The prolific Songs & Music of Woody Guthrie are interpreted by Winnipeg’s leading lights in the folk music community as they celebrate the 100th birthday of “America’s tuning fork”. Presented by the MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts, on May 17 at the West End Cultural Centre join the Magnificent Sevens, Sweet Alibi, JD Edwards, Leonard Podolak, Tim Osmond, Lindsay Jane, and Hugo Torres Cereceda in honouring the work of Woody Guthrie which continues to lead and inspire others to change the world through song.

Woody Guthrie documented the struggles of working class people and his body of work, which contains more than 3000 songs, is unparalleled. This year, Guthrie becomes the first artist to receive the Songwriters Hall of Fame Pioneer Award which honours the career of a historic musician that has influenced generations of songwriters. The concert on May 17 at the West End Cultural Centre (WECC) will feature his best known songs and most memorable stories and recitations performed by Winnipeg’s own working class heroes; musicians who share Guthrie’s passion for truth, fairness, and justice for all.

The centennial celebration presents a performance by acoustic five-piece The Magnificent Sevens who fuse punk rock roots with bluegrass instruments. Familiar with the nomadic lifestyle of Woody Guthrie, their strong work ethic keeps them on the road touring Canada and beyond. The band released their second album, All Kinds of Mean, in December of 2011. Sharing the stage is roots trio Sweet Alibi who return home from their west coast tour to celebrate Guthrie by weaving their sweet harmonies over ukulele, banjo, and guitar.

Also on the bill are well known singer-songwriter JD Edwards and multi-instrumentalist Leonard Podolak. JD has been captivating crowds with the JD Edwards Band while fans are most familiar with Leonard’s alt-Celtic roots band, The Duhks. In addition to their solo projects and collaborations, Edwards and Podolak have been touring internationally with Nathan Rogers as a trio, Dry Bones. They can be seen this summer at the Winnipeg and Edmonton folk festivals, as well as Summerfolk in Owen Sound, Ontario.

The birthday bash includes sets by Lindsay Jane, a solo acoustic act who has been on regular rotation on SIRIUS/XM the Coffee House music channel since 2009, and Hugo Torres Cereceda brings a world-beat and Latin influence to the evening with pan flute and classical guitar. Winnipeg’s most sought after bluegrass banjo player, and founding member of Home Routes, Tim Osmond will also strum tunes in honour of Guthrie.

The concert is held at the West End Cultural Centre, a popular venue known for bringing in local and larger touring acts, while serving the community through programming music lessons, workshops, and family friendly events. The venue also relies on the hard work of volunteers who help with various duties at each event. The WECC was recently awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver Certification for their efforts in building an environmentally sustainable venue.

The 2012 MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts is a multi-disciplinary festival that focuses on the relationship between working class issues and their artistic expression in song, poetry, photography, dance, drama or art. The festival runs from April 27 – June 2 at venues throughout the city.

Join some of Winnipeg’s finest folk musicians in celebrating the Songs & Music of Woody Guthrie for his 100th birthday at the West End Cultural Centre on May 17 at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $20, available at West End Cultural Centre, Organic Planet, and Mondragon. Full festival details available at mayworks.org.

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Media Contact: Nat Felicitas | 998-4748 | mayworksmedia@gmail.com

“Men, women and children solemnly walked from the Union Centre to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to honour workers who have been injured or killed on the job.

Marie Gravoso, 17, from the Maples Collegiate Amnesty International club, was asked to speak about this year’s SAFE Workers of Tomorrow Leaders’ Walk theme — the connection between human rights and worker safety.

“There are many people who are dying and being injured because they don’t know they have the right to ask questions,” said Gravoso.

The walk is the largest Day of Mourning event in Manitoba. About 300 people, including 170 students, took part this year. They did so to remind us not only of those who’ve died or been injured on the job, but also of the work that still needs to be done.

People need to realize injuries are not inevitable, the walkers stated.”

By: Kelly Graham, Winnipeg Free Press, April 27, 2012

April 24, 2012

Winnipeg – The MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts launches this Friday, April 27 with a youth-led march, hosted by SAFE Workers of Tomorrow , in honour of the National Day of Mourning. The march departs at 12:00 PM from the Manitoba Federation of Labour Union Centre at 275 Broadway.

Celebrated nationally on April 28, the day serves to remember workers killed or injured on the job and aims to publicly renew the commitment to making workplaces safer for everyone. On April 28, the Manitoba Federation of Labour will host a candlelight vigil, also in conjunction with the festival and the National Day of Mourning, at 6:00 PM in Room 2C, Union Centre at 275 Broadway.

In 2010, workplace deaths in Canada were reported at 1014*, an increase from 939 the previous year. This represents more than 2.78 deaths every day. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the Nova Scotia Westray Mine Disaster, which claimed the lives of 26 workers and prompted an amendment to the Criminal Code of Canada. On March 31, 2004, the legislation of the Westray bill passed and established new legal duties for workplace health and safety.

SAFE Workers of Tomorrow organizes their efforts to bring public awareness, education, and training in workplace safety and health. The Manitoba Federation of Labour is the province’s central labour body and represents the interests of CLC affiliated unions in Manitoba.
The 2012 theme for MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts is “Change the World”. The multi-disciplinary festival focuses on the relationship between working class issues and their artistic expression in song, poetry, photography, dance, drama or art. Join us in changing the world and celebrating the struggle for worker rights from April 27 to June 2 at venues throughout the city!

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Media Contact: Nat Felicitas | 998-4748 | mayworksmedia@gmail.com

*Fatalities accepted in 2010 according to “Number of Fatalities, by Jurisdiction 1993-2010″ summary table, statistics from the Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada.

MAYWORKS FESTIVAL OF LABOUR AND THE ARTS
WANTS YOU TO “CHANGE THE WORLD”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 18, 2012

WINNIPEG: Amidst announcements of new federal and provincial budgets, job cuts, and increasing costs of living, the MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts joins festivals across the country to honour working class culture through song, dance, film, and stories. The 2012 festival theme, “Change the World”, invites the community to be the change they want to see by participating in a medley of events, taking place from April 27- June 2. Unionized and non-unionized workers, co-ops, and artists will gather in solidarity to honour the struggles for the rights and freedoms of working people.

MayWorks “Change the World” presents local artists from all disciplines that not only interpret and preserve the history of social movements, but lead and inspire social change. Events are presented by host organizations at venues throughout the city, launching on April 27 with a youth-led march hosted by SAFE Workers of Tomorrow. The march honours the National Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job. The annual May Day March on May 1, organized by the Winnipeg Labour Council in recognition of International Working Class Day, comes as the drive for austerity takes its toll on social programs, workers livelihoods, and pensions. Also on May 1, co-operatively owned Mondragon Bookstore and Coffeehouse hosts a live videofeed talk with activist Noam Chomsky. Woody Guthrie’s 100th Birthday Party is the festival highlight on May 17. Presented by MayWorks and the West End Cultural Centre, the songs and stories by the working class hero will be performed by Winnipeg’s brilliant folk music artists The Magnificent Sevens, Sweet Alibi, Nathan Rogers, JD Edwards and Leonard Podolak.

Change the world with MayWorks at various cultural events including plays by Bruce Sarbit, Dale Lakevold, a tour led by Danny Schur highlighting events from the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, poetry readings, a May Day Banquet, documentary film screenings, and the Festival of Mandolins at the Ukrainian Labour Temple. These events and more comprise an exciting festival showcase of working class culture in Winnipeg.

MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts is a multi-disciplinary festival that focuses on working class themes. It is held in Winnipeg every year to honour and promote the many positive contributions of unions and working people. Full festival details at www.mayworks.org.

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Media Contact:
Nat Felicitas | 998-4748 | mayworksmedia@gmail.com

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Date: April 27th, 11:45 am
Title: National Day of Mourning- SAFE Workers of Tomorrow Annual Leaders’ Walk
Location: Depart from Union Centre entrance, 275 Broadway
FREE event

Host Organization: SAFE Workers

A youth-led march to honour the National Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job. This year’s march will head to the site of the Museum for Human Rights at the Forks.

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Date: April 28th, 10:00 am
Title: National Day of Mourning- MFL Candlelight Service
Location: Room 2C, Union Centre, 275 Broadway
FREE event

Host Organization: Manitoba Federation of Labour

A candlelight service to remember those who have lost their lives earning a living, and those who have become disabled from work.

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Date: April 29th, 2:00 pm
Title: TO LIFE! A celebration of Ukrainian and Jewish songs and dances
Location: Ukrainian Labour Temple, Pritchard and McGregor
$15 Tickets can be purchased at 595 Pritchard (call first 589-4397)

Host Organization: Association of United Ukrainian Canadians

This concert is a celebration of common heritage of two groups who immigrated from the ‘Old Country’ (Eastern Europe) to the ‘New World’ (Canada). It features the Festival Ukrainian Folk Choir, the North End Jewish Folk Choir, Prystuk Dancers and others.

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Date: May 1st. Meet at 5:30, March at 6:00pm
Title: May Day March
Location: Assemble at City Hall
FREE event

Host Organization: Winnipeg Labour Council (942-0522)

The annual May Day March is organized by the Winnipeg Labour Council in recognition of International Working Class Day. This year’s march comes as the drive for austerity takes its toll on social programs, workers livelihoods and pensions. Come and be part of May Day. Join together to say: “We Are Entitled to Prosperity Not Austerity”.

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Date: May 1st, 2:00 pm
Title: An afternoon with Noam
Location: A-Zone Co-op, 91 Albert Street

Host Organizations: Mondragon Bookstore & Coffeehouse, Rudolf Rocker Cultural Centre & CKUW 95.9 FM

Get your May Day started right, with Legendary activist, professor, writer & all round outstanding citizen or the world Noam Chomsky. Via the interweb & video Noam will inspire Winnipeg activists with this May Day lecture.

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Date: Wednesday, May 2nd, 7:00pm
Title: Six Poets in Search of a New Literary Movement
Location: McNally Robinson Booksellers (in the atrium), 1120 Grant Avenue
FREE event
A unique event combining theatre and poetry: new and selected work from the New Festival Theory group of poets of Ron Romanowski’s Big Book of Canadian Poetry as performed by the author with Nurit Drory, John H. Baillie, Cheryl Kives, Liliana Romanowski and Stan Rossowski

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Date: May 4th, Cocktails at 6:00pm, Dinner at 7:00 pm
Title: Mayday Banquet
Location: The Fort Garry Hotel
$30 To reserve tickets call Ken at 479-8089

Dinner and a political/cultural programme and dance. Cash Bar.

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Date: May 12th, 8:00 pm
Title: Festival of Mandolins
Location: Ukrainian Labour Temple, Pritchard and McGregor
$15 call 589-4397

Host Organization: Association of United Ukrainian Canadians

The Winnipeg Mandolin Orchestra of the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians celebrated its 90th Anniversary in 2011. Manitoba’s oldest orchestra, predating the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, performs at the Ukrainian Labour Temple under the direction of Annis Kozub. The ensemble will present “Festival of Mandolins” an evening of music set in the historic Ukrainian Labour Temple.

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Date: May 13th, 2:00 pm
Title: Spring Concert
Location: Ukrainian Labour Temple, Pritchard and McGregor
$15 call 589-4397

Host Organization: Association of United Ukrainian Canadians

The AUUC’s spring concert features the Festival Choir, Winnipeg Mandolin
Orchestra, the AUUC School of Folk Dance and the Yunist Dancers in their
final concert of the year.

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Date: May 17th, 8:00 pm
Title: Woody Guthrie’s 100th Birthday Party
Location: West End Cultural Centre

Host Organization: MayWorks

The songs and stories of America’s tuning fork Woodrow Wilson Guthrie as presented by leading and less know lights of Winnipeg’s brilliant folk music community including The Magnificent Sevens, Sweet Alibi, Dry Bones (ft.Nathan Rogers, JD Edwards and Leonard Podolak). Woody Guthrie documented the struggles of working class people and his body of work is unparalleled. The concert will feature his best known and most lyrically and musically beautiful songs and some of his best stories and recitations.

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Date: May 20th, 8:00-11:00pm
Title: Winnipeg Worker Co-op Video Series Premiere
Location: Park Theatre, 698 Osborne Street
$10 tickets available at Mondragon, Organic Planet and cvwc@rocketmail.com

Host Organization: Co-op Ventures Worker Co-op
Financial support provided by Assiniboine Credit Union

The Winnipeg Worker Co-op Video Series features seven co-ops, their members and their reasons for choosing this model to explore and promote workplace democracy.

What are the joys and challenges of being a worker/owner? How were they let down by traditional workplace structures? How can this alternative business ownership model change the world? Videos include Organic Planet, Natural Cycle Courier, Mondragon, ANAK, Ram Wools, Urban Eatin’ and Enviro-Safe Cleaning.The evening will also feature performances by longtime folksinger Bobby Stahr and other local musicians.

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Date: May 25th, 5:30 pm doors, 6:00 pm dinner
Title: Victoria Park Fundraiser Cabaret
Location: Ukrainian Labour Temple, Pritchard and McGregor
$35/person or $20/student. Table prices available by request.
Contact Sandra Gessler (770-9298), or Glenn Michalchuk (479-7026)
Mondragon (91 Albert) or the Social Planning Council at 207 Donald

Host Organization: Friends of Victoria Park

This 1900 style cabaret reminiscent of the Winnipeg General Strike era will feature a buffet supper and entertainment by magician Joe Kaufert and The Lindsay White Band. The evening will also feature an update on the progress to create a heritage site. Student projects from the Faculty of Architecture exploring what a heritage site might look like will also be on display. This exciting event is part of building a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Strike in 2019. Proceeds go to establishing a heritage site to commemorate the Strike, its importance, the early laborers and the park where they rallied.

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Date: Fri & Sat May 25,26 (9pm) , May 27 (2pm, 7pm), May 31 (9pm) (97 min)
Title: PINK RIBBONS INC.
Location: Cinematheque, Artspace Building

Host Organization: Cinematheque

Breast cancer has become the poster child of cause-related marketing campaigns. Countless people walk, run and shop for the cure. Each year, millions of dollars are raised in the name of breast cancer, but where does this money go and what does it actually achieve? Directed by Léa Pool and produced by Ravida Din, Pink Ribbons, Inc. is a feature documentary that shows how the devastating reality of breast cancer, which marketing experts have labeled a “dream cause,” has become obfuscated by a shiny, pink story of success.

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Date: May 26th, 12:00-4:00 pm
Title: Mayworks Picnic for inner city youth
Location: Freight House Park
FREE event

Host Organization: Winnipeg Labour Council (942-0522 or wpglbr@mts.net)

Come join the Winnipeg Labour Council celebrate May at Freight House Park for a free picnic. All children who attend will be given a draw ticket for a chance to win a new bike.

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Date: Sat May 26th, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM & 4 PM
Title: “MIKE’S BLOODY SATURDAY” General Strike Documentary Film
Location: Cinematheque, 100 Arthur Street
FREE EVENT

Hosted by: Danny Schur

Join award-winning playwright Danny Schur (the musical Srike@) for the screening of his documentary film “Mike’s Bloody Saturday” a film about the Winnipeg General Strike at Cinematheque.

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Date: Sun, May 27th, 12 PM & 3 PM
Title: “MIKE’S BLOODY SATURDAY” Walking Tour
Location: City Hall Courtyard, 510 Main StreetFREE EVENT. Registration is mandatory by calling 227-1167

Hosted by: Danny Schur

Join award-winning playwright Danny Schur (the musical Strike!) as he leads you on a walking tour that examines the contradictory evidence surrounding the death of Ukrainian immigrant Mike Sokolowski on Bloody Saturday during the Winnipeg General Strike.

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Date: May 30th & May 31st 8:00 pm, June 2nd 1:00pm.
Title: All or Nothing a play by Bruce Sarbit
Location: Rudolf Rocker Cultural Centre. 91 Albert Street.
$12 at the door or in advance (204) 867-3908,

Host Organization: Root Sky Productions

Description: All or Nothing dramatizes the last days of Spanish philosopher, novelist, and poet Miguel de Unamuno during the period of his house arrest in Salamanca in 1936 under the fascist Franco regime. A Winnipeg Fringe Festival hit in 20ll. Remounted with Harry Nelken as Unamuno.

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Date: June 1st & 2nd 8:00pm. June 2nd 3:00pm.
Title: Aleta Dey: A Rehearsal a play by Dale Lakevold
Location: Rudolf Rocker Cultural Centre. 91 Albert Street.
$12 at the door or in advance (204) 867-3908, lakevold@hotmail.com

Host Organization: Root Sky Productions

The moving story of a fiercely independent young woman standing up for what she believes in: women’s rights and an end to war. Adapted from the 1919 autobiographical novel Aleta Dey by Manitoba writer and activist Francis Marion Beynon. Featuring Tracy Penner.