We turned 20, and we’re throwing a birthday party.
A hand holding up two candles shaped like the number 20.
Somehow, Firefly just turned 20.
I feel like the parent of a toddler who suddenly grabbed the car keys from the kitchen counter and pulled out of the parking spot with a perfect 3-point turn.
How did we get here?
Of course I could go on and on about what an honour + joy + challenge + honeymoon + journey this has all been. But mostly, I want to invite you to a party.
We’re throwing ourselves a birthday party!
It will take the form of an Open Mic Night with the theme “Community Care” at St. Matthew's Clubhouse — a barrier-free space right on the edge of Riverdale Park in Toronto.
Come read your work to the nicest people in Toronto.
Or come to clap and encourage others.
Or come to get a real-life feel of what this community is all about.
Or come simply to be in a room decorated with streamers. Yes, we’re planning to go all out. There may be cake and loot bags too, we’re still happily brainstorming. If you want to bring something to make it even more special, don’t hold back.
Our dream is to create a warm and inspiring place for Fireflies, friends, and anyone who is curious about our community to show up with open hearts, and celebrate all the things that words (and community) can do.
Quick specs:
Wednesday, April 9th. Doors at 7pm, event at 7:30pm, done by 9:30pm.
This event is free, with thanks to our friends at East End Arts for donating the space.
Masks are warmly welcomed, but not mandatory.
You don’t need to buy tickets, but come in good time. We can fit around 60 people.
If you want to read or perform…
Just show up in good time and register at the door. We’ll have 10 spots, first come first served. The max length for each performer is 4 minutes, including preamble. Songs are welcome too!
All pieces should be on the theme of community care — the power of friendship, the kindness of strangers, different definitions of family… Interpret this however you like, and show us something about what community means to you.
If you can’t come, but still want to be part of it…
We’ll miss you, but we know we can’t all fit in one room, and that many of you live far away.
So, throughout the event, we’ll be sharing wishes for the next 20 years of Firefly and memories from the last 20. Use this form to submit a message.
We’ll also be setting up a clothesline of memories and wishes, so we may transcribe what you share to hang it up!
Low-cost one-off workshop tonight about creative community.
If you’re interested in how writing can be a way to access community and hold space for loneliness, we’d love to see you tonight for Writing Our Way Back to Each Other.
It’s sliding scale, starting at $10, but if that’s out of range for you, let us know. Half proceeds go to rebuilding Black Box, an Inuit-run arts and cultural centre that burned down last month.
Morning workshops on Zoom — start the day with writing.
Begin Here — get started after a long break, or come back to beginner’s mind with us. Monday mornings with Mari.
The Life Stories Workshop — a chance to explore and express some of your life’s stories. Thursday mornings with Britt.
Lift Off — poetry doesn’t have to be scary or hard. Let’s play. Tuesday mornings with Mari.
Brief Bursts: The Fiction Edition — write very short, very unexpected things. Tuesday mornings with Britt.
Closing down the day — evening online workshops on Zoom.
Keep Your Pen Moving — a place to get your hand dancing across the page. Wednesday evenings with Asifa.
Hearts on Paper — surrender to the swoon and explore the world of romance writing. Monday evenings with Kim.
Deeper Waters — let’s go deep. Twelve sessions to move something magnificently forward. Tuesday evenings with Asifa.
Weekend creative break — Saturday and Sunday creative power-ups, on Zoom and in person.
Focus and Flow — slow your brain down, step out of distractions and write. Saturday afternoons with Mari.
City Sanctuary — let’s gather. A weekend of writing (in person!) in the heart of Toronto. Co-led by Asifa and Kim.
Real tables are the sweetest — in-person workshops this spring.
The Life Stories Workshop — a chance to explore and express some of your beautiful life’s stories. In-person in Toronto, Thursday evenings with Asifa.
Begin Here is a meeting place for writers who want to start but need a little nudge. In-person in Toronto, Wednesday evenings with Kim.
City Sanctuary is a weekend of writing in the heart of Toronto, co-led by Asifa and Kim.
And, of course, a poem.
A poem about continuation, about perseverance, and also about spring, which has to be around the next corner…. doesn’t it?
On the weekend, my friend Melissa gave me a writing assignment.
She told me to write a list of 20 gifts Firefly has given me in the last 20 years. I loved this, and could easily have numbered up to 100 or 1000.
You, reading this, is one of those gifts. Thank you for being here, and making this real.
Here’s to celebrating milestones.
