Wednesday October 26

FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONY
Wednesday October 26, 2pm-3pm
Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main

Join friends from the neighbourhood, Mayor Robertson, Councillors Anton, Reimer and Woodsworth and other special guests from around the city for the grand opening of the eighth annual festival: a celebration of  our community’s 125th anniversary! Sam George (Tse-at-sul-tuxch) of the Squamish Nation opens with a Welcome Song; DTES poet, artist and activist Diane Wood reads an excerpt from the poem 100 Years of Struggle by Sandy Cameron, dearly beloved and missed; The Sunshine Choir, Chinese Canadian seniors who rehearse regularly at Oppenheimer Park, fill the hall with their enthusiasm and love of singing; new friend, singer-songwriter and Juno nominee Wayne Lavallee (Cree/Metis) brings stories and song together with his unique contemporary voice; and the Carnegie Street Band led by Brad Muirhead swings us to the grand finale. Everyone welcome! Refreshments. Free

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Workshop
IMAGE THEATRE with Angelo Moroni
Wednesday October 26 10am-1pm
Oppenheimer Park, 488 Powell

Come explore and share with the public your ideas, strengths and concerns using your body and voice to create a space for reflection, action and solidarity. Image Theatre is a base technique of Theatre of the Oppressed; a form of social theatre to raise awareness of the struggles, concerns and empowerments we are living, with the aim to inform and motivate the community in taking the necessary steps for social/personal change for the better. Workshop led by Angelo Moroni. Participants must commit to two sessions Wed Oct 26 and Wed Nov 2; a street presentation will be determined at the workshop. Free


Workshop
DAY OF THE DEAD with Marta
Wednesday October 26, 2pm-4pm
Oppenheimer Park, 488 Powell

Here’s an opportunity to make some things for the Day of the Dead celebrations. Marta is from Colombia and will share how to make paper skulls and skeletons. Everyone welcome, bring your ideas as we will learn from each other. Free


Panel Discussion
POTLUCK PANEL
Wednesday October 26, 3:30pm-5:30pm
Gallery Gachet, 88 E. Cordova

The Potluck Panel offers conversations on food and culture hosted by Dr. Legumes, a.k.a. artist Pierre Leichner. This panel features an assortment of speakers who work with food as a cultural medium. Join the conversation, join the feast, and eat some of Dr. Legumes special ratatouille. Free

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Open House
GRUPO AXE CAPOEIRA
Wednesday October 26, 5pm-9pm
Axe Capoeira Studio, 45 W. Hastings

Grupo Axé Capoeira began in Recife, Brazil in 1982. Today, as Canada’s first academy of Capoeira, the group continues to rise as one of the world’s leading Capoeira organizations. Grupo Axé Capoeira is also renowned as a traveling group that promotes the history, music, art, and culture of Brazil in interactive and educational demonstrations. Axé Capoeira headquarters is located in the DTES and the Festival is pleased they have opened their doors for us to share in their classes for an evening. They offer Capoeira classes, MMA/Jiu-Jitsu classes, Brazilian dance classes, Brazilian music classes, fitness classes including Yoga, Zumba and Brazilian Dance Fit. Check it out! Free

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Music
SWEET SOUL SISTERS OF THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE
Wednesday October 26, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main

An evening of blues, jazz and soul that speaks to the story of our neighbourhood. Hear some of the strong women’s voices of the DTES, including Dalannah Gail Bowen, Rosanne Gervais, Heidi Morgan and Peggy Wilson accompanied by local musicians Michael Bellwood on guitar, John Cote on bass, Murray Black on piano and Gary Wildeman on drums. You can feel the excitement around Carnegie as the musicians and singers rehearse for what is sure to be a fabulous evening of women’s voices and the men who back them up! Free

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Benefit
STRATHCONA UNPLUGGED!
Wednesday October 26, 7:30pm-10pm
Russian Hall, 600 Campbell

Here’s a special treat and benefit to support the RayCam DayCare and kids in our neighbourhood. Join three bands with roots in the Strathcona/DTES community – Incognito, The Tallbrothers and the Hard Rock Miners – all unplugged for an awesome acoustic concert in the good ol’ Russian Hall.
Incognito Unplugged is led by veteran musician and guitarist Rob Montgomery and features the amazing Nadine States on lead vocals, with the soulful keyboards of Steve Werbicki. You’ll want to listen to their jazz, blues and soul groove all night long, except that The Tallbrothers Unplugged are up next! The award-winning reefer-jazz band are Bill and Tom Small, two brothers who grew up in a musical family on a farm in SW Ontario and are now based in Strathcona. They play from new charts of old reefer tunes from Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and more. Wait – we can’t leave before the Hard Rock Miners Unplugged join the party. With their busking start on Robson Street in the late 80s, nothing can stop the musical stylings of this popular rockabilly/hillbilly/country/folk band. With a bluegrass lineup and speedy punked up versions of country & western, funk, punk, and pop classics, and a sense of humour par excellence, this is a great way to benefit our local kids. All to raise funds for RayCam DayCare! Produced by the RayCam Media lab with support from many sponsors including the DTES Heart of the City Festival. Advance tickets at RayCam front desk, or at the door. Suggested donation $10