FESTIVAL PROGRAM A C . W S F C Discover CFSW 2019 The theme 'Discovery' speaks to 'The Story Within Us.'. Through programming selections, the festival invites patrons and artists alike to explore their lives and personal stories with a fresh perspective, shedding light on intricacies, uniqueness, and seemingly undiscovered elements. The theme Discovery will also engage with 'the curious' by presenting a wide range of spoken word forms.

CFSW is most known for the highly stylistic spoken word poetry that is common in poetry slam competitions. This edition will highlight spoken word in its various expressions including, but not limited to, storytelling, comedy, theatre and lyric. The Land We're Gathered On Guelph is located on the ancestral lands of the Attawandaron people and the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and Dish With One Spoon territory. We acknowledge our neighbours, the Haudenosaunee and the Indigenous peoples of many different nations that live in Guelph.

As we embark, celebrate and enjoy the art form of spoken word at CFSW we invite you to hear the festival in the context of colonialism, with consideration for the stories that are absent and the need for reconciliation with Indigenous nations and people.

Thank You To Our Funders!

Accessibility Legend For detailed venue accessibility information, please visit cfsw.ca/about/accessibility. For general information and a breakdown by event, please refer to the accessibility legend below. 1.Barrier-free entry 2.Barrier-free stage access 3.Physically accessible bathroom 4.Gender neutral bathrooms 5.All ages 6.Dry/sober event Sunday, October 13 CFSW Meet & Greet 6:30pm @ Sip Club Join poets, artists, organizers and volunteers to celebrate the start of the 16th annual Canadian Festival of Spoken Word! A: 1/3/4/5 By donation Last Chance Slam 8pm @ Sip Club Not on a competing slam team this year? This is your LAST CHANCE to join a team for the 2019 National Poetry Slam Tournament at CFSW! Top four slam poets make the Wild Card Team and compete in the official competition. A: 1/3/4/5 By donation

Monday, October 14 Competing Poet Orientation 1pm @ 10C Come get all the details for the official competition rules, grab your swag bags, and hear other important information about your participation in the official slam competition. For competing poets only. A: 1/2/3/4/5/6 Opening Ceremonies and Community Feast 5pm @ 10C Featuring Rene Meshake Join us as we officially open the festival, share a community meal, and launch into a week of new experiences and discovery! A: 1/2/3/4/5 By donation Preliminary Bout 1 8pm @ 10C Tonight It's Poetry, St. Catharine's Poetry Slam, London Poetry Slam, UBCDEFG Four teams from across Canada compete in a four-round slam competition to vie for one of eight spots on semi-finals stage, and eventually, national championship! A: 1/2/3/4/5 $10/PWYC Pints and Poetry Social & BINGO 10pm (Venue TBD) Social event to catch-up, make new poet pals, and enjoy a pint of the festival brew Paradox or fresh kombucha while starting this festival out right! Test your luck with Poetry Slam BINGO. Gather in the excitement of the festival. A: TBD By donation About The Organizers

Guelph Spoken Word was founded in 2008. A not-for-profit arts organization, GSW's goal is to create intergenerational, diverse community spaces that foster spoken word artists and provide quality arts experiences for audience. Tuesday, October 15 Poetry as Knowledge Translation 1pm @ 10C Workshop with Inali Barger This workshop will focus on writing poetry with the goal of translating emotions and events across many contexts and experiences. We will discuss writing as it relates to accessible language and individual experience, self- and world- awareness, and the role of research in writing. A: 1/2/3/4/5/6 $20 Fuck Perfect, Co-Presented with Guelph Arts Council 1pm @ 10C Workshop with Art Not Shame (Michelle Peek) “Fuck Perfect” begins with the premise that perfectionism is a barrier to artistic expression and community building. We'll work together to co-create a brave space for us to immerse ourselves in a creative process across mediums, scaffolding creative risk without the constraints of perfection/product. A: 1/2/3/4/5/6 $20 Existence as Resistence: BIPOC Open Mic & Feature 3:30pm @ 10C Featuring Maysam Ghani, hosted by Jennifer Alicia An open mic for folks who self-identify as Black, Indigenous and people of colour, and a feature set. Allies are welcome to attend as audience. This event will focus on existence as resistance, using storytelling to re-tell and re-story our identities. A: 1/2/3/4/5 $10/PWYC Preliminary Bouts How exciting! In each bout, four of eighteen teams from across the country compete in a four-round slam competition. The top eight ranked teams will advance to semi-finals on their way to the national slam team championship. Bout 2: 7pm @ eBar Winnipeg Poetry Slam, Indigenous Poets Society, Slamapalooza, VicSlam A: 4/5 $10/PWYC Bout 3: 7pm @ 10C LiPS, Montreal Rogue, Peterborough Poetry Slam, Wild Card Team A: 1/2/3/4/5 $10/PWYC Bout 4: 9pm @ eBar Roots Lounge, London Poetry Slam, VanSlam, Toronto Poetry Slam A: 4/5 $10/PWYC Bout 5: 9pm @ 10C Urban Legends, Guelph Poetry Slam, Breath in Poetry, Tonight It's Poetry A: 1/2/3/4/5 $10/PWYC Bedtime Stories: Poerotica, Burlesque & Open Mic 11pm @ Sip Club Featuring Victoria Grant, Lillith Lemons, Myna Wallin When the lights go down, the curtain goes up on this steamy variety show! Come experience Bedtime Stories with erotic poetry, quirky burlesque & so much more! Bring your own (or others') steamy favourites to share on the open mic. A: 1/3/4 $10/PWYC Wednesday, October 16 The Future Is Now: Youth Showcase & Open Mic 1pm @ 10C Featuring Robyn Kaur Sidhu & Special Guests Youth have always had their pen on the pulse of the world, writing the meaningful and provocative. Their voices inspire the present to make way for a more hopeful tomorrow. Youth under 25 are invited to share their poetic thoughts on the open mic and everyone is encouraged to listen to their stories. A: 1/2/3/4/5/6 $10/PWYC Exploring the Past 3:30pm @ 10C Featuring Billie the Kid, Wes Ryan, yes the poet Join feature artsists on a journey of discovering self-discovery through the lens of the past. This showcase will explore themes of family history, childhood dreams, learning and unlearning ourselves, and finding a place through an exploration of the past while redefining it on our own terms. A: 1/2/3/4/5 $10/PWC Preliminary Bouts How exciting! In each bout, four of eighteen teams from across the country compete in a four-round slam competition. The top eight ranked teams will advance to semi-finals on their way to the national slam team championship. Bout 6: 7pm @ eBar UBCDEFG, Peterborough Poetry Slam, Guelph Poetry Slam, Winnipeg Poetry Slam A: 4/5 $10/PWYC Bout 7: 7pm @ 10C Toronto Poetry Slam, Slamapalooza, St. Catharine's Poetry Slam, LiPS A: 1/2/3/4/5 $10/PWYC Bout 8: 9pm @ eBar VicSlam, VanSlam, Montreal Rogue, Urban Legends Poetry Slam A: 4/5 $10/PWYC Bout 9: 9pm @ 10C Wild Card Team, Breath in Poetry, Indigenous Poets Society, Roots Lounge A: 1/2/3/4/5 $10/PWYC

Hump Day Party Co-presented with Guelph Pride 11pm @ Sip Club Featuring Athena McQueen, DJ M'Damn D, Sofia Fly It’s baaaaack. Get over this Hump Day with karaoke hosted by local drag queen Athena McQueen and DJ sets to keep you boppin’ all through the night. A: 1/3/4 $10/PWYC

Thank You To Our Partner, Guelph Pride! SpoCan AGM 10am @ 10C SpoCan Talk Back 11am @ 10C

Discovery: A The Art of Poetry as The Future is Now: Ensemble Competing Poet Mystery Nonsense to Knowledge Fuck Perfect Youth Showcase Play Orientation Event Indigenous Instigating Heal Trauma Translation 1pm @ 10C & Open Mic 1pm @ 10C 1pm @ 10C 1pm @ 10C 1pm @ 10C The 1pm @ 10C Storytelling, Resilience 1pm @ 10C Anitafrika Protocols & Through Method Spoken Verbatim 2pm @ 10C Word Dance Existence as Resistance: 2pm @ GLT 2pm @ GLT BIPOC Open Mic & Exploring the Past The Weird & The Feature 3:30pm @ 10C Supporting Indigenous Wonderful Discovering Literature 3:30pm @ 10C Spaces Panel 4pm @ GLT Book Launch 4pm @ 10C 4pm @ 10C Opening Ceremonies & Community Feast CFSW Meet & Greet 5pm @ 10C 6:30pm @ Sip Club Prelim Prelim Prelim Prelim Semi-Finals Bout 1 Bout 2 Bout 3 Bout 6 Bout 377pm Words Worth Repeating: 7pm @ Guelph Little 7pm @ eBar 7pm @ 10C 7pm @ eBar @ 10C Poet of Honour Showcase Theatre Poetry Slam Finals Last Chance Slam & d'bi.young Book Launch 7pm @ River Run Prelim Bout 1 7pm @ River Run 8pm @ Sip Club 8pm @ 10C Prelim Prelim Prelim Prelim Semi-Finals Bout 2 Bout 4 Bout 5 Bout 8 Bout 9 9pm @ Guelph Little 9pm @ eBar 9pm @ 10C 9pm @ eBar 9pm @ 10C Theatre

Pints & Poetry After Party with Social & BINGO Bedtime Stories: Hump Day Party Stage a Coup The Soul Motivators 10pm (venue TBD) Poerotica, Burlesque & Co-Presented with Double Feature 10pm @ Red Papaya Open Mic Guelph Pride 11pm @ Guelph Little 11pm @ Sip Club 11pm @ Sip Club Theatre

Slam Tournament

Showcase

Workshop

Social

SpoCan Event Thursday, October 17 SpoCan Talk Back Session Discover. A MYSTERY EVENT! 11am @ 10C 1pm @ 10C An opportunity to talk with SpoCan The process of discovery usually takes us Board Members about the festival and to places we are not expecting to go. Join proposed bylaw amendments. us as we practice the art of embracing what the unexpected has to offer with a mystery event! Meet at 10C, a starting The Anitafrika Method point or is a destination? 2pm @ 10C Workshop with d'bi.young anitafrika Devised by d’bi.young anitafrika, the method emerges from Jamaica’s socio- political Dub culture (music, poetry and theatre) and is informed by decolonial queer Black feminisms, intersectionality, pan-Africanisms and Black diaspora spiritualities. A: 1/2/3/4/5/6 $20 Supporting Indigenous Spaces Panel 4pm @ 10C Panelists: Kevin Wesaquate, Hope Engel, Jennifer Alicia, Zoey Roy Do you know how to start or support the creation of spaces that are allied with Indigenous folks? In this panel we will hear from the Indigenous artists and organizers on how to start and support the creation of safe spaces. A: 1/2/3/4/5/6 $10/PWYC Words Worth Repeating: Poet of Honour Showcase & Book Launch 7pm @ River Run Centre (Co-operators Hall) d’bi.young anitafrika, Mahlikah Awe:ri, Patrick de Belen Awarded for significant contributions to spoken word artistry and organizing, this year's two poets of honour will be joined by globally renowned dub poet, performance artist and scholar d’bi.young in her dubbin poetry book release. A: 1/2/3/4/5 $15 Thank You To Our Sponsors! Friday, October 18 Indigenous Storytelling and Protocols & Spoken Word 2pm @ Guelph Little Theatre Workshop with Kevin Wesaquate This workshop engages participants to discover identity through the use of storytelling and protocols in Indigenous storytelling concepts. The main ingredient is the oral tradition and once a participant starts to discover their own processes into writing, they empower themselves and build a sense of pride and ownership. A: 1/2/3/4/5 $20 Instigating Resilience Through Poetry & Verbatim Dance 2pm @ Guelph Little Theatre Workshop with Wes Ryan Poems brought by the participants will act as “interviews” which participants will translate into movement. Emphasizing consent and collaboration, the workshop uses simple exercises to develop complex and engaging performances and invites attendees to examine creative possibilities beyond the page or microphone. A: 1/2/3/4/5 $20 The Weird and the Wonderful 4pm @ Guelph Little Theatre Featuring RC Weslowski, Queerwax Improv Troupe The beautiful wilds of RC Weslowski and friends take us on a journey into the gut rumbling laughter rooted in awkward embarrassing love. Or something completely different. A: 1/2/3/4/5 $10/PWC Semi Finals Bouts 1 & 2 7 & 9pm @ Guelph Little Theatre The top eight ranked teams compete over two bouts for one of only four slots in the national slam team championship. Follow along on social media to find out which teams made the cut. A: 1/2/3/4/5 $15, or $20 for semi-finals + Science Fiction Double Feature Stage a Coup Double Feature 11pm @ Guelph Little Theatre Featuring Charlie Petch, Janice Jo Lee Nerd out with theatre pals Charlie Petch and Janice Jo Lee as we enjoy excerpts from their one-person shows Mel Melarkey Gets the Bum's Rush (Petch) and Will You Be My Friend (Lee). A: 1/2/3/4/5 $15, or $20 for semi-finals + Science Fiction Double Feature

Thank You To Our Partners! Saturday, October 19 SpoCan AGM 10am @ 10C Join us for the AGM where Spoken Word Canada (SpoCan) national arts collective will provide updates and new business will be voted on by member series representatives. A: 1/2/3/4/5/6

The Art of Nonsense: Discovering New Language to Heal Trauma 1pm @ 10C Workshop with RC Weslowski Using "nonsense" language, rhyme, humour and sound poetry, participants will explore how to express their own unspoken stories and hold safe space for others'. We will discover new ways to voice lived experience using absurdity and play to communicate honestly, accurately and with an authentic and powerful voice. A: 1/2/3/4/5/6 $20

Ensemble Play 1pm @ 10C Workshop with Janice Jo Lee Let’s return to the joy of words, remove the goal of a perfect performance, and collaborate to play with art. Through ensemble-building and improvisation, we will come out with a performance piece unlike anything you’ve done before. You will leave with new tools to create, and an increased confidence in collaboration. A: 1/2/3/4/5/6 $20

Discovering Literature Book Launch 4pm @ 10C Featuring Lisa Baird, Kay Kassirer, Mugabi Byenka Celebrate the talent among us. Hear readings from and grab your own copies of Winter's Cold Girls by local writer and performer Lisa Baird, A Whore’s Manifesto by youth organizer and advocate Kay Kassirer and Dear Philomena by recently named Uganada’s best-selling author, Mugabi Byenka, A: 1/2/3/4/5/6 $10/PWYC

Poetry Slam Finals 7pm @ River Run Centre (Main Stage) Ready to crown national champions!? The top four ranked teams in the entire country compete in finals for the 2019 CFSW slam team championship. Follow along on social media to see who made it. Join us as we also present this year’s Poet of Honour awards. A: 1/2/3/4/5 $25 adults, $15 students

Let Yourself Be Motivated! After Party with The Soul Motivators 10pm @ Red Papaya Featuring The Soul Motivators, DJ M'Damn D The Soul Motivators are here to restore your faith in funk. A fresh take on a classic sound, they blend 1970’s funk and soul, psychedelic jams and hip-hop breaks. This nine-piece Toronto powerhouse brings explosive energy to stage. Enjoy the show while having all of those last opportunity chats and connections. A: 1/2/3/4/5 $15 advance, $20 door ($10 off for pass holders) Poets of Honour Each year, two spoken word artists are presented with the Poet of Honour award, for significant contributions to: creating and performing original works that are excellent and innovative; and organizing, mobilizing and developing the spoken word art form and community. Meet our recipients:

Mahlikah Awe:ri Mahlikah Awe:ri, Enml'ga't Saqama'sgw (The Woman Who Stands and Walks In The Light), Haudenosaunee Kanien’kehà & L'sitkuk Mi’kmaw is an award winning, nationally recognized Cultural Arts Leader, Eco-Influencer, Community Engaged Arts Education Practitioner, Slam Poet, Musician and Performance Artist.

Awe:ri’s Contemporary Story Weaving through Art For Social Change with Red Slam Collective, Prologue to the Performing Arts, TDSBCREATES and Louder Than A Bomb Toronto, inspires emerging artists and leaders to reimagine what it means to be “In- Relation”, to the Land and interconnected to all things.

Patrick de Belen From arts educator, to event host, to youth mentor, to award-winning poet/writer, to most recently, directing, Patrick de Belen is a storyteller of many kinds. He strongly believes through these stories he can save the world and himself - and secure the bag - all at the same time.

Along with his own personal projects, PDB has collaborated with many notable organizations - using storytelling to build and serve his community. Find some of these works on his website: PatrickdeBelen.com / follow him on instagram at @patrick_debelen

This festival is presented by Guelph Spoken Word, in partnership with Spoken Word Canada (SpoCan) PARADOX 6% Muskmelon & Blueberry Harvest IPA.

The official beer of CFSW 2019. Available at selected venues and at Wellington Brewery.

CFSW. CA for more details.

Please drink responsibly.