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THE DAWN FUND

PRESS RELEASE - March 23, 2023
Writer/Director/Actor Shelley Thompson is delighted to announce the creation of a new fund, to support trans youth, at Phoenix Youth Programs.

 

The DAWN Fund will be launched on March 31, 2023, the International Trans Day of Visibility, with a series of screenings of Thompson’s feature film DAWN, HER DAD & THE TRACTOR, winner of the 2022 Nova Scotia Masterworks Prize.

 

DAWN, HER DAD & THE TRACTOR tells the story of a young trans woman returning home after the death of her mother to make peace with her estranged father.  As Dawn and her dad begin to restore the old family tractor, they cautiously rebuild their relationship and come to understand the mechanics of the heart.  The story evolved from Thompson’s experience of living in a rural Nova Scotia setting and being a parent to a young trans man - singer-songwriter T. Thomason.

 

On March 31, 2023, funds raised at a number of screenings in schools, universities, churches and public libraries will bolster the fund. Thompson’s hope is to see every March 31st helping to build and continue the fund with educational screenings like those listed below.

 

This fund could not have been imagined without the help of the team at Phoenix Youth Programs, and the support of DAWN’s producer, Terry Greenlaw.

 

You can make a donation to the DAWN fund

 

 

OR  COME TO A SCREENING AT ANY OF THE VENUES BELOW

MARCH 30TH   
   

WOLFVILLE, NS:  HORTON HIGH SCHOOL, VARIOUS AVRE HIGH SCHOOLS                                                              PUBLIC:   AL WHITTLE THEATRE, MAIN STREET, WOLFVILLE @ 7 PM

MARCH 31ST

HALIFAX, NS:       HALIFAX CENTRAL LIBRARY, 6 PM, PAUL O'REGAN HALL
                                DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY,  Auditorium 1, McCain Arts & Social Sciences                                            Building. 
ANTIGONISH:     St. FX UNIVERSITY, Schwartz Auditorium,   6:30 PM

TORONTO, ON:  THE NATIONAL CLUB, ON BAY STREET, 6.30 PM

WINNIPEG, MB:   The UWSA HIVE (1st Floor of Lockhart Hall, University of Winnipeg,                                                         515 Portage Avenue). 6. 30. PM

WINNIPEG MB:   THE TALLEST POPPY, 103 Sherbrook St, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2B5 

LEDUC, AB:          ST. DAVID'S UNITED CHURCH, 4614 48 St, Leduc, AB T9E 5X7.   7. PM

CALGARY, AB:    88 Brewing Co. (Upstairs taproom) @ 8 PM - 60 seats only, space is limited.

ROAR
 

Reading Tour  Ontario,
January/February 2024

 

Looking forward to time in Ontario, starting at the
Ontario Library Association Super-Conference from the 24-27th of January.

Events and special guests.

Jan 26th    OLA - Ideas Hub. 
12.30 PM  AMPLIFYING A MARGINALIZED VOICE 
1 PM           Signing Roar at the NImbus Booth - #531/533 

Jan 30th    BOOKSHELF Bookstore, GUELPH/ON)
5 PM            Reading from her debut novel, Shelley will also be in conversation                               with Aimee Copping











Feb 1st          QUEEN BOOKS 914 Queen Street E, TORONTO/ON          
6 - 8 PM.        Reading and in conversation with Ronnie Ali 

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Aimee Copping is a dual OGS laureate, and a performer recording as Transstar on the independent Park Music. She's a music educator for at-risk children and leads SongLine, a songwriting mentorship program for trans youth. She's collaborated with  Girls’ Rock Camp GuelphPros and Cons and Silence Sounds while holding board and committee seats with ARCH Guelph and the Upper Grand District School Board.  In 2021, Aimee Copping wrote and produced Synths Always, a four-part audio documentary on the history of electronic music.

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Ronnie (she/her) is a Registered Psychotherapist, Diversity and Wellness Consultant in the arts and entertainment production, a Trauma-Informed Practice Specialist with Challenge Accepted and part of a team of Clinical Supervisors at the Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy. Ronnie's work focuses on ending cycles of violence by addressing the roots of oppression and discrimination through research, psychoeducation, social programming, mindfulness training, and consultation services. Ronnie identifies as a trans woman of colour and an immigrant settler on Turtle Island. 

       
Feb 4th         GLAD DAY Bookstore, TORONTO/ON   499 Church Street
6 - 7.30 PM  Reading and in conversation with Ronnie Ali 

Feb 6th          OCTOPUS BOOKS,  116 Third Avenue at Bank St.   OTTAWA/ON
7 -  8  PM       Reading and in conversation w TBC

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