HOLDING GRIEF & GRATITUDE: STORYTELLING AT THE THEATRE CENTRE
As we near the end of yet another year, we gather our community together for an evening of letting go and mourning while also embracing the possibilities of renewal. We invite you to honour and explore the intertwined journeys of grief and gratitude in all its many shapes, textures, and forms with us.
From the loss of our loved ones to the mourning of previous versions of ourselves, from the devastation of living through a climate crisis to the despair of witnessing multiple genocides unfold before our eyes, we know that the gradients of grief run far and wide. And for those of us who have been displaced in some way – whether voluntary or forced, on this land or from another land – our experiences may be tinged with loss in the shape of the deep distances away from our homeland, the disconnection from our ancestors, the forgetting of our mother tongues, the forgetting of our traditions and culture. At the same time, we are full of gratitude for our adopted homelands, for our triumphs, and for our everyday existence.
We welcome all of these experiences of grief and gratitude and take a “yes, and…” approach to our emotions. In a world that holds fast to binaries and absolutes, join us in community as we strive to uncover the nuance and complexity that makes us so beautifully human.
When: Tuesday, December 17 at 8-10 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Theatre Centre Café/Bar on 1115 Queen St. West.
This space is physically accessible to audiences and artists alike. Each level has a barrier-free washroom and there is a lift available for public use.
RSVP NOW
ABOUT THE GAZA POETS SOCIETY
While this is a free event, we are encouraging our attendees to consider donating to the Gaza Poets Society, a literary community based in the city of Gaza. The GPS compiles anthologies, sponsors young poets, establishes connections between local and international poets, and conducts workshops to promote artistic development and expression.
Cynthia Fay
Cynthia Fay is a visual artist, songwriter, singer, and music therapist, weaving the love and wisdom from her closest connections into every creation. Her journey through music and art is a heartfelt exploration, drawing deeply from her life experiences to craft thoughtful brave pieces. With each song and artwork, Cynthia offers a true glimpse into her world, inviting you to step into her story and find a quiet space for reflection and connection while sharing precious moments in time, together.
Huong Vo
Huong Vo is a spoken word artist, community facilitator, and career coach. Born in Vietnam and growing up in what is known as Canada, Huong’s work explores intersectional identity, diaspora, and memoirs of family with poignant reflections sprinkled with culturally relevant humour. She has performed at local slam scenes, JAYU Slams, and Womxn of the World Poetry Slam. Huong uses her art for community building and healing, and focuses on the experience of the Asian-Canadian community.
Asante Haughton
Asante Haughton (he/him) is a mental health and equity professional, speaker, activist, and writer. Asante's words explore difficult and hidden truths of the human experience, seeking to encourage compassion for the complicatedness of human emotion and behaviour. He has previously published works in AfriCANthology, a collection of writing from Black Canadian authors, and is working on his autobiography.
Naomi Wong
Naomi Wong (she/her) is a Tkaronto-based storyteller, facilitator, and calligrapher with familial roots in Hong Kong. Drawing on a deep appreciation for calligraphy, Naomi strives to capture and document both the mundane and monumental moments of every day life. When approached with care and attention, she believes that intergenerational relationships have the power to reflect personal stories, preserve memories, and honour traditions. Through her work, Naomi aims to create empathetic spaces, nuanced conversations, and systems that prioritize people over profit.
Farah Ghafoor
Farah Ghafoor is an award-winning poet and the author of the forthcoming poetry collection Shadow Price (House of Anansi, 2025). Her work has been taught in post-secondary courses, awarded the E.J Pratt Medal and Prize in Poetry, and long-listed for the CBC Poetry Prize. Her poems appear in magazines, anthologies, and exhibitions such as The Walrus, Halal if You Hear Me (Haymarket Press, 2019), and FACE/WASTE at Steelcase Art Projects. She resides in Toronto.
Lily Kwok
Lily Kwok is a Chinese-Trinidadian comedian, writer, and non-profit worker currently based in Toronto. On stage, she explores her intersectional identity and journey as a brand-new immigrant to Canada. She is a regular at The Comedy Lab, Canada’s only Black- and queer-owned comedy club, and is a winner of the Black Sheep Comedy Competition. Lily was published in the 2015 special issue of Moko – Firing the Canon – which celebrated emergent Caribbean creative practitioners.
Ying Chong Wong
Ying Chong Wong (黃英壯) was born in Teochew, China, and relocated to Hong Kong at the age of 21 where he met his wife. Throughout his life, he has held various roles, including devoted son, father, and grandfather. After retiring, he immigrated to Canada with his family. Ying enjoys practicing Chinese calligraphy, gardening, and playing ping pong at the local seniors' club.
Ying will be performing a calligraphy demonstration with his granddaughter, Naomi.
Alexandra C. Yeboah
Alexandra C. Yeboah is a Brampton-based writer, creative facilitator, learner for life, and quiet disruptor, who is currently using her curiosity to embark onto newfound paths of creativity. A second-generation Canadian with Jamaican and Ghanaian ancestry, she is keen on exploring the intricacies of bicultural identity and the different ways it intersects with our everyday experiences. Alexandra’s project, Breaking Barriers, was published by Mayworks Festival in 2021. In the summer months, you might catch her writing in a notebook somewhere under a tree.
ABOUT THE THEATRE CENTRE
The Theatre Centre is a nationally recognized live-arts incubator and community hub. Their mission is to offer a home for creative, cultural, and social interactions to invent the future.
They make work that spans disciplines and genres; work that pushes the boundaries of what is considered “art”. The Theatre Centre’s programming and role as a community space are inextricably linked. Art is not made in a silo: it is connected to the world around it.
They also offer one of the only spaces in the neighbourhood where folks can pop in for a coffee, spend the day working, or just hang out (no purchase necessary). It is a community hub and a place to gather; a place where you — regardless of class, race, ethnicity, religion, or ability — are welcome to be. You don’t have to identify as an artist or performer to use the space. They want you to feel at home in their space.
We are grateful to The Theatre Centre for so generously donating their space with us so that we can speak our stories out loud in solidarity across racial and religious lines.