Events by month

War monuments, cenotaphs and honour rolls remind us daily of the most dramatic and familiar stories of war.  This exhibit tells war stories of a different kind, and lays out an alternative memorial landscape—the landscape of nonresistance.

These stories are gleaned from letters, diaries, newspapers, photographs, government documents and family histories found in the Mennonite Archives of Ontario. Together, they paint a picture of the Great War from a “peace church” perspective.

Founded by tenor Bud Roach in 2008, Capella Intima has carved out a niche for itself in the Toronto early music scene by presenting the vocal chamber music of the 17th century in exciting concerts of rarely-heard gems. With motets and cantatas for up to four voices interspersed with readings from composers, performers and critics of the period, audiences are given context to music that has only come to light in recent years, thanks to the renewed interest in historically informed performance. 

Conrad Grebel University College’s Peace and Conflict Studies program (PACS) at the University of Waterloo was the first peace studies program in Canada, and has remained a leader in peace education for 40 years. With PACS’ innovative approach to learning, students can choose arts-based assignment options in many courses.

Celebrate PACS 40th anniversary with us by experiencing some of the most compelling arts-based assignments completed by students in the program. This artwork highlights the diverse, innovative, and transformational nature of the PACS program and PACS students.

Capella Intima will present a  programme of late 18th and early 19th-century glees and catches that would have been popular during the early days of the city of Hamilton.  A little Kitchener-Waterloo history will be incorporated as well!  Selections by Parry, Stanford, Billings, Cooke, and Sullivan will be included, with readings and recollections from the period of the founding of the City of Hamilton. This programme has been made possible by the generous support of the City of Hamilton Canada 150 Fund.

Listening is easy, and listening is difficult. In congregational ministry, in pastoral counselling, in worship settings, in spiritual direction, and in an individual’s walk with God, listening is an important skill that we can learn and re-learn. Join us for a one-day exploration of the skills and the spirituality of listening.

In 1817, the 20 year old Franz Schubert wrote a song for voice and piano about a fish. Two years later, he created a set of variations from this delightful theme which became the 4th movement of his immortal quintet nicknamed “The Trout”.

Bruce Skelton, violin
David Wadley, viola
Ben Bolt-Martin, cello
George Greer, double bass
Joanne Bender, piano

The idea that Mennonites moved across the Russian Empire as settlers is not new. However, recognition that Mennonites frequently colonized land belonging to Muslims has rarely been incorporated into historical analysis. This public lecture with Aileen Friesen titled, "Muslim-Mennonite Encounters in the Russian Empire" will explore that little known history.

About the speaker:

Every two years, orchestra@uwaterloo holds a Concerto and Aria Competition that is open to University of Waterloo students and recent graduates, and is judged by a panel of professional musicians. Winners perform as soloists with the orchestra in a public concert.  On Saturday, January 27th the actual competition takes place.  The evening competition is open to the public.  Three to four finalists will perform in front of a jury to win the honour of playing a solo with the orchestra@uwaterloo.  Contestants include pianists, strings, and woodwind performers, as well as voice students.