IMPACT 25 Conference: Day Passes

Event Details

Event type: All Ages

IMPACT 25 Conference:
Moving Beyond Allyship
 
September 25th – 27th, 2025
 
What does it mean to move “beyond allyship”? How do we challenge our approaches to art-making, collaboration, and creating space? This year’s conference discussions will explore collaboration and accessibility as it relates to artists, audiences, and the wider community. 
 
Conference Schedule
 
All sessions will be held in the Blair Hall at the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts.
 
Thursday, September 25th | in partnership with O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp
 
Both of today’s sessions will be facilitated by Pam Patel – Artistic Director / MT Space.
 
 
10:00 – 12:00 | Session 1: In Conversation with Land Back
 
Land Back movements across Turtle Island, and globally, are complicated by layers of politics both in relationship to government and within activist groups. The IMPACT 25 Conference opens in conversation with the founders of O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp as we unpack the barriers to accessing space – both physically and otherwise – within the context of Waterloo Region.
 
Panelists:           Amy Smoke & Bangishimo – Founders / O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp
 
 
2:00 – 4:00 | Session 2: Towards Braiding
 
The conversation continues from the morning as we further unpack relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups, delving into partnerships with venues, municipalities, and other arts organizations. Inspired by the publication, Towards Braiding by Elwood Jimmy and Vanessa Andreotti, this session asks until what point do we “educate”, and at what point is it necessary to walk away?
 
Panelists:           Amy Smoke & Bangishimo – Founders / O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp | Cynthia Lickers-Sage – Executive Director / Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance | Clayton Windatt - Curator, Multi-Arts Performer, Filmmaker | Lisa Cooke Ravensbergen – Creator / The Seventh Fire
 
 
Friday, September 26th | in partnership with SOUND OFF Festival and Phoenix The Fire
 
Both of today’s sessions will be facilitated by Chris Dodd – Artistic Director / SOUND OFF Festival & Gaitrie Persaud – Executive Director / Phoenix the Fire.
 
 
 
10:00 – 12:00 | Session 3: Accessibility for the Stage
 
Join professional Deaf artists Chris Dodd (SOUND OFF) and Gaitrie Persaud (Phoenix the Fire) for a discussion on the practical integration between hearing and Deaf theatre artists and organizations. Rooted within our cultural practices and our lived experiences, we will discuss accessibility for the stage from both the perspective of the audience and that of the performer, along with practical tips.
 
 
2:00 – 4:00 | Session 4: Best Practices, Bad Practices
 
Join Chris Dodd (SOUND OFF) as he leads a panel discussion with Deaf artists and community members as they delve deeper into the conversation surrounding access, equity, fairness and integration. In parallel with the conversations from Day 1, we ask ourselves – and each other – when do best practices become bad practices?
 
Panelists:         Anselmo DeSousa - Actor, ASL (American Sign Language) Master/Coach/Consultant, Filmmaker | Sage Lovell – Artist, Writer, Educator, Entrepreneur | Gaitrie Persaud – Executive Director / Phoenix the Fire | Jaideep Goray – Theatre Artist & Advocate |Natasha (Courage) Bacchus – Multi-Disciplinary Artist & Deaf Consultant
 
 
 
Saturday, September 27th | A Time for Reflection
 
 
10:00 – 12:00 | Session 5: Sharing Circles
 
After two days of candid and vulnerable conversations, pointing to our own inherent biases and the flaws within the structures that surround us, we open space to share our emotions, thoughts and ideas in small group sharing circles that will be facilitated by active listeners from MT Space – hoping to simultaneously model what holding space for ourselves and each other can mean.
 
Active Listeners:     Pam Patel – Artistic Director / MT Space | Hiyam Mahrat – General Manager / MT Space | Bó Bárdos – Company Manager / MT Space | Fitsum Areguy – Board Member / MT Space | Gaya Bin Noon – Close Supporter & Ally / MT Space
 
 
2:00 – 4:00 | Session 6: Concluding Plenary
 
Following the morning’s small group sharing circles, we invite you into a concluding discussion with O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp, SOUND OFF Festival and Phoenix The Fire as we open up space to be vulnerable, share our reflections, and envision how to move beyond allyship together. 
 
Panelists:           Amy Smoke & Bangishimo – Founders / O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp | Chris Dodd – Artistic Director / SOUND OFF Festival | Gaitrie Persaud – Executive Director / Phoenix the Fire | Pam Patel – Artistic Director / MT Space

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