Get your Mad Pride on!
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Attention! Change in venue!
Due to the City Worker strike, all events that were scheduled to occur at Metro Hall will now take place at May Robinson Auditorium, which is located at 20 West Lodge Avenue--one block north of Queen, one block east of Lansdowne.
We hope to see you there!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Peggy-Gail or Soojin at 416-531-2411 ext. 269 or Ruth Ruth at 416-516-4740 or friendlyspike@primus.ca.
We hope to see you there!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Peggy-Gail or Soojin at 416-531-2411 ext. 269 or Ruth Ruth at 416-516-4740 or friendlyspike@primus.ca.
MAD PRIDE WEEK --- July 13 to July 19 2009
In a culture of hardening isolation, status materialism and environmental degradation: Mad Pride can be a broad embrace (2002, Adbusters), so come one, come all to:
M A D P R I D E W E E K
When: July 13 to July 19 2009
Where: City of Toronto
A week long festival of arts, education and heritage activities which recognize psychiatric survivors, consumers, mad folks and others for the purpose of community development, rights awareness and celebration. All events are free.
Mad Pride Week community partners are; Accent on Ability through A-Way Couriers, CS/Info, The Gerstein Centre, Houselink Community Homes, PARC, Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre, PCIC, Parkdale Community Information Centre, PCLS, Parkdale Community Legal Services, Soundtimes Support Services, The Raging Spoon, Out Of This World Café, and The Friendly Spike Theatre Band
With support from The Toronto Arts Council Community Arts Program and Ministry of Heritage through BCAH Building Culture through Arts and Heritage
A backgrounder of this great event is attached.
Monday July 13th 2009
CAMH
(Centre for Addiction and Mental Heath)
1001 Queen Street West (meet on front patio, Ossington entrance)
6PM – 8:30PM: The Patient Built Wall Tour,
guided by Geoffrey Reaume.
The purpose of this tour is to remember the contributions of the men and women who lived, worked, and died in the Toronto Hospital for the Insane. This is represented by the nineteenth century patient built boundary walls, which stand as enduring testament to their abilities and a monument to their memory. We hold up this past symbol of exclusion to challenge discrimination that is experienced today by people who have a psychiatric history
Geoffrey Reaume, Psychiatric Survivor Archives Toronto.
8:30PM-9PM: Memorial
Attendees are invited to a post wall tour memorial which will pay tribute to those who went before us. Organizers ask guests to bring words that lend meaning to the moment. Candles will be lit.
Tuesday July 14th – Friday July 17th
METRO HALL, ROTUNDA
55 John Street (King and John Streets)
But, if the city workers strike continues throughout this week our venue will be changed to May Robinson Auditorium, 20 Westlodge, one block east of Lansdowne, one block north of Queen)
A gallery of original art, crafts, displays and information and much more, from 11am to 5pm each day.
Demonstrators include artists from Houselink Community Homes, Soundtimes Support Services, and the PARC Art Group
and others, along with the postings of individual artists Naomi Laufer, Sarah Griffin. Paul Draper and others and information from A-Way Couriers, IDPWD, Metro Tenants Association, Simply People, Social Phobias Support Group of Toronto, Street Health, Street to Trail and more!.
Tuesday July 14th
World Mad Pride Day
11AM – 12NOON: Opening Ceremony
Join the Mad Pride organizers for:
*The Reading of the Mad Pride Week Proclamation
*With MC Peggy Gail Dehal Ramson PCLS and special guests;
The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Ontario Human Rights Chief Commission Barbara Hall
MPP, Cheri Di Novo
Presentations from:
Voices from the Street, featuring Mike Creek, Theresa Schrader and Meghan Currie. VFTS is comprised of individuals who have had direct experience with homelessness, poverty, and/or mental health issues. The organization works to put a human face to homelessness and involves people with direct experience as leaders in a public education process.
Caroline Kwok, reading from her book Free to Fly; A Story of Manic Depression (inclusion Press, 2006) is a moving, hopeful story that works on two distinct levels.
First, it is the story of the author’s experience as a Chinese-born Canadian, dealing with multiple issues faced by new immagrants. More ripping though, is her harrowing account of her life with bipolar-despairing, coping and finally providing inspiration to others” BP Canada
Naomi Laufer, a published poet, artist and teacher who will read two of her poems
A song lead by Frank Hall. Heinz Klein and The Friendly Spike Theatre Band
12NOON – 1PM - LUNCH – light refreshments generously provided by Out Of This World Cafe
*RSVP
Special lunch time presentations which include Laughter Yoga with Salimah Kassim-Lakha, and more!
1PM – 2PM – Presentation; Hugging Our History: Why Psychiatric Survivors need to ‘own’ our Mad past.
By Geoffrey Reaume
2PM – 2PM – Presentation: Living Archive Project
By PARC Living Archive Collective
Presentation includes a documentary film and live presentation
Time spent on Q. and A.
Wednesday July 15th
Know Your Rights Day
11AM – 12 NOON Presentation: Dream Team –
The Dream Team is a group of consumer survivors who advocate for more safe, secure and affordable supportive housing for people living with mental health and addiction issues. They do this by telling their personal stories about the life-altering benefits of supportive housing, by tackling discrimination and stigma, and by working to eliminate barriers to the creation of more supportive housing through public education, research and advocacy.
Over the last year the Dream Team has worked with various groups and communities across Ontario to explore the issue of discriminatory zoning. In this presentation members of the Dream Team will illustrate the concept of discriminatory zoning and the impact on people with mental health and addiction issues.
12NOON – 12:15: Presentation: PARC Ambassadors Program
PARC Ambassadors program is a community consultation by the Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre with the Parkdale Community. The purpose and the goal of the program is to engage, inform and consult with residents and stakeholders in the community in relation to our building development Edmond Place. The program consists of 9 Ambassadors whom are PARC Members receiving remuneration for the work they do. It is peer and member driven, incorporating and building on the principles and values of the recovery model and PARC’s Mission –PARC – A Place Where People Rebuild Their Lives. When the Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre acquired the building from the City of Toronto to develop affordable, social housing for marginalized persons in our community there was extreme opposition to PARC by residents and stakeholders in Parkdale. Since the PARC Ambassadors Program inception in September 2007 we have progressed from a state of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) to one of YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard). The PARC Ambassadors Program has been successful with their community consultation and public relations in Parkdale. It has proven that marginalized people do have a commitment to their community, have all the necessary attributes and capabilities to be productive, contribute to their neighbourhood and society, and live a healthy, meaningful and fulfilling life.
PARC Ambassadors will discuss their work at this presentation
12:15 NOON – 1PM – Lunch –light refreshments generously provided by Raging Spoon
*RSVP: madpridetoronto@yahoo.ca
Special lunch time presentations featuring Laughter Yoga with Salimah Kassim-Lakha, and more!
1PM – 2PM – Presentation – Legal Jeopardy by Parkdale Community Legal Services (PCLS)
2PM -3 PM- – David Carmichael
QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS
When it comes to treating your own mental illnesses, we often assume that doctors and other mental heal professionals always know what’s
best. During this presentation, David will raise a few issues about scientific drug research and help you understand, based on his own experience recovering from major depression, how important it is for people suffering from mental illnesses to take responsibility for their own recovery and rehabilitation by asking their doctors and mental health workers questions, questions and more questions, and by becoming regularly physically active.
David holds a masters degree in physical education and is the former director of national projects at ParticipACTION. After experiencing his first major depression in 2003 at the age of 45 and a relapse in 2004, he tragically learned the importance of good mental health and does not assume that doctors always know what’s best.
(opportunity will be given for the audience to ask questions)
3PM – 4PM Street Nurse Beth Pelton
Beth Pelton is a registered nurse currently working with Street Health Community Nursing. Most of her nursing work has been in the community, and with people living with cancer. Her experiences have included working in medical and geriatric and psychiatric nursing. In practicing from a Harm Reduction philosophy she is learning deeper meanings about Client-Directed Care and Client-Centered Care.
Thursday July 16th
Madly Theatrical
11AM -12 NOON Presentation; Mind Storm, by Mortimer Christie
Mind Storm is a play about Michael, a person with mental health issues around schizophrenia. Michael spends a 24-hour period of time, each month, in a local park experiencing audio and visual hallucinations.
Featuring Henrik Kartna
12 NOON – 12:45 NOON – Presentation; films by Helen Posno
IMPEDIMENTA – which deals with the homelessness of mankind in the universe
MY SILENT LIVES – which deals with both the lightness and the darkness of the human spirit.
12:45 NOON – 1:30PM Lunch – Brown bag lunches generously provided by Houselink Community Kitchen
RSVP; madpridetoronto@yahoo.ca
Special lunch time presentations and workshops, featuring Laughter Yoga with Salimah Kassim-Lakha, and more!
1:30PM – 2:30PM – Play by The Friendly Spike Theatre Band
Moving To My Own Beat
A diverse group of students attend a lecture they won’t ever forget.
2:30PM – 2:45PM Presentation: Clay and Paper Theatre
2:45PM – 4PM: Open Stage
Friday July 17th
12Noon to 12:30 - Brown bag lunches generously provided by Honselink Community Kitchen
Special lunch time presentations featuring Laughter Yoga, with Salimah Kassim-Lakha, and more!
12:30 – 1PM A film: Art X-Press
Art Express is a community arts mural project that involved four Redirection Through Education students from George Brown College, in the design and painting of murals for TTC bus sides. Two murals were created in five hands-on workshops that were held at George Brown. The murals have since been mounted as original artworks on the exterior of two busses and as well, digitalized images of the murals are being featured on Toronto’s subway video monitors. Using the busses as “mobile billboards”, the artists as activists generated mural imagery as a means to challenge public assumptions and inform urban audiences of issues around their identities as psychiatric survivors. The film traces the arts’ creative processes.
1PM -2PM: Panel discussion, topic tba; with Erick Fabris, Onar Usar, Joel Zablosky and others.
2PM – 2:45PM: Essya Nabbali
“Mad Pride toward a democratic utopia”
Saturday July 18th
CAMH
(centre for addiction and mental health)
1001 Queen Street West, Toronto
The Third Annual Bed Push Parade Day
12NOON to 1PM - Mad Tea Party
Presented by the Empowerment Council and CAMH Peer Staff
1PM – 2:30PM Bed Push Pride Parade, Led by PARC Drummers
And featuring Crazy Talk: Share your rant, dance, emotion, expression, comment, in support of Mad Pride. This “speakers corner” style video will be shared on Youtube.com. Enacted by the Mad People’s Video Project
This unique pride procession of individuals, agencies and organizations. pushes a gurney dressed like a bed with sheets that shout words that reclaim what was once lost; ‘Hope’, ‘Education’, ‘Friends’ , and
more. The event is in celebration of ourselves and serves to strengthen our community.
*1PM – Gather at CAMH front Patio for Special guests, Mad Pride Honours, and Bobbi Nahwegahbow Memorial Awards will be presented to outstanding Artist/Activists DD Spideria and Heinz Klein
*1:30PM – Push off
*2:00PM – Rest station
*2:30PM – arrive at PARC
2:30PM -5:00PM– Party!, Hosted by PARC
@
M A D P R I D E W E E K
When: July 13 to July 19 2009
Where: City of Toronto
A week long festival of arts, education and heritage activities which recognize psychiatric survivors, consumers, mad folks and others for the purpose of community development, rights awareness and celebration. All events are free.
Mad Pride Week community partners are; Accent on Ability through A-Way Couriers, CS/Info, The Gerstein Centre, Houselink Community Homes, PARC, Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre, PCIC, Parkdale Community Information Centre, PCLS, Parkdale Community Legal Services, Soundtimes Support Services, The Raging Spoon, Out Of This World Café, and The Friendly Spike Theatre Band
With support from The Toronto Arts Council Community Arts Program and Ministry of Heritage through BCAH Building Culture through Arts and Heritage
A backgrounder of this great event is attached.
Monday July 13th 2009
CAMH
(Centre for Addiction and Mental Heath)
1001 Queen Street West (meet on front patio, Ossington entrance)
6PM – 8:30PM: The Patient Built Wall Tour,
guided by Geoffrey Reaume.
The purpose of this tour is to remember the contributions of the men and women who lived, worked, and died in the Toronto Hospital for the Insane. This is represented by the nineteenth century patient built boundary walls, which stand as enduring testament to their abilities and a monument to their memory. We hold up this past symbol of exclusion to challenge discrimination that is experienced today by people who have a psychiatric history
Geoffrey Reaume, Psychiatric Survivor Archives Toronto.
8:30PM-9PM: Memorial
Attendees are invited to a post wall tour memorial which will pay tribute to those who went before us. Organizers ask guests to bring words that lend meaning to the moment. Candles will be lit.
Tuesday July 14th – Friday July 17th
METRO HALL, ROTUNDA
55 John Street (King and John Streets)
But, if the city workers strike continues throughout this week our venue will be changed to May Robinson Auditorium, 20 Westlodge, one block east of Lansdowne, one block north of Queen)
A gallery of original art, crafts, displays and information and much more, from 11am to 5pm each day.
Demonstrators include artists from Houselink Community Homes, Soundtimes Support Services, and the PARC Art Group
and others, along with the postings of individual artists Naomi Laufer, Sarah Griffin. Paul Draper and others and information from A-Way Couriers, IDPWD, Metro Tenants Association, Simply People, Social Phobias Support Group of Toronto, Street Health, Street to Trail and more!.
Tuesday July 14th
World Mad Pride Day
11AM – 12NOON: Opening Ceremony
Join the Mad Pride organizers for:
*The Reading of the Mad Pride Week Proclamation
*With MC Peggy Gail Dehal Ramson PCLS and special guests;
The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Ontario Human Rights Chief Commission Barbara Hall
MPP, Cheri Di Novo
Presentations from:
Voices from the Street, featuring Mike Creek, Theresa Schrader and Meghan Currie. VFTS is comprised of individuals who have had direct experience with homelessness, poverty, and/or mental health issues. The organization works to put a human face to homelessness and involves people with direct experience as leaders in a public education process.
Caroline Kwok, reading from her book Free to Fly; A Story of Manic Depression (inclusion Press, 2006) is a moving, hopeful story that works on two distinct levels.
First, it is the story of the author’s experience as a Chinese-born Canadian, dealing with multiple issues faced by new immagrants. More ripping though, is her harrowing account of her life with bipolar-despairing, coping and finally providing inspiration to others” BP Canada
Naomi Laufer, a published poet, artist and teacher who will read two of her poems
A song lead by Frank Hall. Heinz Klein and The Friendly Spike Theatre Band
12NOON – 1PM - LUNCH – light refreshments generously provided by Out Of This World Cafe
*RSVP
Special lunch time presentations which include Laughter Yoga with Salimah Kassim-Lakha, and more!
1PM – 2PM – Presentation; Hugging Our History: Why Psychiatric Survivors need to ‘own’ our Mad past.
By Geoffrey Reaume
2PM – 2PM – Presentation: Living Archive Project
By PARC Living Archive Collective
Presentation includes a documentary film and live presentation
Time spent on Q. and A.
Wednesday July 15th
Know Your Rights Day
11AM – 12 NOON Presentation: Dream Team –
The Dream Team is a group of consumer survivors who advocate for more safe, secure and affordable supportive housing for people living with mental health and addiction issues. They do this by telling their personal stories about the life-altering benefits of supportive housing, by tackling discrimination and stigma, and by working to eliminate barriers to the creation of more supportive housing through public education, research and advocacy.
Over the last year the Dream Team has worked with various groups and communities across Ontario to explore the issue of discriminatory zoning. In this presentation members of the Dream Team will illustrate the concept of discriminatory zoning and the impact on people with mental health and addiction issues.
12NOON – 12:15: Presentation: PARC Ambassadors Program
PARC Ambassadors program is a community consultation by the Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre with the Parkdale Community. The purpose and the goal of the program is to engage, inform and consult with residents and stakeholders in the community in relation to our building development Edmond Place. The program consists of 9 Ambassadors whom are PARC Members receiving remuneration for the work they do. It is peer and member driven, incorporating and building on the principles and values of the recovery model and PARC’s Mission –PARC – A Place Where People Rebuild Their Lives. When the Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre acquired the building from the City of Toronto to develop affordable, social housing for marginalized persons in our community there was extreme opposition to PARC by residents and stakeholders in Parkdale. Since the PARC Ambassadors Program inception in September 2007 we have progressed from a state of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) to one of YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard). The PARC Ambassadors Program has been successful with their community consultation and public relations in Parkdale. It has proven that marginalized people do have a commitment to their community, have all the necessary attributes and capabilities to be productive, contribute to their neighbourhood and society, and live a healthy, meaningful and fulfilling life.
PARC Ambassadors will discuss their work at this presentation
12:15 NOON – 1PM – Lunch –light refreshments generously provided by Raging Spoon
*RSVP: madpridetoronto@yahoo.ca
Special lunch time presentations featuring Laughter Yoga with Salimah Kassim-Lakha, and more!
1PM – 2PM – Presentation – Legal Jeopardy by Parkdale Community Legal Services (PCLS)
2PM -3 PM- – David Carmichael
QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS
When it comes to treating your own mental illnesses, we often assume that doctors and other mental heal professionals always know what’s
best. During this presentation, David will raise a few issues about scientific drug research and help you understand, based on his own experience recovering from major depression, how important it is for people suffering from mental illnesses to take responsibility for their own recovery and rehabilitation by asking their doctors and mental health workers questions, questions and more questions, and by becoming regularly physically active.
David holds a masters degree in physical education and is the former director of national projects at ParticipACTION. After experiencing his first major depression in 2003 at the age of 45 and a relapse in 2004, he tragically learned the importance of good mental health and does not assume that doctors always know what’s best.
(opportunity will be given for the audience to ask questions)
3PM – 4PM Street Nurse Beth Pelton
Beth Pelton is a registered nurse currently working with Street Health Community Nursing. Most of her nursing work has been in the community, and with people living with cancer. Her experiences have included working in medical and geriatric and psychiatric nursing. In practicing from a Harm Reduction philosophy she is learning deeper meanings about Client-Directed Care and Client-Centered Care.
Thursday July 16th
Madly Theatrical
11AM -12 NOON Presentation; Mind Storm, by Mortimer Christie
Mind Storm is a play about Michael, a person with mental health issues around schizophrenia. Michael spends a 24-hour period of time, each month, in a local park experiencing audio and visual hallucinations.
Featuring Henrik Kartna
12 NOON – 12:45 NOON – Presentation; films by Helen Posno
IMPEDIMENTA – which deals with the homelessness of mankind in the universe
MY SILENT LIVES – which deals with both the lightness and the darkness of the human spirit.
12:45 NOON – 1:30PM Lunch – Brown bag lunches generously provided by Houselink Community Kitchen
RSVP; madpridetoronto@yahoo.ca
Special lunch time presentations and workshops, featuring Laughter Yoga with Salimah Kassim-Lakha, and more!
1:30PM – 2:30PM – Play by The Friendly Spike Theatre Band
Moving To My Own Beat
A diverse group of students attend a lecture they won’t ever forget.
2:30PM – 2:45PM Presentation: Clay and Paper Theatre
2:45PM – 4PM: Open Stage
Friday July 17th
12Noon to 12:30 - Brown bag lunches generously provided by Honselink Community Kitchen
Special lunch time presentations featuring Laughter Yoga, with Salimah Kassim-Lakha, and more!
12:30 – 1PM A film: Art X-Press
Art Express is a community arts mural project that involved four Redirection Through Education students from George Brown College, in the design and painting of murals for TTC bus sides. Two murals were created in five hands-on workshops that were held at George Brown. The murals have since been mounted as original artworks on the exterior of two busses and as well, digitalized images of the murals are being featured on Toronto’s subway video monitors. Using the busses as “mobile billboards”, the artists as activists generated mural imagery as a means to challenge public assumptions and inform urban audiences of issues around their identities as psychiatric survivors. The film traces the arts’ creative processes.
1PM -2PM: Panel discussion, topic tba; with Erick Fabris, Onar Usar, Joel Zablosky and others.
2PM – 2:45PM: Essya Nabbali
“Mad Pride toward a democratic utopia”
Saturday July 18th
CAMH
(centre for addiction and mental health)
1001 Queen Street West, Toronto
The Third Annual Bed Push Parade Day
12NOON to 1PM - Mad Tea Party
Presented by the Empowerment Council and CAMH Peer Staff
1PM – 2:30PM Bed Push Pride Parade, Led by PARC Drummers
And featuring Crazy Talk: Share your rant, dance, emotion, expression, comment, in support of Mad Pride. This “speakers corner” style video will be shared on Youtube.com. Enacted by the Mad People’s Video Project
This unique pride procession of individuals, agencies and organizations. pushes a gurney dressed like a bed with sheets that shout words that reclaim what was once lost; ‘Hope’, ‘Education’, ‘Friends’ , and
more. The event is in celebration of ourselves and serves to strengthen our community.
*1PM – Gather at CAMH front Patio for Special guests, Mad Pride Honours, and Bobbi Nahwegahbow Memorial Awards will be presented to outstanding Artist/Activists DD Spideria and Heinz Klein
*1:30PM – Push off
*2:00PM – Rest station
*2:30PM – arrive at PARC
2:30PM -5:00PM– Party!, Hosted by PARC
@
Mad Pride Toronto 2009 Is Gearing Up!
Come and celebrate your Mad Pride!
The City of Toronto has proclaimed July 13 - 19th
MAD PRIDE WEEK.
Organizers are planning and arts and educational festival from July 14th to 17th at METRO HALL ROTUNDA
and
on July 18th, THE THIRD ANNUAL BED PUSH PARADE
See our attached flyer for details on how to get involved.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Please forward this information to anyone you think may be interested..
RuthRuth, on behalf of Mad Pride Organizing Committee.
The City of Toronto has proclaimed July 13 - 19th
MAD PRIDE WEEK.
Organizers are planning and arts and educational festival from July 14th to 17th at METRO HALL ROTUNDA
and
on July 18th, THE THIRD ANNUAL BED PUSH PARADE
See our attached flyer for details on how to get involved.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Please forward this information to anyone you think may be interested..
RuthRuth, on behalf of Mad Pride Organizing Committee.
Mad Pride Week - Toronto 2008 - Call for Submissions!
Mad Pride Week - Toronto 2008
Monday July 14th to Sunday July 20th.
Each day there will be great Mad Pride programming somewhere in the City.
Mad Pride Arts and Education
is from Tuesday July 15th to Thursday July 17th
out of May Robinson Auditorium at 20 Westlodge.
If you you or your group wishes to share at this event
please send in your submission.
We are looking for;
*films, *theatre, *performance art, *research presentations *panel discussions *and more!.
Vendors and demonstrators are welcome, but please register with us.
..
Mad Pride!
Ruth Ruth Stackhouse
friendlyspike@primus.ca
416 516 4740
Monday July 14th to Sunday July 20th.
Each day there will be great Mad Pride programming somewhere in the City.
Mad Pride Arts and Education
is from Tuesday July 15th to Thursday July 17th
out of May Robinson Auditorium at 20 Westlodge.
If you you or your group wishes to share at this event
please send in your submission.
We are looking for;
*films, *theatre, *performance art, *research presentations *panel discussions *and more!.
Vendors and demonstrators are welcome, but please register with us.
..
Mad Pride!
Ruth Ruth Stackhouse
friendlyspike@primus.ca
416 516 4740
July 14th - 20th, 2008 is Mad Pride Week in the City of Toronto!
The Mad Pride Organizing Committee is a group of psychiatric survivors/consumers and friends within the City of Toronto. We have gathered yearly over the past 15 years to organize and host pride and recognition activity for a diverse community of psychiatric and consumer survivors. Administration for this activity is managed by The Friendly Spike Theatre Band, with assistance from Parkdale Community Legal Services, Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre, and Soundtimes Support Services. This year, July 14th - 20th 2008 has been officially proclaimed Mad Pride Week in the City of Toronto. Mad Pride is also celebrating across the world in North America, Europe, and Africa on the same day linking mental health system users around the globe.
JULY 14th: PATIENT BUILT WALL TOUR AND MEMORIAL - 6PM - 8PM
On the grounds of CAMH - Center for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen Street West
JULY 15th - 17th: MAD PRIDE ARTS FESTIVAL (literature, theatre, film, arts, crafts, vending) - daily from 3PM - 9:30PM
At May Robinson Auditorium, 20 Westlodge (Lansdown/QueenW)
JULY 18th: MAD PRIDE POETRY JAM - 7PM - 9PM
At Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre, 1499 Queen Street West
JULY 19th: SECOND ANNUAL TORONTO MAD PRIDE BED PUSH PARADE - 1PM - 3PM
Gather at front patio of CAMH - Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen Street West, Parade to PARC at 1499 Queen Street West
JULY 19th: BED PUSH PARTY - 3PM - 8PM
At Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre, 1499 Queen Street West
JULY 20th: MAD PRIDE BRUNCH, SOUNDTIMES - 10AM -1PM
At Sound Times, 280 Parliament Street
For more information, please contact:
Ruth Ruth Stackhouse
friendlyspike@primus.ca
416-516-4740
JULY 14th: PATIENT BUILT WALL TOUR AND MEMORIAL - 6PM - 8PM
On the grounds of CAMH - Center for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen Street West
JULY 15th - 17th: MAD PRIDE ARTS FESTIVAL (literature, theatre, film, arts, crafts, vending) - daily from 3PM - 9:30PM
At May Robinson Auditorium, 20 Westlodge (Lansdown/QueenW)
JULY 18th: MAD PRIDE POETRY JAM - 7PM - 9PM
At Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre, 1499 Queen Street West
JULY 19th: SECOND ANNUAL TORONTO MAD PRIDE BED PUSH PARADE - 1PM - 3PM
Gather at front patio of CAMH - Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen Street West, Parade to PARC at 1499 Queen Street West
JULY 19th: BED PUSH PARTY - 3PM - 8PM
At Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre, 1499 Queen Street West
JULY 20th: MAD PRIDE BRUNCH, SOUNDTIMES - 10AM -1PM
At Sound Times, 280 Parliament Street
For more information, please contact:
Ruth Ruth Stackhouse
friendlyspike@primus.ca
416-516-4740
Mad Pride rises locally, soars globally
As Toronto Mad Pride organizers close the Mad Pride 2007 season with finale event Psychiatric Survivor Pride Weekend, Mad Pride Organizers in Belgium accelerate their efforts for a scheduled Mad Pride Parade to march the streets of Brussels on Saturday October 6th 2007.
Learn about Brussels Mad Pride @:
www.uilenspiegel.net
Learn about Toronto Mad Pride @:
www.madpridetoronto.blogspot.com
Toronto - Psychiatric Survivor Pride Weekend In Review
* On Friday September 28th 2007 at 5:30pm, Toronto Mad Pride Organizers opened the doors of Parkdale Library Auditorium, at 1303 Queen Street West, to welcome and educate the community within and throughout Psychiatric Survivor Pride Weekend.
* It is fitting Now, Who’s Crazy Now?, a one woman play, (on tour from Vancouver), by Elly Litvak which chronicles the author’s journey from mental illness to wellness and recovery, was the weekend’s first presentation because in 1985, Elly Litvak founded Puzzle Factory Theatre, Toronto’s first Psychiatric Survivor acting troupe. Puzzle Factory was a theatre, which recognized and nurtured the bud of creativity in survivors, many of whom were in the audience of this presentation! The play, Now, Who’s Crazy Now? is structured in the form of a lively monologue. Litvak’s performance skills, combined with personal experience, provide the right mix for this testimonial theatre piece.
* It is easy to understand why Elly Litvak insists that performances of Now, Who’s Crazy Now?, be followed by audience-performer discussion, as through out the presentation her work encourages people to talk, specifically to talk about the journey from illness to recovery and what that means to them.
* Now, Who’s Crazy Now? audience members, approximately 75 in attendance, left the auditorium, enriched and motivated by Elly Litvak’s creative example.
* On Saturday September 29th 2007 Mad Pride Organizers worked with individuals and groups transforming Parkdale Library Auditorium, into a ‘Mad Market’ of activity. Three of the auditorium’s walls boasted information, arts and crafts from PSAT (Psychiatric Survivor Archives Toronto), Greenspiration, Artist and Poet Helen Posno, A-Way Express, PAVE (Park dale Anti Violence Education), Edite Pine’s Evolving Stories Project, Soundtimes Art Group, T-Shirt Artist James Smith, Arts and Crafts by TK Workman. The fourth wall of the auditorium was dedicated to presentation. Audience chairs sat in the centre, creating a space where community was literally surrounded by the fabulous and strong grass roots of arts and activism, so - indeed, many thanks to the artists and educators who supported the event in this way.
* Talented singer-songwriter Tim Maxwell, topped the morning with a prelude of songs which included a lovely and moving rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Halleluiah.
* At 11am, Mad Pride Organizers opened the programming day with a cheer introducing internationally renowned folk singer Honey Novick, who graced the ceremony with her heavenly voice by sharing a prayer of peace and unity, Gord Perks, City Councillor for Parkdale High Park, energized us with his words which complimented our community building work and boosted our confidence by recognizing our achievements. The Friendly Spike of Activism, the annual award, which is actually a hand carved and engraved wooden railway spike which works a pen, created by Toronto artisan Ruth Arnold, and presented to someone who uses words to make a positive difference in the lives of Psychiatric Survivors, was presented by Archivist, Activist and Artist Mel Starkman to Carla McKague, Ontario’s first mental health lawyer, and founder of the contentious anti psychiatry magazine Phoenix Rising. Don Weitz, whom some refer to as the father of Canada’s anti psychiatry movement accepted the award, by reading an eloquent speech prepared by Carla McKague especially for this occasion. Indeed, we were as honoured by Carla McKague’s recognition as she was by ours. The awards ceremony was completed by a bit of self recognition as each Mad Pride organizer was presented with a framed certificate of appreciation for a job well done!.
* Next, Erick Fabris’ delivered an important lecture based on his research of CTO’s (Community Treatment Orders). Many individuals within the audience are at high risk of having CTO’s issued against them. Erick’s presentation provided vital education, in a down to earth and friendly fashion. By the end of his ‘talk’ about ‘CTO’S’ everyone was 'talking' about ‘CTO’s’, and continued the jag well into lunch.
* And what a lunch it was! -a delicious assortment of sandwiches, subs and wraps, cold vegetables w.dip, lots of fresh fruit and goodies galore all generously provided by The Raging Spoon, Voices from the Street and Houselink Community Kitchen.
* Mad Pride Organizers resumed their cheer at 1 o’clock by introducing Lulu Presents an original clown work created by Linda Carter and directed by well known theatre artist Mark Christmann. Definitely, the audience will treasure the memory of Linda Carter’s huge and generous talent demonstrated within her sure-to-be- a- hit play.
* Next was Ninety Minutes, an arts and education cabaret hosted by artists Naomi Laufer and Paul Cote who warmly welcomed presenters; Susanne, Christine, and Miriam from Soundtimes, Carol Allain from PAVE (Parkdale Anti Violence Education), Poet Helen Posno, Activist and Writer Angela Biscoff, Singer-Songwriter Tim Maxwell, and others!.
* Although, we were truly excited about presenting Crazy Diamond a short film by Lavarius, at 3pm, our anticipation was quelled by a technical glitch, which made it impossible to show the work. Fortunately, film maker Lavarius was in the audience and was able to invite everyone to a screening of his new work (one of which is of mutual interest), The Toronto Mad Pride Bed Push, debuting at the Gladstone Hotel, that evening as part of Nuit Blanche.
* Closing the Parkdale Library Auditorium presentation on this Psychiatric Survivor Pride Day of Days was a scene from The Edmond Yu Project. Briefly, The Edmond Yu Project is a tribute to the memory of Edmond Yu, a psychiatric survivor ruthlessly killed by Toronto police in 1997. The multi media play, written by some of Toronto’s leading human rights activists (Mel Starkman, Don Weitz and Ken Innes to name a few), is a sweeping condemnation of how society views and treats psychiatric survivors, the homeless and the impoverished. It also sheds light on another terrifying and escalating problem – that of police brutality directed at this vulnerable sector of society. In the case of Edmond Yu, the behavior of the police was abominable and inexcusable yet they were exonerated.
Within the text of The Edmond Yu Project the play achieves, at least some, justice, albeit poetic justice, as a theatre troupe of psychiatric survivors (inspired by Puzzle Factory Theatre!), liberates itself from the clutches of an oppressor, and pledges itself to give voice to their community and their cause. Indeed, The Edmond Yu Project served its true calling, a catalyst for justice, during this presentation.
* The day at Parkdale Library Auditorium was now over, however the event, most certainly was not.
* At 6pm we gathered on the front patio of CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) 1001 Queen Street West for the Patient Built Wall Tour, guided by Historian Geoffrey Reaume. The purpose of this tour is to remember the contributions of the men and women who lived, worked, and died in the Toronto Hospital for the Insane. This is represented by the boundary walls they built which stand as enduring testament to their abilities and a monument to their endurance. We hold up this past symbol to challenge discrimination that is experienced today by people who have a psychiatric history.
Geoffrey Reaume is a caring, eloquent, kind and respectful guide and guardian of this symbol of our collective past. It is here, at the wall, where we are reminded of our strength and our dignity, reminded of why we celebrate our individual and our collective pride, that our day’s journey is done.
Epilogue
On Sunday September 30th, people paid their respects at the burial grounds of 1151 former patients of Lakeshore Psychiatric Hosptiatl during the LACP (Lakeshore Asylum Cemetery Project) Fall Commemoration event at the cemetery at Evans and Horner Avenue in South Etobicoke.
MAD PRIDE!
Learn about Brussels Mad Pride @:
www.uilenspiegel.net
Learn about Toronto Mad Pride @:
www.madpridetoronto.blogspot.com
Toronto - Psychiatric Survivor Pride Weekend In Review
* On Friday September 28th 2007 at 5:30pm, Toronto Mad Pride Organizers opened the doors of Parkdale Library Auditorium, at 1303 Queen Street West, to welcome and educate the community within and throughout Psychiatric Survivor Pride Weekend.
* It is fitting Now, Who’s Crazy Now?, a one woman play, (on tour from Vancouver), by Elly Litvak which chronicles the author’s journey from mental illness to wellness and recovery, was the weekend’s first presentation because in 1985, Elly Litvak founded Puzzle Factory Theatre, Toronto’s first Psychiatric Survivor acting troupe. Puzzle Factory was a theatre, which recognized and nurtured the bud of creativity in survivors, many of whom were in the audience of this presentation! The play, Now, Who’s Crazy Now? is structured in the form of a lively monologue. Litvak’s performance skills, combined with personal experience, provide the right mix for this testimonial theatre piece.
* It is easy to understand why Elly Litvak insists that performances of Now, Who’s Crazy Now?, be followed by audience-performer discussion, as through out the presentation her work encourages people to talk, specifically to talk about the journey from illness to recovery and what that means to them.
* Now, Who’s Crazy Now? audience members, approximately 75 in attendance, left the auditorium, enriched and motivated by Elly Litvak’s creative example.
* On Saturday September 29th 2007 Mad Pride Organizers worked with individuals and groups transforming Parkdale Library Auditorium, into a ‘Mad Market’ of activity. Three of the auditorium’s walls boasted information, arts and crafts from PSAT (Psychiatric Survivor Archives Toronto), Greenspiration, Artist and Poet Helen Posno, A-Way Express, PAVE (Park dale Anti Violence Education), Edite Pine’s Evolving Stories Project, Soundtimes Art Group, T-Shirt Artist James Smith, Arts and Crafts by TK Workman. The fourth wall of the auditorium was dedicated to presentation. Audience chairs sat in the centre, creating a space where community was literally surrounded by the fabulous and strong grass roots of arts and activism, so - indeed, many thanks to the artists and educators who supported the event in this way.
* Talented singer-songwriter Tim Maxwell, topped the morning with a prelude of songs which included a lovely and moving rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Halleluiah.
* At 11am, Mad Pride Organizers opened the programming day with a cheer introducing internationally renowned folk singer Honey Novick, who graced the ceremony with her heavenly voice by sharing a prayer of peace and unity, Gord Perks, City Councillor for Parkdale High Park, energized us with his words which complimented our community building work and boosted our confidence by recognizing our achievements. The Friendly Spike of Activism, the annual award, which is actually a hand carved and engraved wooden railway spike which works a pen, created by Toronto artisan Ruth Arnold, and presented to someone who uses words to make a positive difference in the lives of Psychiatric Survivors, was presented by Archivist, Activist and Artist Mel Starkman to Carla McKague, Ontario’s first mental health lawyer, and founder of the contentious anti psychiatry magazine Phoenix Rising. Don Weitz, whom some refer to as the father of Canada’s anti psychiatry movement accepted the award, by reading an eloquent speech prepared by Carla McKague especially for this occasion. Indeed, we were as honoured by Carla McKague’s recognition as she was by ours. The awards ceremony was completed by a bit of self recognition as each Mad Pride organizer was presented with a framed certificate of appreciation for a job well done!.
* Next, Erick Fabris’ delivered an important lecture based on his research of CTO’s (Community Treatment Orders). Many individuals within the audience are at high risk of having CTO’s issued against them. Erick’s presentation provided vital education, in a down to earth and friendly fashion. By the end of his ‘talk’ about ‘CTO’S’ everyone was 'talking' about ‘CTO’s’, and continued the jag well into lunch.
* And what a lunch it was! -a delicious assortment of sandwiches, subs and wraps, cold vegetables w.dip, lots of fresh fruit and goodies galore all generously provided by The Raging Spoon, Voices from the Street and Houselink Community Kitchen.
* Mad Pride Organizers resumed their cheer at 1 o’clock by introducing Lulu Presents an original clown work created by Linda Carter and directed by well known theatre artist Mark Christmann. Definitely, the audience will treasure the memory of Linda Carter’s huge and generous talent demonstrated within her sure-to-be- a- hit play.
* Next was Ninety Minutes, an arts and education cabaret hosted by artists Naomi Laufer and Paul Cote who warmly welcomed presenters; Susanne, Christine, and Miriam from Soundtimes, Carol Allain from PAVE (Parkdale Anti Violence Education), Poet Helen Posno, Activist and Writer Angela Biscoff, Singer-Songwriter Tim Maxwell, and others!.
* Although, we were truly excited about presenting Crazy Diamond a short film by Lavarius, at 3pm, our anticipation was quelled by a technical glitch, which made it impossible to show the work. Fortunately, film maker Lavarius was in the audience and was able to invite everyone to a screening of his new work (one of which is of mutual interest), The Toronto Mad Pride Bed Push, debuting at the Gladstone Hotel, that evening as part of Nuit Blanche.
* Closing the Parkdale Library Auditorium presentation on this Psychiatric Survivor Pride Day of Days was a scene from The Edmond Yu Project. Briefly, The Edmond Yu Project is a tribute to the memory of Edmond Yu, a psychiatric survivor ruthlessly killed by Toronto police in 1997. The multi media play, written by some of Toronto’s leading human rights activists (Mel Starkman, Don Weitz and Ken Innes to name a few), is a sweeping condemnation of how society views and treats psychiatric survivors, the homeless and the impoverished. It also sheds light on another terrifying and escalating problem – that of police brutality directed at this vulnerable sector of society. In the case of Edmond Yu, the behavior of the police was abominable and inexcusable yet they were exonerated.
Within the text of The Edmond Yu Project the play achieves, at least some, justice, albeit poetic justice, as a theatre troupe of psychiatric survivors (inspired by Puzzle Factory Theatre!), liberates itself from the clutches of an oppressor, and pledges itself to give voice to their community and their cause. Indeed, The Edmond Yu Project served its true calling, a catalyst for justice, during this presentation.
* The day at Parkdale Library Auditorium was now over, however the event, most certainly was not.
* At 6pm we gathered on the front patio of CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) 1001 Queen Street West for the Patient Built Wall Tour, guided by Historian Geoffrey Reaume. The purpose of this tour is to remember the contributions of the men and women who lived, worked, and died in the Toronto Hospital for the Insane. This is represented by the boundary walls they built which stand as enduring testament to their abilities and a monument to their endurance. We hold up this past symbol to challenge discrimination that is experienced today by people who have a psychiatric history.
Geoffrey Reaume is a caring, eloquent, kind and respectful guide and guardian of this symbol of our collective past. It is here, at the wall, where we are reminded of our strength and our dignity, reminded of why we celebrate our individual and our collective pride, that our day’s journey is done.
Epilogue
On Sunday September 30th, people paid their respects at the burial grounds of 1151 former patients of Lakeshore Psychiatric Hosptiatl during the LACP (Lakeshore Asylum Cemetery Project) Fall Commemoration event at the cemetery at Evans and Horner Avenue in South Etobicoke.
MAD PRIDE!
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