gospel at Colonus and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She also performed in Eastern Front Theatre’s production of Whylah Falls which staged a series of performances at the National Arts Centre.
Linda has created and performed in one-woman shows. First came Make That Gospel, Double Double for Halifax Fringe Festival, followed by Soulful Sunday Sounds of Africville.
Recently Watch Over Me was mounted by Mulgrave Road Theatre. As well, Linda was the vocalist in George Elliott Clarke’s production 5 Poets Breaking Into Song.

The Fraser Family
Raised in the Baptist Faith in the Black Community of North Preston the Fraser Family has been singing gospel for over 4 generations. The family first started singing Country style Gospel music with their parents Cyril and Rosella Fraser as part of the family singing tradition that exists within the Preston area and throughout Black communities in Nova Scotia. The Fraser family has kept the tradition alive as they are invited to Churches, Community concerts, and festivals within Metro area.

The Thomas Family

Dr. Carolyn G. Thomas is a Multi-generational, Lifelong resident of East Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada. Carolyn is a Mother of 4 and Grandmother to 2 grandchildren. She is internationally recognized as an acclaimed, historian, lecturer, Civil Rights Advocate/Activist, and author of the Underground Railroad to Nova Scotia. Carolyn was a founding member of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission who dedicated 2 and a half decades to making Nova Scotia a more diverse and inclusive province. Her life’s work has centered around championing the cause for justice, economic and community development throughout her church, community and beyond.
Trynda Thomas is a multi-generational, Black Nova Scotian from East Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada. She is the youngest daughter of the late Deacon Matthew Thomas and Dr. Carolyn G. Thomas, and the proud mother of daughter, Wilhelmina. Trynda is an alumnus of Dalhousie University where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree. She also studied at Dalhousie School of Law – believing in Justice and equality for all. Trynda loves to sing and has performed on many ova Scotia stages, across Canada and internationally. She has worked in the field of HR for over 20 years both nationally and internationally. She is the Founder of Talent Scouts International, a professional staffing agency and HR Consultancy.
Tamara Thomas is a multi-generational, Black Nova Scotian from East Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada. She is the middle daughter of the late Deacon Matthew Thomas and Dr. Carolyn G. Thomas. Tamara is passionate about helping families and bringing out the best in people and serves as a Parenting Journey Professional. She is very active in her church and community having served on many boards and committees at large. Tamara sings lead in her church choir, is a Member of the Nova Scotia Mass Choir and has traveled nationally and internationally sharing her gift of song.

Fille de laitier
2024-05-11 19:00 - 20:30 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
Performance Francophone
Fille, filleule et arrière-petite-fille de laitiers, Arleen Thibault présente son 2e solo de conte en puisant, cette fois, dans ses anecdotes familiales et une collecte de souvenirs de livreurs de lait auprès du grand public. Accompagnée sur scène par le musicien Robin Servant, elle nous livre avec humour et tendresse les vérités et les mythes d’un métier sur le point d’entrer dans la légende.
Spectacle de conte et musique – 75 minutes
Sur scène: Arleen Thibault conteuse et Robin Servant musicien.

Une brève discussion “Q&A” prendra place suite au spectacle
>> Enregistrement pour service de garde GRATUIT pour enfants (en anglais) pendant le spectacle

ÉQUIPE DE CRÉATION
Texte, interprétation et mise en scène : Arleen Thibault / Musique et conception sonore : Robin Servant / Assistance à la mise en scène : Cyntia Southière / Conseil à l’écriture : Gigi Bigot (France) / Explorations scéniques : Stéphane Guertin, Andréanne Joubert et Sylvie Faivre (France) / Conseil aux costumes : Viviane Lacombe / Conseil à l’éclairage : Maxine Pétrin
PRODUCTION
Production : Arleen Thibault et Cyntia Southière
Coproduction : Vitrines sur la relève de Québec et Philippe Beaulieu Gestion Artistique
Directrice Technique : Noémie Percy
Directrice de tournée : Cyntia Southière

Daughter, god-daughter and great-granddaughter of milkmen. Celebrated Quebec storyteller Arleen Thibault delves into family lore to share memories of a job and a way of life that generations later is making its way into the realm of myth and legend. Presented in French only.

The Embodied Creation Project
2024-05-12 15:00 - 15:30 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
Performance art by Colleen Arcturus MacIsaac about creation, embodiment and Queer parenthood
Followed by a screening of Lockdown Baby by Nicole Jordan

ASL interpretation will be available during the performance and the later Q&A.
>>Register Here for FREE Childcare
In February 2023, a person named Colleen began an embodied creation project. Nine months later, a human named Wren entered the world. This is a new performance exploration of how we can use our bodies to create, what queer parenthood can feel like, what we might want to embody in this world. Join us for a joyful, terrified, chaotic and introspective celebration.
CreditS
Created and performed by Colleen Arcturus MacIsaac.
Directed and co-created by Coral Maloney.
Special guest appearances by Linda MacIsaac, Dorian Arcturus Lang, and Wren Arctutus.
Socials
@littlefoible
@coral_mmmm
@villainstheatre

Artist Q&A
The Embodied Creation Project will be followed by a screening of Lockdown Baby by Nicole Jordan and a brief Q&A with filmmaker Nicole Jordan and artist Colleen Arcturus MacIsaac.

Left: Nicole Jordan
Right: Colleen Arcturus MacIsaac (Photo credit: Shila Leblanc)

Lockdown Baby
2024-05-12 16:00 - 17:00 | Nova Scotia
A docu-art film by Nicole Jordan

The film will be closed-captioned. Childcare will be provided during the screening and Q&A

>>Register Here for FREE Childcare
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was filled with confusion and fear. People were dying, hospitals were full, shops were shut, and theatres dark. Still, the creation of art and life itself could not be stopped. ‘Lockdown Baby’ documents the stories of three professional performing artists who became pregnant during the first lockdown of the pandemic. These women and mothers-to-be took their art forms from the stage to the city streets to share their intimate expressions of love, fear, and hope for their unborn babies.
Runtime: 49 min

Performing Artists:
Nicole Jordan (voice and poetry) – delivered Dec, 2020
Jozefien Debaillie (dance) – delivered Jan, 2021
Karin Timmerman (voice and dance) – delivered Apr, 2021
Video Artists:
Katarina Jazbec
Matija Pekić
Sound Engineer:
Rob Rietveld
Location:
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Funded by:
Fonds Podiumkunsten/Performing Arts Fund – Balkonscenes Stichting Droom en Daad

Artist Q&A

>>ASL interpretation and childcare will be available for the Q&A.
The screening will be preceded at 3:00PM by The Embodied Creation Project by Colleen Arcturus MacIsaac and followed by a brief Q&A with filmmaker Nicole Jordan and artist Colleen Arcturus MacIsaac.

Left: Nicole Jordan
Right: Colleen Arcturus MacIsaac (Photo credit: Shila Leblanc)

Where Olive Trees Weep
2024-06-18 19:00 - 20:30 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
This premiere screening is presented by Students for a Liberated Palestine / Al-Zeitoun University
Proceeds from this screening will be donated to the Obeid Family Fundraiser

Where Olive Trees Weep offers a searing window into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. It explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice.
We follow, among others, Palestinian journalist and therapist Ashira Darwish, grassroots activist Ahed Tamimi, and Israeli journalist Amira Hass. We also witness Dr. Gabor Maté offer trauma-healing work to a group of women who were tortured in Israeli prisons.
Ancient landscapes bear deep scars, having witnessed the brutal reality of ancestral land confiscation, expulsions, imprisonment, home demolitions, water deprivation, and denial of basic human rights. Yet, through the veil of oppression, we catch a glimpse of resilience—deep roots that have carried the Palestinian people through decades of darkness and shattered lives.
This emotional journey bares the humanity of the oppressed while grappling with the question: what makes the oppressor so ruthlessly blind to its own cruelty?
This screening is supported by Independent Jewish Voices – Halifax, The Bus Stop Theatre Co-op and Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax.

CLIFF 2024
2024-11-19 19:00 - 21:00 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
Canadian Labour International Film Festival
Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax is proud to partner once again with the Canadian Labour International Film Festival for a satellite screening of films from their 16th annual festival.
The screening takes place November 19, 7:00 PM, at the Bus Stop Theatre Co-op (2203 Gottingen St, Halifax).
This year, we will be screening The Fighter (Canada: French); Bargaining Forward (Canada: English & French); Permit Garden (Canada); Humormàtic (Spain); Counting Days (Canada: Japanese); The Canadian Dream (Canada: Spanish); Adidas Owns the Reality (US: English).
All films are translated as needed through subtitles in English.
Total run time: 95 minutes. The screening will be followed by a moderated discussion for those interested.
Admission is PWYC

Jenny Yujia Shi 施雨迦
We will be joined by local filmmaker Jenny Yujia Shi for a brief intermission Q&A about her film Permit Garden selected as part of the 2024 CLIFF program!

Jenny Yujia Shi 施雨迦 is a visual artist and animation filmmaker based in Kjipuktuk. Shi’s practice is informed by two pivotal moments: losing her childhood community in Beijing due to urban development, and navigating a decade-long immigration process in early adulthood. These experiences have shaped Shi’s interest in the impact of displacement and dislocation on individuals across generations and within communities.

Film Program:
The Fighter by André-Charles Ishpatao (Canada: French) – 6 min

André-Charles is a boxer. Sports changed his life. He hopes his journey will inspire others to regain their pride and hold their heads high when facing life’s adversities.

Bargaining Forward by Colleen Butler (Canada: English & French) – 22 min

This bilingual (English and French) documentary showcases the unity and resilience of 22,000 public sector workers in New Brunswick, Canada, as they strike against wage suppression. It explores strategic mobilization and collective bargaining efforts by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, culminating in a province-wide movement that successfully challenges austerity and sparks labour action across Canada. Produced by the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Permit Garden by Jenny Yujia Shi (Canada: no dialogue) – 5 min

A dreamlike parable about immigration, Permit Garden follows a nameless child as they toil to gain exit from the Garden. But as time goes on, they wonder if escape is even possible. Will their number ever be called?

Humormàtic by Pau Escribano (Spain) – 20 min

A comedy screenwriter for a TV show has to work with a new partner, Humormatic, a machine that writes jokes. The screenwriter will try to make her colleagues, her bosses, the TV host and the audience value her work, but Humormatic won’t make things easy.

Counting Days by Hiromu Yamawaki (Canada: Japanese) – 11 min

Ayano, a Japanese migrant worker faces reality of living in a foreign land. She makes herself a morning coffee with one of the filters that she just bought. It is a pack of 90. The number of days before her VISA expires.

The Canadian Dream by Ilse Moreno (Canada: Spanish) – 9 min

A migrant worker’s pursuit of ‘The Canadian Dream’ takes a ​nightmarish turn as he uncovers an unsightly truth in the Ontarian ​agricultural industry. His quest for a better life in Canada unfolds through his own words and from his daughter’s perspective in this poignant family portrait.

Adidas Owns the Reality by Keil Orion Troisi & Igor Vamos (US: English) – 22 min

Trickster activists the Yes Men collaborate with Clean Clothes Campaign and Berlin fashion designers to orchestrate an elaborate hoax announcement in an effort to improve conditions for garment workers and sustainability in the Adidas supply chain. Then they stage a shocking and hilarious fashion show at the opening of Berlin Fashion Week that makes the world pay attention to labor and environmental abuses that the mega-brand is trying to hide.

Halifax WAC - 3rd Annual Open Mic Night
2025-03-14 19:00 - 21:00 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax is proud to sponsor this amazing event in support of all the work accomplished by the Halifax Workers’ Action Centre!
It’s happening! The hottest workers’ rights musical event of the year: the Halifax WAC Open Mic Night!
Mark your calendars for March 14th at the Bus Stop Theatre and get ready to celebrate a year of victories for workers with live local music and stories from the frontlines of worker organizing.
Tickets
As always, they’re pay what you can, with 100% of proceeds supporting the Halifax WAC Workers’ Justice Fund. Plus, Halifax WAC members get FREE entry (shoutout to those who help us make change happen through organizing and monthly dues 💪)!
RSVP now — you won’t want to miss this! Secure your tickets (or become a member) here:

Wave Theory - In Support of Autism NS
2025-04-02 19:00 - 20:30 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
Join us in celebration of World Autism Acceptance Day
Local filmmaker Brandon Boyd explores autism through the lens of Cape Breton musician Leona Burkey. In his latest documentary, Boyd sheds light on Burkey’s musical career, family life and how her son inspired a song titled Wave Theory.
Film run time: 28 minutes.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Brandon Boyd, Leona Burkey and other invited guests.

Tickets
Tickets are PWYC by donation. All proceeds will be donated to Autism Nova Scotia.

Brandon Boyd – Writer/Director
Brandon Boyd, is an Autistic Filmmaker born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. His first short film “What Do You Think” was a DIY Documentary that made it nationally in Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. His new short documentary is recipient of the Lunenburg Doc Festival’s “The Launch” contest, with a prize package of cash and in-kind services from major film organizations.
Trailer

The Only Wealth Is Labour
2025-05-01 - 2025-05-16 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
Sarah Mosher & Hannah Genosko
What gives real value to anything in this world? The work we put into it.
Exploring a key concept in Marx’s labour theory of value, textile artists Sarah Mosher and Hannah Genosko draw from the trade unionist tradition of parading crafted banners through city streets.
‘The Only Wealth Is Labour’ by Sarah Mosher and Hannah Genosko is a patchwork quilt banner made out of their remaining uniforms from the ‘Portrait of the Artist as an Essential Worker’ quilts, which were shown during Mayworks 2024. ‘The Only Wealth Is Labour’ quotes a historic union banner created by George Tutill in 1926 for the UK National Winding and General Engineers Society. Mosher and Genosko were struck by this quote and appreciated the simplicity and directness of the statement. With this new banner they moved away from speaking about their specific experiences as essential workers during the pandemic and into a more general call for solidarity and justice with all working people against the forces of inflation, late capitalism and neoliberalism.
Mosher and Genosko’s banner will be carried alongside two of our Working Class Heritage Tours on May 3rd and 11th, and otherwise on display at The Bus Stop Theatre throughout the festival.
Artists
Sarah Mosher and Hannah Genosko are an artist duo collaborating in Kjipuktuk/Halifax. Hannah has a background in printmaking and bookmaking, Sarah has a background in textiles and community arts. Both are graduates of NSCAD University. Their common ground is exploring labour, anti-capitalism and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through quilting. ‘Portrait of the Artist as an Essential Worker’ was their first project reflecting on their roles as essential workers at their jobs with Canada Post and NSLC respectively during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sandy & Nora Talk Politics LIVE w/ John Kameel Farah
2025-05-01 19:00 - 21:00 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
What do two of Canada’s best known political podcasters have to say about the state of the world today?
Come find out by attending a LIVE podcast recording of Sandy and Nora Talk Politics. Through a mix of playful banter and incisive political analysis, Sandy and Nora take apart current events and shine a light on avenues for a better future. What’s more: the event will also feature live performances by internationally-renowned pianist John Kameel Farah!
Confused about the state of the world? Unsure where you should put your energy to make the change you yearn for? Come, spend the night, be inspired and leave with a renewed mission to fight for social change.

ASL interpretation will be provided for this event.
Childcare will be provided for this event. Please use this REGISTRATION FORM.

Sandy & Nora
Sandy and Nora Talk Politics is one of Canada’s premier news analysis podcasts. With more than 8000 listeners per weekly episode, Sandy and Nora have helped to influence how Canadians look at politics, society, the economy and social movements.
Sandy Hudson is co-editor of the bestselling anthology Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada (2020). Her writing can be found in The Washington Post, The Toronto Star, Maclean’s Magazine, The Huffington Post, Now Magazine, and FLARE Magazine.
Nora Loreto is the author of Take Back the Fight: Organizing Feminism for the Digital Age (2020), and From Demonized to Organized, Building the New Union Movement (2013) and is the editor of the Canadian Association of Labour Media.
John Kameel Farah

John Kameel Farah is a Palestinian-Canadian composer and pianist whose work embraces aspects of Baroque and Early music, Improvisation, Middle-Eastern music and forms of Electronic music. He studied composition and piano at the University of Toronto, where he received the Glenn Gould Composition Award twice during his studies. In 2010, he became a member of the Canadian Electronic Ensemble, the oldest continuously active live-electronic performing group in the world. In Berlin, he frequently works with the Oriel String Quartet and the early vocal ensemble Vox Nostra. In 2016, he received a Dora Mavor Moore Award for sound design/composition for his work with Peggy Baker Dance Projects. In 2023, he was invited as guest artist to perform with the iconic electronic band Tangerine Dream in Toronto.

WIKI w/Lord Unknown + DJ Uncle Fester • Tachichi • BASYL• Hatfield
2025-05-02 21:00 - 23:59 | The Marquee Ballroom, 2037 Gottingen Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K 3B1, Canada
Come hear the beats and bars of some of the best hip hop artists on the East Coast – from both sides of the border!
New York hip hop fixture Wiki is coming to light up the Marquee Ballroom with Lord Unknown. They’ll be joined by local legends DJ Uncle Fester and Tachichi, as well as rising stars BASYL and Hatfield.

Wiki
Wiki (Patrick Morales) is a critically acclaimed, independent rapper from New York City. He has released many celebrated projects, including albums produced by Tony Seltzer (14K Figaro in 2023), The Alchemist (Faith is a Rock with MIKE in 2023), Subjxct5 (Cold Cuts in 2022), Navy Blue (Half God in 2021) and NAH (Telephonebooth in 2021), as well as tracks with Ghostface Killah, Earl Sweatshirt, Princess Nokia, Skepta, and Madlib. Wiki is a staple of the New York underground, where he rose to prominence as the frontman of Ratking. The trio’s groundbreaking 2014 LP So It Goes remains a landmark in experimental hip hop. One of this generation’s best lyricists and storytellers, Wiki brings his talents to Atlantic Canada for the first time when he performs with Lord Unknown at the Marquee Ballroom in Halifax on May 2nd, 2025.
Praise for Wiki’s 2023 album Faith is a Rock with MIKE and The Alchemist
“Faith Is a Rock is one of the most flat-out beautiful rap albums I’ve heard” – Alex Hudson (Exclaim!)
“Blending emotional transparency with nuance and a knack for descriptive writing, the LP finds profound human truths in mundanities . . . It’s as frank as it is poetic, with everyone involved being able to find delicate beauty amid existential fear” – Peter A. Berry (Stereogum)
“MIKE and Wiki have a lot to say. Their knack for lucid self-awareness and radical honesty is only matched by their sharp social commentary . . . Here, two worthy champions sit on a throne crafted from their own excellence” – Matthew Ritchie (Pitchfork)
Praise for Wiki’s 2021 album Half God with Navy Blue
“The New York rapper’s latest is one of his greatest. A wise and angry Wiki reveals what it’s like to come of age in the city: the way it shapes, hardens, prematurely ages you . . . Wiki has always wielded his considerable talent to paint cityscapes with words, but with Elsesser’s production, they become transportive” – Matthew Ismael Ruiz (Best New Music – Pitchfork)
“Half God is just a beautiful record . . . Wiki and Navy Blue’s New York sounds like the most glorious place on earth. I hope both of them stay in that place, literal or metaphorical, and I hope they make more music like this, together or apart” – Tom Breihan (Stereogum)
Lord Unknown

Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, producer Lord Unknown has built a reputation for his eclectic and innovative sound. His impressive catalog boasts collaborations with prominent artists such as Rich the Kid, Jay Critch, Wiki, and DJ Lucas, papo2oo4 x Subjxct 5, Starker x Yl, and Lunchbox among many others. In 2018, Lord Unknown launched his acclaimed “Lord Knows” series, which has since grown to include four installments. This collection showcases his versatility, featuring remixes, beats, and unreleased tracks that blend different eras and styles into something fresh and exciting. Lord Unknown’s approach to collaboration is characterized by a deep sense of creative synergy, as he pushes boundaries with fellow rappers and producers. His unique sound has captivated audiences and established him as a hidden force in the music scene.

DJ Uncle Fester
A veteran and OG of the Canadian hip hop scene, DJ Uncle Fester is always creating. A founding member of the Backburner Crew, Fes has worked on many award winning albums and with artists from all across North America. Recording, engineering, producing, beat making, touring and DJing for various MCs in Canada (Ghostface and Raekwon), as well as various bands, are all ways in which Fes has spread his sound across the map. From working with Ali Shaheed Muhammad (ATCQ) on the award winning Extremities (w Fresh Kils) project, which blended live band recordings and musicians with a traditional hip hop approach, all the way to arranging and mixing tracks on Chan Hays album “Here” featuring Conway, Roc Marciano, Benny The Butcher, El Camino, Pharoah Monch, etc. With underground heavyweights AP The Overlord, John Creasy, Roshin, Justo the MC and more, Fes continues to push his craft forward. With all this work already put in and no signs of slowing down, look for many projects to come.
Tachichi

Tachichi is a Halifax hiphop legend whose resume is as superb and as big as his talent, with his fingers in everything from writing to production to video directing. Tachichi has released around 15 albums to date and played hundreds of live shows across Canada and the U.S. While much of his previous catalogue over the last 20 years has been alongside Canadian producer and DJ Moves, Tachichi has multiple solo LPs and has released music with just about every influential and celebrated hip hop artist from the land of the maple leaf, including Buck 65, Classified, Quake Matthews, Ghettosocks, Skratch Bastid, Snak the Rapper, and countless others. He is a ferocious emcee who puts the art and bars above all else with a flow like lava.

BASYL

For BASYL, music is more than just a career; it serves as a profound avenue for self-expression. Hailing from the heart of the Middle East, BASYL, a Palestinian rapper, crafts a unique style that blends the melodic vibes of R&B with meticulously crafted lyrics and an infectious, rhythmic flow. BASYL delves into themes such as freedom of speech, oppression, personal growth, and love through his music.

Hatfield

Hatfield, formerly known as “Khaki Ka$h” and “Just Q” is a Canadian rapper/singer-songwriter from Weymouth, Nova Scotia. Influenced by artists like Earl Sweatshirt, LUCKI, Sufjan Stevens, Ruby Waters, Aldean Alliston, Nirvana and so many more, Hatfield started rapping and playing instruments in his prepubescents, honing his skills for decades and dedicating himself to his craft. From early golden era boom bap hip hop records, to modern day auto tuned vibes and everything in between. Hatfield’s versatility knows no bounds, a true artist led by his passion and determination to express himself at all costs.

Working Class Heritage Tours
2025-05-03 13:00 - 14:30 | Nova Scotia
You’ll never see downtown the same way again!
Join us for interactive walking tours that share the complex working class history of downtown Halifax. Each tour takes a different path through the city core and discusses different aspects of working class history and culture. The tours are designed to be stand alone but also work as a series, with each tour covering different topics and following a different path.

General Tour Notes:

Each tour is approximately 90 minutes in duration with regular stops for discussion along the way.
Washrooms and parking are available near the beginning and end of each tour.
Places to sit or perch are present at most tour stops
The tours run over and downhill only
The tours follow paths that only include intersections with curb cuts and follow sidewalks that are in good shape.
The tour has been designed with accessibility in mind. If you would like more information on the tour’s accessibility please email: info@mayworkskjipuktukhfx.ca

ASL interpretation will be provided for all three tours.

Tour 1: Where We Stand

Date: Saturday, May 3rd
Time: 1:00 PM
Departure: Old Spring Garden Library (corner of Brunswick St and Spring Garden Rd)
Moving through downtown we will talk about the impact of people, land, and power on the evolution of the colonial urban centre over the last 300 years while experiencing the city around us. From the paupers grounds of the 18th century, integrated neighbourhoods of the 19th century, strikes of the 20th century and movements for social justice today. This tour begins at the old Memorial Library and ends at the waterfront.
The Only Wealth Is Labour: Artists Sarah Mosher & Hanah Genosko will be carrying their crafted banner along for the tour!
Click Here For Detailed Tour Notes
Pictured: 19th century market site in downtown Halifax. NS Archives.

Tour 2: Scratch the Surface ***RESCHEDULED***

NEW DATE: Saturday, May 24th
Time: 1:00 PM
Departure: Old Spring Garden Library (corner of Brunswick St and Spring Garden Rd)

Walking along the streets of today we’ll explore the many types of work that used to take place where we now see offices, shops and restaurants. We’ll pull back the curtain on what it was like to work in the laundries, factories, and food manufacturing plants of Halifax and what we can still see of this industrial past. This tour begins at the old Memorial Library and ends near Granville Mall.
Click Here For Detailed Tour Notes
Pictured: Early 20th century women sewing in a Halifax factory. NS Archives.

Tour 3: By Choice or By Force

Date: Sunday, May 11th
Time: 1:00 PM
Departure: Peace & Friendship Park (1170 Hollis St)
Looking at a part of downtown now dominated by railroad tracks, hotels and modern apartment buildings we’ll remember the story of immigrants and migrants to Halifax, both those who came by choice, force or a lack of other options. This tour will discuss the complex history of racial and cultural interactions in Nova Scotia and shed light on how Halifax has always had a diverse population. This tour will begin at Peace and Friendship Park and end near the Seaport Market (formerly Cunard Centre)
The Only Wealth Is Labour: Artists Sarah Mosher & Hanah Genosko will be carrying their crafted banner along for the tour!
Click Here For Detailed Tour Notes
Pictured: Charlie Wah laundry back room. Photo: J.J. Lee

Emma Lang

Emma Lang is a public heritage professional, folklorist and tour guide. She’s been sharing her research and excitement in labour history to anyone interested for more than 20 years.
Photo above and Banner image: Photos by Tee Porter.

Altération
2025-05-03 20:00 - 21:00, 2025-05-04 16:00 - 17:00 | Breaking Circus, 2164 Amalamek Wy, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K 2WB3K 2W4, Canada
Kira Arts / Aly Keita
Co-presented with Live Art Dance
How do our lives intertwine? How do we manage to form prosperous balances? What happens when they break down?
ALTÉRATION addresses the transformations that punctuate our lives and our ability, as human beings, to influence both our own destiny and that of others. Aly Keita depicts a humanity that oscillates, on an intimate and societal level, between stability and uncertainty, anchoring and uprooting, change and resistance, renewal and repetition. The relationship with the other and the complexity of ties lead to the need to hear and rebuild our relationship with ourselves and with our environment. Exploring the meaning of relationships in our society in a wide-ranging way, both interpersonal relationships and those with other-than-human beings, this work opens the way to the construction of possible new links that are formed through ecological and spiritual dimensions. Here, life takes the form of a cycle of transformations. Memories of past experiences and scars – in other words, alteration – are transmuted into a vital breath through reactivating movements, both individual and collective, that revitalize our bodies and rekindle our inner power.
“Aly Keita’s artistic proposal finds its strength in the originality of its non-temporality, its immediacy, its treatment of identity, which is defined by the idea of encounter, of encounters, breaking down the realistic and formal framework linked to a single art form. In this sense, this multi-arts work is as much a choreographic piece as a circus piece; a musical work as well as a work of visual art in movement.” – Martin Bellemare – Note d’intention

Kira Arts
Kira is a word in Sousou, the language of Guinea, meaning “path“. It evokes the idea of life as a path we walk, where we gather and unite. Founded in 2023, Kira Arts creates stage works that bring together different artistic practices on an equal footing and promote intercultural dialogue between artists. In this way, we cultivate an inclusive and diverse practice environment based on knowledge sharing and collaboration. Our artistic approach focuses on mediation as a field for research and creation. We select our collaborators based on their affinity with our shared interests and their artistic vision. For us, it is essential that artists possess a deep understanding of the body, rhythm and movement. We believe in the uniqueness of each body and the value of each individual, elements that can mutually enrich a shared creation. We encourage artists’ autonomy, advocate their freedom of expression and value their authenticity in interpretation. Our approach is not to reproduce exactly what the choreographer experiences; we invite artists to embody the multiple possible interpretations of a single event.

Workshop!
Come dance with us after the show! Join Aly for his workshop on May 4th:
> African Rhythms and Melodies in Action – A Bodily Experience

Credits
Choreography: Aly Keita
Composer: Aly Keita
Music: Karine Bouchard & Ricardo Angel Soriano
Sound: Aly Keita
Dancers:
Nicolás Áravena Miller
Rameez Karim
Aly Keita
Evelyne Laforest
Anna Protsiou
Production Manager: Raffaela Siniscalchi
Technical Director & Lighting Designer: Manon Pocq-Saint-Joan
Visual & Dramaturgical Consultant: Monia Abdallah
Dramaturgical Consultant & Advisor: Martin Bellemare
Outside Eye: Mistaya Hemingway
Producers: Kira Arts | Aly Keita

Co-Presented With

With support from

Awake and Still Drowning
2025-05-04 13:00 - 17:00 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
XOSECRET
Immerse yourself into a vision of the future…
Take part in a 30 minute shared experience combining VR and an unsuspecting performance. It is a cautionary fable about the day Nova Scotia becomes an island, told through a combination of virtual reality and group choreography in which watching and performing signify the high cost of human migration when the exploited ocean takes back what is hers.
The experience splits the audience into two groups. The first group transforms into the protagonists, a flock of little white seabirds, performing a guided walk along a narrow landscape as directed by the VR headset, which depicts the rising ocean and disappearing shoreline. The second group waits in line, witnessing the flock without fully grasping the crisis unfolding inside the headset. Then, they join the dance, becoming part of the flock. The cycle continues until no one is left or we must leave the venue.
Participation:
The experience launches every 20 minutes, starting at 1pm. Audience members are invited into The Bus Stop Theatre, where they will be greeted by and given instructions. Once ready, a group of 5 participants will enter the playing space to learn how to use the VR headsets. The VR experience is approximately 15 minutes. Groups waiting to participate are invited to witness the group ahead of them travel through the experience as a flock. Afterward, participants are also invited to stay in the theatre as audience members for as long as they would like to witness the experience from the outside, sitting in the theatre’s audience seating. Individuals can stay as long as they want, watching multiple performance cycles.
Registration in person at the door! Please arrive early and don’t wait till the last shift!

Artists:
Dustin Harvey: Creative Director
Dana Dansereau: Producer
1UP (formerly Arcade XR): Digital Production
Sue Goyette: Poetry
Rich Aucoin: Music
Graeme Campbell: Audio Engineering
Millefiore Clarkes: Film Production
Aidan Searle: Graphic Design
Colleen Arcturus MacIsaac: Illustration + Animation
Gus and Lia Harvey: Narration
Zach Faye: Art Department
In Development:
AWAKE & STILL DROWNING is currently in its final stages of development. Your participation helps shape its final form! There may still be occasional bugs. As such, we thank you in advance for your patience. You may be asked for some feedback if you feel comfortable offering it. Thank you!
Childcare will be provided for this event. Please use this REGISTRATION FORM.

Click here for CONTENT AND SENSORY ADVISORIES for Awake and Still Drowning

AWAKE AND STILL DROWNING is supported by Arts Nova Scotia, Province of Nova Scotia, Canada Council For The Arts, The National Arts Centre, and The National Film Board of Canada

African Rhythms and Melodies in Action – A Bodily Experience
2025-05-04 17:15 - 18:15 | Breaking Circus, 2164 Amalamek Wy, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K 2WB3K 2W4, Canada
Come dance with us after the final showing of Altération! Join Aly for his workshop at Breaking Circus
This rhythm awakening workshop emphasizes the bodily experience of rhythm through movement, singing, melody, and physical coordination.

Led by multidisciplinary artist Aly Keita, this workshop invites participants to explore the fundamental relationship between body and rhythm using a selection of recorded soundscapes and musical tracks. It offers an immersive experience in West African cultural elements, helping participants develop rhythmic awareness through voice, movement, and guided exercises.
Through singing, dancing, and coordination exercises, participants will sharpen their ability to feel and express rhythm physically. They will explore the dialogue between movement and music, focusing on rhythmic precision, play, body posture, and expression. The workshop encourages a deep connection to rhythm through improvisation and group dynamics.
Participants will also experiment with creating rhythmic patterns in groups, responding to recorded African rhythms, and engaging with the music through dance. The workshop will conclude with a collective expression circle and a question-and-answer session.
Drop in registration at the door.

Offert en français et anglais! Offered in French and English!

Banner photo by Tee Porter.

Reel Justice - L'nui'skw Spotlight
2025-05-05 19:00 - 21:00 | The Bus Stop Theatre Coop, 2203 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS, Canada
Curated by Lara Lewis
This year’s Reel Justice offerings are snapshots of the lives of different Mi’kmaw women’s lives from the past to the present. From traditional stories to modern women, the creators and subjects of these women’s narratives place a strong emphasis on relationality, family, and cultural engagement.

Films

Waseteg (2010, dir. Phyllis Grant) – 6 min
Waseteg is the story of a young Mi’kmaq girl whose name means “the light from the Dawn.” A short story about dreams, courage, identity, creation and embracing our Elders, Waseteg showcases Phyllis Grant’s signature style of bold lines, bright colours and simple movements. The film is beautifully narrated by legendary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin.

Mi’kmaw Family (dir. Catherine Martin, 1995) – 32 min
This documentary takes you on a reflective journey into the extended family of Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaq community. Revisiting her own roots, Mi’kmaq filmmaker and mother Catherine Anne Martin explores how the community is recovering its First Nations values, particularly through the teachings of elders and a collective approach to children-rearing. Mi’kmaq Family is an inspiring resource for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences who are looking for ways to strengthen and explore their own families and traditions.

Klusuaqnn Ajknu’kl (dir. Stephanie Joline, 2021) – 22 min
Mi’kmaw poet and published author Rebecca Thomas uses words for a living, but she can’t speak the language stolen from her father at residential school. Words Matter follows her journey to reclaim the language while exploring the complicated past that’s kept it from her. This version is narrated in Mi’kmaw and with spoken English subtitled in Mi’kmaw.

Darlene Bernard: Women of this Land (dir. Stephanie Joline, 2023) – 22 min
Part of a 4-part documentary series about Indigenous women in Atlantic Canada and how they connect to land and culture. In this episode – Chief Darlene Bernard. Bernard reflects on her position as Chief, relationships with her community, and ageing.

Welima’q (dir. shalan joudry, 2024) – 5min
A gently mesmerizing piece exploring the profound meaning of sweetgrass picking through multidisciplinary artist shalan joudry’s lens. An immersive celebration of nature’s gifts and Indigenous traditions.

Childcare will be provided for this event. Please use this REGISTRATION FORM.
