Classic Film, Music, Comedy, Ted Talks – We’ve got it all at The Westdale!
Susan Aglukark
Nunavut’s first ever Juno Award winning Inuk singer/songwriter, Susan calls herself the accidental artist. Susan grew up in Arviat, Nunavut and with “no musical orthodoxy” to draw from, Susan’s early years were spent learning as she was headlining. Susan’s early writing (The Arctic Rose-1992) was a series of songs drawn from the thing she had left, a life of uncertainty. The past 25 years and the following 7 albums has seen Susan set on a path of personal discoveries, cultural reconnections and personal healing, a very different path than the one she imagined when she left her home. In her singing/songwriting career, Susan is most proud about reaching a place in her life where she knows she is right where she belongs, singing/songwriting and falling in love with creating. Susan has garnered 3 Juno awards, received The Order of Canada in 2005 and most recently was awarded the Governor Generals Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award (June-2016).
Amanda Rheaume
Amanda Rheaume delivers her unique and soulful blend of folk-country-pop twinged tracks to audiences around the world. She has opened for artists such as Emmylou Harris, K’Naan, Lucinda Williams, and Ani Difranco. Amanda’s increasing success stems from her soulful ability to translate personal stories into messages, evoke a feeling of positivity, communicate the strength of those before her, and connect with her listeners. In 2014, the Canadian Folk Music Awards named her Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year.
The HPO Brass Ensemble
Over the past year, the HPO Brass Quintet, composed of core musicians of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, has performed for various festivals and school audiences throughout the Hamilton region. Most recently they performed with local beatboxer Hachey the MouthPEACE in a show that the Hamilton Spectator referred to as “curiously sublime.”
The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1884 as The Hamilton Orchestral Society and grew to become one of Canada’s major professional orchestras. Today, the HPO is a leader in Hamilton’s robust arts community where it provides professional orchestral services and music education programs to address the needs of the community.
Ballroom Dance that Breaks Gender Roles
Copp and Jeff Fox met as colleagues during their shared tenure with Fred Astaire’s Canada and remained friends after Copp retired from teaching. They would dance at social occasions where they developed their “playing fair” method of sharing the lead, which caught the eye of a local dramaturge, Lisa O’Connell. Thus began the theatrical collaboration which led to the creation of a full-length Ballroom Dance/Theatre production, “First Dance,” about the development of the first dance for a same-sex wedding. Through building the show they formalized their “Liquid Lead” concept and continue to tour the piece at regional professional theaters, festivals and even as part of an international dance festival in Tirana, Albania. Join us for a TED Talk-style presentation.
Comedy Hour
Manolis Zontanos is a Canadian standup comedian from Hamilton, Ontario and has appeared on The Comedy Network, Just For Laughs, MTV Canada & more. He has toured the world working with the likes of Russell Peters, Ari Shaffir and Rick Shapiro to name a few. His unique brand of humour allows audiences into the mind of a simple, yet at the same time very complex man that leaves people feeling as though they made a new best friend. He is not one to miss!
Anjelica Scannura has finally been taking stand-up comedy seriously for the past 2 years! She has performed at the Burbank Comedy Club Festival where she was featured in the Best of the Fest showcase. This year she completed a residency at the Broadway Comedy Club in New York City. She performs regularly at The Corner Comedy Club, The Underground Comedy Club, Absolute Comedy, and various shows at Comedy Bar and has just come off a cross-Canada tour. She is winner of the I Heart Jokes award for Best Female Newcomer and is in pre-production for fitness/comedy TV show called Anjelica’s 22-minute workout on One TV.
Patrick Coppolino is a standup comedian from Hamilton, Ontario. Patrick has a no holds barred approach to storytelling, featuring anecdotes from his life as a single parent, to mishaps while traveling as a standup comedian, as well as embarrassing moments from his early years as a young man. Patrick has toured with the likes of Tom Green and Ari Shaffir and has been seen on the CBC, MTV, SiriusXM and more.
REEL EATS – “CHOCOLATE FROM BEAN TO BAR, UNCOVERING THE MAGIC OF CHOCOLATE”
The year was 2003 and the idea of creating a small, funky chocolate factory was born in the minds of David Castellan and Cynthia Leung. The concept: finding new ways to create and enjoy chocolate.
On making their first batches of chocolate, it was immediately apparent they had stumbled upon something magical and their future would be tied to it. In cacao beans, nature has made the perfect “Soma”, a mystical substance mentioned in the Rig Veda and later by Aldous Huxley in the novel Brave New World. It was time to start exploring this new frontier. Cynthia and David will take us on an exploration from bean to bar. You will be invited to sample the different flavours from a selection of their delicious chocolates.
SIX MINUTE MEMOIR, “The Best Of” Hosted by ANNE BOKMA
The Six Minute Memoir is a delightful themed storytelling event Hosted by Anne Bokma with performances by local community members where storytellers spin their stories in 6 minutes or less.
Anne traces her writing career back to age 11 when her parents presented her with a portable Olivetti manual typewriter for her birthday. She’s been pounding at a keyboard ever since.
A full-time freelance writer, Anne has been a journalist for more than 25 years and has written for most of Canada’s major magazines and newspapers. Her work has been recognized with awards from both the American and Canadian Church Press, the Canadian Business Press, the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors, The Canadian Association of Journalists and the North American Travel Journalists, the North American Travel Journalists Association and the Hamilton Independent Media Awards (Best Arts & Culture Journalist).
Sina Bathaie in Concert
Sina Bathaie, Composer, Santur player is known for his unique style and approach toward Persian contemporary music. His hypnotic performances have garnered him fans from across the globe. Born in Iran, Sina started learning Santur at the age 7 from his father, Master Javad Bathaie. He then followed his passion in music by practicing Persian classical repertoire (Radif) with the instrument Oud and explored the concept of rhythm by learning Tonbak (Persian Percussion).
Sina entered the world music scenes soon after moving to Canada and was featured at Luminato festival, In/Future, Small World Music Festival, Mundial Montreal, CBC radio Metro Morning and in festivals such as Open Mind, Quiet Strings, South Asia Calling, Agha Khan Museum and etc…. Sina also developed his own style of music through years of experimental collaboration and attending artist residencies such as the Banff Centre for Performing Art and achieved a unique sound in world fusion music which has received many positive reviews.
His first album “Sound of Silence” was recorded and produced in Montreal and has been acclaimed by music critics. Sina has been also active in the movie industry and composed original music for the movies such as “The Horse Latitudes” and “Un Royaume Déménage”.
TRILLIUM FOUNDATION PRESENTATION & ANNOUNCEMENT
All are welcome to attend this special presentation on behalf of the Westdale Theatre.
The Wizard of Oz
Film Screening | Rated: G | Run Time: 101 Min. | Free Admission
Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh My! An absolute masterpiece whose groundbreaking visuals and deft storytelling are still every bit as resonant, The Wizard of Oz is a must-see film for young and old. L. Frank Baum’s classic tale comes to magisterial Technicolor life! The Wizard of Oz stars legendary Judy Garland as Dorothy, an innocent farm girl whisked out of her mundane earthbound existence into a land of pure imagination. Dorothy’s journey in Oz will take her through emerald forests, yellow brick roads, and creepy castles, all with the help of some unusual but earnest song-happy friends.
