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ARCHIVES - IN PROGRESS
TO VIEW SOME OF THE EVENTS LISTED HERE, CHECK OUR
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ANECDOTAL HISTORY
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Submitted by
Stephen Aberle
One of the first times we
sang "Song Of Unity" was at an event at Blood
Alley several years ago. There were a
number of folks in the audience who looked
like they might be of Chinese heritage, and
when we started to sing this song many broke
out in big smiles. One couple, near the front
and centre of the audience, looked
particularly enthusiastic. When we finished
the set, the gentleman came over to
congratulate us, in fairly strongly accented
English. "Did you understand the words?" I
asked. "No!" he replied. "But it sounded very
convincing!"
(We sang the song more recently at another
gathering -- in Burnaby? I forget exactly --
where there were a number of Chinese folks,
and this time the vote of confidence was a
little more ... confident. One of the
gentlemen attending knew the song well,
praised our singing, and eagerly hoped to buy
a recording. When he learned that we didn't
yet have the song on a CD, he encouraged us to
record it as soon as possible. "After all,
China has a billion people! That's a market
you want to tap into. Everyone will want to
buy it!")
2012
2011
December
5
Teachers'
Rally at Premier Christy Clark's
constituency office.
18
Rally
for Mexican and Guatemalan Migrant
Workers
and protesting blacklisting.
These
migrant agriculture workers work for
up to 15 hours a day, 7 days a
week, making a huge contribution to
Canada’s economy. They pay taxes,
Employment Insurance, and
the Canadian Pension Plan.
However, when workers face
sickness, workplace injuries or
abuse from employers, the Mexican
or the Guatemalan Consulates
rarely defend them. The
Mexican Consulate in Vancouver
tells the agriculture workers that if
they complain they will lose
their jobs. In fact, many workers
have been blacklisted just
because they sought help, got sick,
or asked questions about their
rights. This is why the United
Food and Commercial Workers
(UFCW) and the Agriculture
Workers Alliance (AWA) sued the
Mexican Consulate at the
Labour Board on May 9 of 2011.
19
Christmas Meal at Oppenheimer Park
November
Support
for LOCKED OUT LONG TERM CARE
WORKERS on PICKET LINES
at several care centres in the Lower
Mainland.
"The
lockout of USW 2009 members at Compass
care homes around the lower mainland
ended in December 2011 with the
ratification of a new collective
agreement. The agreement was
ratified by 73%."
Thanks were expressed by
the USW to everyone who participated
in solidarity pickets with USW
2009".
20
ZIPPER SONG WORKSHOP
Bob
Stark
30 'Beyond
Coal'
Protest against the
shipping of coal from BC and its
contribution to global warming.
"I want to
thank you and the other members of
Solidarity Notes for coming out on
Wednesday to Pattison HQ for the
unveiling. You added a real spark
to the event.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35698624@N07/sets/72157628230034789/with/6435020009/
October
6 COMMEMORATION
OF 10 YEARS OF WAR AGAINST
THE PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN
Stop War - Vancouver Coalition for
Justice & Peace
"Thanks
to those who came out this evening to
mark the 10th anniversary of the war
on Afghanistan. Special thanks to
Solidarity Notes Labour Choir for
their inspiring singing!"
Various
dates throughout October
SINGING IN SUPPORT OF OCCUPY VANCOUVER
15
LIVING
COURAGE: A DIALOGUE WITH OUR SISTERS
Kairos and the Canada Philippines
Solidarity for Human Rights
" On
behalf of Kairos and the
Canada-Philippines Solidarity for
Human Rights (CPSHR), my renewed
"thank you" for sharing your time,
energy and your gift of music at the
Women of Courage gathering on
Saturday, October 15th.
WCT
organizers very much appreciate the
way you embrace and support social
justice issues through your songs.
Your participation and solidarity very
much helped make it so."
30
Rally
to Protest Visit by George Bush
31
CUPE National Convention
September
17 Annual
Women's Housing March
"Thank
you so much for your participation in
the Women's Housing March yesterday. I
know it was a bit a chaotic and we ran
late, but I really appreciate that you
all were present and that we all tried
to make it work - especially the
bringing together of protests with
such lively and
inspiring music.
A lot of people said the choir was
really inspiring and Sid made a video
to it!
(http://www.creativetechnology.org/video/w2tv-solidarity-notes-choir-women-s-housing-march-and?xg_source=facebookshare)
So again, thank you so much.
Respect and solidarity, Harsha
17
Fundraising
dinner for KFACE - an organization
which raises money to send
orphaned girls to secondary school in
Kenya.
18
Memorial
for Margaret Morgan
August
18 - 21
Princeton Traditional Music Festival
July
Endorsement
by Solidarity Notes of proposal by the
Downtown Eastside
Neighbourhood
Council for 100% social housing at the
Pantages Theatre site.
1
Counter-presence
at armed forces display at Canada Day
festivities,
organized
by Stop War.
2
Rally in support of Canadian boat to
Gaza which has been prevented
from leaving
Greece.
7
Rocky
Mountaineer Workers picket line -
workers locked out by the company
“Eva, Thank you so much to you
and your group for coming out to
support us today.
Seriously, you all sounded
amazing. My Mom was next to me
and she was brought to tears
hearing you all
belt out your labour songs.
Powerful and moving. . . . .
Again
THANK YOU SO MUCH. You truly
inspire and make our very small
family
with
big hearts happy”. Alicia
Megan Cairns
13
Performance of Howard Zinn's "Marx in
Soho"
"Marx in
Soho is a brilliant introduction to
Marx's life, his
analysis of society,
and his passion for radical change.
Zinn also shows how Marx's ideas are
relevant in today's
world."
“A great time tonight at Marx in
Soho at the Rio... Special shout out
to Earle Peach
and Solidarity
Notes who capped the performance off
with a rendition of the
Internationale (in *both* French and
English).” Derrick O'Keefe
”This is a fantastic play- I loved
it last year when I saw it, and
started crying at the
end when
Solidarity Notes burst into song.
Very powerful”. Colleen Fuller
24-26
Cumberland Miners'
Festival.
June
11
Latin
American Festival
organized by the Latin AmericanTrade
Union Congress
"Dear Friends: Thanks a lot
for your solidarity and support of the 2nd
Carnaval Latinoamerica Unida.
Yes, United We Can change the
world! Javier"
15
CAW
Air Canada workers' picket line at the
airport.
16
Rally and March in support of
BC's Community Social Service Workers.
17
BCGEU
Convention
18
Pacific
Northwest Labor History Association
awards’ dinner
27
CUPW
Rally
against lockout of Postal Workers
May
1
May
Day March
from Clark
Park to a Rally at McSpadden Park
5
Protest
against closure of Fraser Street
Shelter
7
7th
annual 'TURN TO THE SUN' Sunflower
Seedling Sale
Proceeds
to
the Stephen Lewis Foundation
19 SAVE
WIXARIKA-WIRARIKA-HUICHOL SACRED LAND
Rally
against mining in Real de Catorce,
Mexico
and
in support of
community health
projects for the Huicholes and Nahoas
of Jalisco
April
22
"JOIN
THE
WAVE
AGAINST THE PAVE"
Earth
Day tree planting to protest Gateway
Project
"Hi
Eva, This is a long overdue
thank you for arranging for
Solidarity
Notes to sing at
our Stop The Pave protest in
April! I have a lovely
memory of your
leader grabing a protest sign . It
was so obvious he'd
done protests many
many times in his life. Anyway,
would you mention
to your choir how much
we appreciated them. I have been
remiss in not
thanking you a lot
sooner, Mary Matheson"
23
RE-READING
OF
THE RIOT ACT
http://beespeakersaijiki.blogspot.com/2011/04/rereading-riot-act.html
Re-contextualization
of the reading of the Riot Act by
Mayor Gerry McGeer on April 23rd,
1935 in Victory Square to an
assembled group of unemployed
workers, their families and
supporters, recalling
the
turbulent labour history of
Vancouver in 1935 -- specifically
the 10 days of action and protest
against the appalling conditions
endured in the Relief Camps, which
sparked the Reading of The Riot Act.
The
events of 1935 have an undiminished
relevance, as poverty continues
unreconciled and solutions are
continuously explored/
debated/recycled within the city and
exported.
"Eva, Could you please pass a
warm thank you to all the
Notes. Their individual
and
collective contributions to
yesterday were remarkable and I
loved how
spontaneous and lively and
responsive they all were.
I loved working with you all and
hope we may all collaborate again.
I am inspired by the possibilities
of re enacting historical Vancouver
protests
through fictional protests and
reclaiming gestures that were
against the people and
reframing
them the way we did yesterday.
In solidarity!" Anakana Schofield
27
Douglas College
Faculty Association AGM
March
3
International
Women's
Day
'ONE
HUNDRED YEARS OF CELEBRATING WOMEN'
18
Flash
Mob
celebrating the 140th anniversary of the
Paris Commune.
19
Retirement
Party
for
Bill Saunders, President of the
Vancouver &
District
Labour Council.
Bill was a huge supporter of
International Solidarity, and was
with the choir
on its Siyahamba Tour of Cuba.
22
Gathering
in
support
of calls by Chilean Opposition Groups
against
Obama's visit to
Chile [Vancouver Art Gallery]
26
Solidarity with
Employees of Denny's Restaurant in
Vancouver. The
demo was
primarily organzed by Migrante
BC and the United Food
and Commercial
Workers (UFCW), and supported by the
Canada-
Philippines Solidarity for Human
Rights.
Information
on the case is available at:
http://kwic.ca/cases.html.
24 Aug 2011
DENNY’S FOUND GUILTY
A UFCW
Canada Human Rights Department
Release
The British
Columbia Director of Employment
Standards has found Denny’s
Restaurant guilty of contravening
section 83 of the province’s
Employment Standards Act (ESA). In a
13-page summary of the decision,
Denny’s was found in violation of
the Act when it unlawfully
terminated Alfredo Sales, a migrant
worker who worked for Denny’s from
2008 to 2010.
To watch the
Demo @ Denny’s video supporting the
$10 million class action lawsuit
against Denny’s Restaurant, go to
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHRWoigADSo&feature=youtu.be"
February
6
'Learn
By Heart' workshop given by Earle
Peach.
23
Celebration
of
the Expansion of the SFU Labour
Studies Program
and the Opening of the Morgan Centre
for Labour Studies
at Simon
Fraser University
January
14 -16 Western
Workers' Labour Heritage Festival
San Francisco
21
CUPW Rally to keep the Post Office
public
22
Gala opening of the 1st Vancouver
South African Film Festival.
27
Demonstration by students and faculty
at Simon Fraser University
to protest
SFU's acceptance of corporate
donations from Goldcorp.
29
International Day of Action against
Executions in Iran
2010
December
2
Candlelight
Vigil
@
the
Philippine
Consulate
in
Solidarity with
Detained Philippine Health Workers:
The Morong 43
**CHARGES
WERE
LATER
WITHDRAWN
AGAINST
THE 43!**
"Dear Earl and the members of the
Solidarity Notes Labour Choir,
Thank you
for being a part of the picket/vigil
for the detained health workers in
front of the philippine embassy.
thank you for taking the time to
come sing and chant in the rain
and the cold.
While we
were doing the picket/vigil, the
morong 43 in the philippines started
their first day of hunger strike at
6:30 a.m.
The
situation is really getting
desperate because usually the
political detainees go on a protest
fast before escalating their prison
protest to a hunger strike.
political prisoners wield the hunger
strike in much the same way that
workers stop work and go on strike--
it is like their weapon of last
resort when desperate times call for
desperate measures.
We hope
that this christmas is the time that
the morong 43 detainees come
home.
--Erie
on
behalf of the Canada Philippines
Solidarity for Human Rights
and
the Free the 43 Committee"
December
11 People's
Assembly for Climate Justice
November
5
Solidarity
Notes 10th Anniversary Concert
Comments
from someone who attended the concert:
"... I’d say it was a huge success! It
was a great evening….lots to enjoy and
appreciate. Thanks for your singing
and the songs of hearty human justice.
I also liked that they had the
Guatemalan performers/cultural
musicians and dancers. Good info given
too for their needs as well as for
each of the choir’s songs. I enjoyed
the food and drink too!
... I had a good time and I know
everyone else did too. The Labour
Choir is doing good work!"
7 Rhythm
Workshop with Blair Lewis
30
Solidarity
Notes
was
asked
to
sing
before
the
screening of
"The
Coca
Cola
Case"
at
the
Vancouver
Public
Library
Feedback
from Bill Gibbens:
I would like say "Thank you!" to all
of the Solidarity Notes for such a a
wonderful performance at at the Main
Library on November 30th. It added a
whole new dimension to the
documentary film series and set the
tone for more...
October
2 Benefit
for Relief Effort in Pakistan
10
Dig in for Climate
Justice
Organized by the Council of Canadians
and GatewaySucks.org
As part
of the 350.org 10/10/10 Global Work
Party people around the world did
hands-on projects to shift humanity
off the path towards runaway global
warming. In greater Vancouver, a
mass direct action was organized
against a deliberate climate crime –
the South Fraser Freeway.
The
South Fraser Freeway is an est. $2
billion freeway to be paved through
BC's best farmland and the delicate
banks of the Fraser River.
‘Preload’
sand from the proposed freeway route
was removed and sand bags filled to
raise nearby flood control dikes
around a diverse Surrey
neighbourhood, to protect it from
flooding caused by global warming.
September
12 Benefit
with Malalai Joya against War in
Afghanistan
July
10 African
Peace Festival
24 People's
March Against Immigration Minister
Jason Kenney
June
5
Fundraiser for The Hungry with the
Glass Youth Choir
6
Film Shoot
(Unpaved Productions)
June
9
Thank you again for helping us out
with our film. It worked out
great!
Please forward our thanks to
everyone involved, we really
appreciate it.
I'm attaching a link, below, where
you can download the clip of the
song we
taped for the choir outside. If
you need anything else, please let
me know.
http://rcpt.yousendit.com/885856913/f1f7aa809697ff3ffb47c6b571726c87
Aaron
Houston
Unpaved
Productions
6
Commemoration of The On
To Ottawa Trek, Crab Park
17
Rally against
the closing of the
Public Service Alliance of Canada
Leadership Course
17
Rally against
Coastal Health Cuts to
Broadway Connections Adult Daycare
25
2nd World
Congress of the International Trade
Union Confederation
representing 176 million workers in
156 countries
May
1
May
Day Rally, Grandview Park
2
Labour Movement Event,
Unitarian Church
8
Turn to the Sun
7th
Annual
Sunflower
Seedling
Event
in
aid
of
the
Stephen Lewis Foundation
15
Rally
for Housing, Science World Lawn
21
The People's Street Summit
Rally for the Health Contact Health
Centre
28
Stop
War Rally & March in opposition
to the G8 Summit
March
7
International
Women's Day
Vancouver Public Library
Mar 9
Thanks
again
for
performing
at
the
IWD
last
Sunday,
March
7th.
As always, 'Bread & Roses' by
you and the other songs
synthesized the energy and spirit
of the women and men who attended
the conference. There's nothing
like beautifully rendered
music to express what words can't
and Solidarity Notes does
that for "labourers for a
better world" like us. Kudos again
and again!!
13
International Women's Day,
International Group
Britannia Community Centre
21
International
Day
for
the
Elimination of Racism
Rally against proposed march by
Neo-Nazis
Braid Skytrain Station, New
Westminster
Mar28
Hi folks,
I'm writing this from London,
between Vancouver and Budapest, so
I can't go to practice with you
tomorrow. I was very happy to have
the luck of meeting you and to
even get the chance to sing with
you!!!! It was the best part of my
entire stay in Canada. I don't
know what to say besides that it
was a really wonderful thing, and
that you are all wonderful people,
and that I was happy whenever it
was sunday or wednesday because of
the singing, and because of you,
and I missed it when it was
canceled, and I will miss it all
the time until I go back (if I go
back).(And all of the members that
I met, of course) I have sung in
some quires before, but I have
never sung in such a great one,
I'm not exaggerating, this is how
I feel.
Sorry
for the cheesiness.
I stop. Hugs
and go on with the singing!
10000000000000 thanks!
February
7
'Drink of the Death Squads',
Granville Skytrain Station
Absolutely
Brilliant! -yis will all end up in
the Canadian equivalent of a
Gulag-
As
the one who got away (busy trying
to keep the peace as a Legal
Observer) I will send you all your
favorite cakes if you give me the
recipes (and will include
files etc)
Much love Oonagh
12
Big
Sing,
March
to
BC
Place
and
'Welcoming'
the
Torch
15
Red
Tent Campaign &
Rally
for
Homes
Pigeon Park, Carrall & Hastings
Feb21
I can't begin to tell you how
heartening, uplifting, inspiring
and encouraging it is to know that
you're out there, doing what you
do so well, imbued with such
tenacity and sheer goodness,
particularly as we all make our
way through the travails of this
tedious and oppressive Olympic
month.
I'm
aware that I'm writing to only a
fraction of the Choir, so please
pass on this message to your
colleagues if you will.
Chances are that the next time you
have news of us is when we invite
you to our 3rd anniversary on May
4th
On
behalf of everyone here, warmest
greetings & hugs as you help
us keep our eyes on the prize.
Joyce
Rock
Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood
House
27
Big Sing, Wrap Around
Live City
28
Big Sing @ Tent Village
January
15 Western
Workers' Labour Heritage
Festival, San Francisco
30
Demonstration
Against
Commercial
Pesticides
Canadian Tire Store, Cambie &
7th
2009
December
4
In
Support
of Women Experiencing Violence and/or
Abuse
SUCCESS
(Burnaby)
5
Human Rights Day, Mount Pleasant
Dec6/09
Thank
you
so
much
for
last
night.
You
guys
rocked.
The solidarity among us was
increased much more by your group
singing International anthem. I
don't know how to thank you guys.
We are grateful that you joined
us last night. Please forward my
appreciation to all the members of
Solidarity Notes. Thanks again.
Parvin
We would like to thank you all for
sharing your beautiful music
with us. Music, in any language, is
truly a powerful way of bringing
people
together.
Again, thank you so much
for adding your voices to
the cause of international solidarity!
With deep appreciation, The
Human Rights Day
CommitteeCanada-Philippines Solidarity
6
Commemoration of Montreal Massacre
'Remember Our Sisters Everywhere'
Thornton Park
Dec6
Thank you so much for everything!
Your involvement really helped weave
the ceremony together. We heard from
many people how touched they were by
your singing, and your presence.
Chris McDowell
Women’s Memorial/The Rose Project
9
VDLC Evening of Solidarity for Human
Rights in the Philippines
ZAWA Cafe
12
Stop War: 'Get Out of
Afghanistan', Vancouver Art Gallery
November
13
Handydart
Picket Line (ATU)
14
Stop War: Malalai Joya Book
Launch
22
Harmony Workshop with Carla
Mundy
28
CLIFF (Canadian Labor
International Film Festival)
BCGEU Hall, Victoria
30
In support of Paramedics
Liberal Party Dinner @ the UBC
Golf Course
October
14 UFCW
Dinner
31
UFCW Maple Ridge Extra Foods Workers
picket line
August
25 Princeton
Festival
July
5 Peace
Arch
Caravan to Cuba
14
Summer Party
June
20 Event
to
honor Brian Cross, organized by Rape
Relief
Van Dusen Gardens
28
In support of Funeral Home Workers
May
30 Spring
Concert,
Japanese Hall
April
24 Grand
March
for Housing
2008
December
7
CD
Release
14
Downtown
Eastside Centre for the Arts
November
13 Housing
Protest, Fraser Street
May
3 Homes
for All, Little Mountain
February
17
Singing for Isobel, St. Paul's
Hospital
26
Simon
Fraser University
2007
March
8 GM
Place, Protest
against
visit of Mexican President
2006
2005
2004
2003 Trip to
Cuba
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