“I believe it’s critical we do grief work in community. We need our grief to be witnessed and reflected back. We need to know we’re not alone. Spaces for collective grief are transformative…when I know I’m in space explicitly designed as a container to hold our grief, I can touch into it and find the richness there…” – Kazu Haga
Our grief lives in many spaces – within endings, across distances, in the transitions of our uncertain and chaotic world, in the quiet ache of things that didn’t turn out as we may have hoped. Some grief is visible, but much of it moves quietly beneath the surface, held in the body, carried in silence. In a world that often pushes us to hide these heartbreaks, this embodied storytelling playshop encourages us to lean into the complexity, expansiveness, and richness of our grief(s).
Through grounding practices, reflective writing, and doodling, we will explore the many shapes of our grief. We will bring to our page all that may feel tender or hard to say, and together we aim to discover how our creative practice can be a place to tend to ourselves.
This playshop centres care, choice, and consent. Sharing is always optional. Whether your grief is recent or long-held, named or still unfolding, you are welcome.
Date & Time: Monday, July 13 | 7-10 p.m.
Location: The Theatre Centre | 1115 Queen Street West, Toronto
Cost: Pay what you can! See suggested contributions below.
No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Our creative workshops operate on a pay-what-you-can model to make them accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. We invite you to contribute an amount that feels sustainable for you, knowing that your contribution helps support the facilitators and makes future community offerings possible. These tiers are meant to help guide your decision, so contribute what best reflects your current financial capacity and the value this experience holds for you. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
$10 – Community: For those with limited income or financial constraints.
$25 – Cultivate: Supports our facilitators’ labour and material costs.
$40 – Grow: Reflects the true cost of the workshop and helps sustain Living Hyphen’s work.
$50 – Solidarity: Subsidizes spots for others who need reduced pricing.
LOCATION & VENUE
The Theatre Centre is located at 1115 Queen St W. on the corner of Queen and Lisgar. There’s street parking in the area and bike racks on the eastside of the building. If you’re travelling by TTC, take the 501 Queen streetcar to Abell St or Dovercourt Rd. When you get here, enter through the side doors on Lisgar St.
The Theatre Centre is physically accessible to audiences and artists alike. Each level has a barrier-free washroom and there’s a lift available for public use.
ABOUT FINANCIAL ACCESSIBILITY
At Living Hyphen, we strive to make all our initiatives financially sustainable while also maintaining artistic independence and ensuring accessibility for our community. Our creative workshops operate on a pay-what-you-can model to make them accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. We invite participants to contribute an amount that feels sustainable for them — whether that’s a little or a lot — knowing that your contribution helps support the facilitators and makes future community offerings possible. We also recognize that our financial capacity changes across time, with some days being harder than others. We ask you to make the choice that feels right for you right now! No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
About Your Facilitator: Justine Abigail Yu
Justine Abigail Yu is the founder of Living Hyphen. She is an award-winning workshop facilitator whose work with Living Hyphen has been featured on national and local media outlets including the Globe & Mail, CTV National News, and the CBC. Recognized as a “Changemaker” by the Toronto Star, Justine Abigail is a fierce advocate for diversity and representation in Canada’s arts and literature scene. Her mission is to stir the conscience and spur social change.
Follow her work at justineabigail.com or across socials at @justineabigail.