STORIES OF HOME: A STORYTELLING CELEBRATION
Living Hyphen and the Peel Art Gallery, Museum + Archives shared stories of home in celebration of the exhibition Stories of Home: Finding Community and Belonging in Peel.
When: Sunday, June 2nd from 2-4 p.m.
Where: Peel Art Gallery, Museum + Archives on 9 Wellington St. East in Brampton. PAMA is an accessible facility, including ground-level entrances and elevator access to all floors.
In this open-mic style event, we invite you to listen to speakers who will share their experiences through poetry and stories, providing a platform for the diverse narratives that shape our community. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of a storytelling mosaic that reflects the vibrant diversity and resilience within our community!
In this open-mic style event, we invited the Peel community to listen to storytellers who shared their migration journey to Canada and what it has meant to find home and belonging in Peel Region. From dance to comedy, from poetry to song, our storytellers took the stage at the historic courtroom to reclaim space and speak our lived experiences out loud. This gathering was a beautiful mosaic of our complex and varied journeys. We invite you to watch their performances and bear witness.
OUR PERFORMERS
Alya Somar
Alya Somar is a Guyanese-Canadian writer from Mississauga, Ontario. She holds an Honours Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing and Publishing from Sheridan College, and is currently undertaking a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of Guelph.
Darren Leo
Darren Leo is a standup comedian from Toronto. As an Asian Canadian, Darren Leo finds levity in the ups and downs of his immigrant life. With hilarious stories about cultural clashes and identity struggles, Darren Leo’s comedy is both relatable and thought-provoking. This summer, Darren will be touring across Canada for comedy festivals such as Edmonton Fringe and Montreal’s Got Jokes. He is Canada’s hottest rising star and we’re so lucky to have him today, and most importantly, he wrote this intro himself.
Mady (Madhumini Rajapakse)
Mady is an artistic individual who loves teaching and writing poems. She is a Sri Lankan who recently moved to Canada and is currently working as an ESL professor at Sheridan College which has become her second home. She believes in the power of passionate individuals who are constantly working towards a more inclusive and a loving society and identifies herself as one of them.
B
B is a multidisciplinary artist based in Brampton. They use a variety of creative outlets such as poetry, fashion, digital art, and music to advocate for unique storytelling. Growing up with rich Caribbean-Southeast Asian cultural influence, B aims to educate and empower BIPOC communities through oral and visual narratives.
Jessica Abboud
Jessica is an energetic Lebanese Canadian with a passion for French literature and food media, holding degrees in both fields. She is currently working in the digital marketing and communications field full-time, as well as working as a food photographer and stylist freelancer. Her love for culinary art shines through a lively blog and Instagram page, where creativity meets deliciousness. Obsessed with traveling, fashion, and books, Jessica blends these interests into every project, bringing a fun and personal touch to the food and media world.
Madushen Paramanathan
Madushen is an International Student from Sri Lanka. At a young age, Madushen’s experiences made him a firm believer of life’s adventures. From winning awards in international conferences to camping in the jungles of Sri Lanka, he believes that every new adventure is a step towards joy and purpose. Currently, he is completing his internship as a research assistant in robotics and manufacturing, playing rugby and powerlifting competitively, while following the electromechanical engineering program at Sheridan Colege.
Candace Kumar
Candace Kumar is a cultural dance artist based in Mississauga, Ontario. She specializes in Filipino cultural dance, practicing diverse styles from all across the Philippines. Candace views dance as a community-based practice, committed to placemaking and collaboration. She was recently awarded the Mississauga Arts Council 2023 Established Artist Award and the City of Mississauga Civic Recognition Award for her achievements in the local community. In her future work, she hopes to continue advocating for Filipino arts and culture across Canada.
Jovan Deol
Jovan is a singer, writer, and actor with a profound love for the stage. His poetry often explore themes of identity, belonging, and resilience. He is a first-year undergrad student at McMaster University, currently enrolled in the Integrated Arts program and is also a part of the A Capella team. When not in the spotlight, he can be found painting, spending time with his pet chickens, indulging in Bollywood movies, or losing himself to the rhythm of Bhangra on the dance floor.
Robyn Kaur Sidhu
Robyn is a queer, mad, disabled, Punjabi poet. They have had feelings publicly, and have performed them on stages across Turtle Island and the United Kingdom. They love being a youth arts educator. They are trying to be the adult they needed as a kid.
Explore the Performances
ABOUT THE PEEL ART GALLERY, MUSEUM + ARCHIVES
PAMA is an accessible, safe space for the diverse communities of the Region of Peel (Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga) to come together and celebrate arts and culture. We strive to be a place where you can see yourself reflected and actively contribute to building a “Community for Life”.
It’s a place to explore and learn about Peel's culture and heritage, as well as use conversation, questions and stories to help make new and fascinating connections to the surrounding community. PAMA offers a variety of workshops and programs for all ages, families, and adults. There is something for everyone.
Our buildings are our largest artifacts. The site is made of historic buildings: the Peel County Courthouse and Jail, the former Registry Office, and the Modernist Building.
