OG-500 Poetry Slam

The OG-500 is Ottawa's largest annual spoken word event, bringing poetry lovers and urban storytellers across the nation's capital to explore the spoken word and exchange in a live show of wit, verbal acrobatics and theatre. 10 poets will be competing in a three round poetry slam where the winner receives $500 cash, and the audience will get to respond and vote live.

Tune into this virtual event hosted by House of PainT Hip Hop and the Urban Arts Festival tomorrow, on Thursday, August 19 from 8:00-10:30 p.m. 

Dirty Trivia Fundraiser

Come join the fun on Saturday, August 21 from 7-9 p.m. and take part in the virtual dirty trivia fundraiser for the Venus Envy Access Fund, focused on supporting sexual and reproductive justice in communities across Ottawa.

The Fund provides small grants or loans to individuals, with the aim of reducing cost as a barrier to bodily self-determination, sexual and reproductive health, and consensual sexual pleasure.

De-escalation 101 & Managing Conflicts For Actions

Tune into this online pay-what-you-can conflict de-escalation workshop on Tuesday, August 24 at 6 p.m. for a discussion on the questions and scenarios activists need to consider before planning rallies no matter what degree of escalation the action takes. 

This workshop will cover the basics of de-escalation tactics with tips on how to defuse rising tensions. It will also explore some of the ways in which allies can still work to create safer actions for BIPOC, unsheltered folks, and others typically singled out for harassment by police and fascists.

Vote Housing Campaign to End Homelessness

The pandemic has exposed and exacerbated deep inequities in so-called Canada -- especially for historically marginalized communities. We know homelessness and housing need in this country were created by public policy. Heading into an upcoming federal election, with the power of our voice, our time, and our vote, we will change those policies and invest in safe, affordable housing. Visit the campaign website to learn more about their platform and pledge to VOTE HOUSING. 

For Non-Indigenous folks:

In Kamloops, B.C. the remains of 215 Indigenous children, some as young as three years old, were found at the site of a former residential school -- at a school designed to systematically tear them away from their heritage, communities and way of life. Now, this number has risen to 1600+ children as more unmarked graves have been found at former residential schools since.

This is not a "dark chapter of our history". The effects of residential schools inform severe personal and intergenerational trauma still felt by many of our Indigenous community members to this day, while Canada continues to separate Indigenous children from their families under the guise of the foster and child welfare system.

Please read this non-exhaustive list of resources and actions you can take, this list of books and films according to age group, and continue to donate to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

Got something to say? Contribute to the Leveller!

The Leveller is a left-leaning newspaper covering Carleton University, University of Ottawa, the city of Ottawa, and the wider world. They work to provide news and analysis in support of people everywhere who are fighting against all forms of oppression – among them, racism, sexism, homophobia, and capitalism. They are a volunteer project that pays in small honorariums.

Millhaven Lifers' Liaison Group: Call for Volunteers

The Millhaven Lifers Liaison Group (MLLG) works to be a bridge between the community and prisoners serving life sentences at the Millhaven maximum security institution in Bath, Ontario, while supporting their eventual release and re-integration.

The MLLG has moved their collective efforts online through prison justice activism, developing information pamphlets, research, weekly correspondence to the incarcerated community, and planning prisoners justice day activities. Meetings take place once a month.

Interested in volunteering? Email mllgottawa@gmail.com for more information.

Books 2 Prisoners: Moving Online

Books 2 Prisoners Ottawa sends free books to prisoners across Canada and the US, and responds to letters from prisoners. As an abolitionist group, they believe that education and human contact are important supports to the educational, vocational and personal development of those incarcerated.

Due to current conditions our meeting space has moved online. 
If interested in getting involved email us at b2pottawa@gmail.com