Newsroom bureau with Winnipeg's South Asian communities

CBC Manitoba is popping up in Garden City, one of Winnipeg's fastest-growing and most diverse neighbourhoods in the city. The remote newsroom bureau is a coming together of art, culture and making time to listen to the issues that matter most to you.

Prabhjot Singh Lotey is a Winnipeg-based photographer from India who moved to Canada in 2019. Documenting personal, in-depth stories with photography, Prabhjot will be a reporter working in the remote newsroom. Do you have an idea or topic that we should cover?  Email here: prabhjot.lotey@cbc.ca 

• Dates: October 15 - November 6, 2021
• Location: Garden City Shopping Centre (Unit #207) 2305 McPhillips Street, Winnipeg, MB

Hours of operation

• Tuesday & Wednesday - 11:00 am - 7:00 p.m., 
• Thursday & Friday - 12:00 - 8:00 p.m., 
• Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• *Sunday - closed 
• *Monday - closed

For the next four weeks, this community location will be opening up to the general public in collaboration with Winnipeg's South Asian communities. A community art group, school art displays, workshops, activities and public talks are just a few of the events in store for you.

The space is open to the general public and we have carefully implemented ways to keep you safe while you're visiting. Individuals entering must show proof of vaccination and only children 12+ are permitted.

Activities and workshops must be registered for in advance.

Desi re: Community Art Group

Local artists are headlining the space with a series of multidisciplinary pieces on display to the public.

• Azka Ahmed is a South-Asian interdisciplinary artist and first-generation immigrant. Their practice explores concepts of healing, identity and Diaspora through evocative mediums such as film and spoken word. They have been published twice with the Poetry Institute of Canada and have represented Manitoba at the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam.

• Seema Goel is a first generation Canadian artist from Saskatchewan with roots in Northern India. Her art practise focuses on the relationship between humans and the natural world with particular attention to ecological agency and economic structure, and how the natural world is explored to further non-biological areas of scientific study. Using tactile materials and combining low and high-tech, she engages her viewers through touch, humour, and play. Goel holds a Master's of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design, as well as a BSc from McGill and an Associate Arts Diploma from the Ontario College of Art & Design. 

• Hassaan Ashraf is a multidisciplinary artist based in Treaty 1 and their work has been focusing on their skills as a painter and calligraphy artist for the last couple of years. Originally a lens-based artist, Hassaan has tried to follow the spiral of change in their practice as they have focused on exploring a multitude of mediums throughout their art life. Their practice flourishes the most while collaborating with artist friends who share similar values and political standing. They hope to continue their practice once the pandemic is a thing of the past and nourishment through community and friends becomes a possibility again.

• Gurpreet Sehra is a multidisciplinary artist who works in traditional and contemporary media, including textile, painting, video, printmaking and installation. In her work, she explores themes within the Sikh-Punjabi Diaspora.

• Wasif Haseeb is an Indian-Canadian filmmaker based in Winnipeg, MB. He first began his filmmaking journey at the age of 10, using his family's webcam to shoot a feature-length film. Since then, his films have been screened at festivals across Canada and garnered thousands of views online. His goal is to tell stories that reflect the diverse community he was raised in.

• Saira and Nilufer Rahman are sisters of Muslim and Bengali heritage who grew up in Winnipeg. Before pursuing filmmaking, Saira was a teacher and principal, and Nilufer was a photographer. In 2010 they established Snow Angel Films and produced their first feature documentary, Arctic Mosque, which broadcast on CBC and APTN. 

School Art Displays

Classrooms from all over Winnipeg were invited to send art to help CBC Manitoba decorate their newsroom bureau in Garden City. Come and view the collection of art, posters and dioramas on display. Thank you to Seven Oaks School Division, Pembina Trails School Division, St. James-Assiniboia School Division and Damesh School Winnipeg.

Activities Calendar

Throughout the month there are a number of different events and workshops the public can register for. If there isn't an event scheduled then the general public is invited to pop in for a casual visit, view the art and talk to a journalist. 

*note that these events may change so please check back regularly for the most up to date information*

November 2 to 6

• Tuesday, 11:00 - 1:00 p.m. | Live stream of the Diwali Mela 2021 celebration by SOPAC (Seven Oaks Performing Arts Centre) and the Seven Oaks School Division in Garden City Shopping Centre, centre court.
• Tuesday, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Shayri - A Pakistani Poetry Workshop with Hamza Khan, Ashas Irfan, Hassan Abbas and Dr. Absar Ahmed
  (Capacity: 15 people). Register here.
• Thursday, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | The History of Islam in South Asia with Daniyal Syed
  (Capacity: 15 people). Register here.
• Friday, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | South Asian Women Empowering One Another  Empowerment is a cycle that uplifts and secures the lifestyle of those who need it most. Humaira Jaleel will speak from her experiences and share the story of her empowerment and how South Asian women can empower one another. 
  (Capacity: 15). Register here.
• Saturday, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Bulla Arts, Bhangra dance workshop with Aman.
  (Capacity: 15 people). Register here.
• NEW! Saturday, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. | ISKCON, offering of lights & ancient prayer
  Every evening as darkness falls during the holy Vaisnava month of Damodara, also known as Kartika, devotees sing a prayer and wave ghee lamps as they remember an incident from 5000 years ago, recounted in the sacred text Srimad Bhagavatam.   Great saints and sages experience emotions of bliss as they remember the situation of mischievous Baby Krishna feeding his mother's butter to monkeys and getting into trouble for it, along with his mother Yasoda's exasperated concern for his safety.  Their conclusion is that meditating on the Lord's intimate relationships, such as this one with his mother, brings us closer to him more effectively than awe and reverence for his more majestic aspects.
  
  Join the members of ISKCON Manitoba as they serve by offering lights while singing the ancient prayer Sri Damodarastakam.
  (Capacity: 15) | Register here.

Remote bureau: how community connections inspired a project

Coming together, finding connections and building trust is what this remote newsroom is all about. This project involved consultation with influential voices from South Asian communities in Winnipeg, and evolved to create a space that reflects art, culture, spirituality and more. 

As the public broadcaster, deepening relationships within neighbourhoods and among communities is central to our mission. Engagement projects like these open up access to CBC Manitoba's newsroom, gain insights from our audiences, and contribute to a more broad-range and inclusive coverage. We thank everyone involved.

For more information or to send feedback, email lindsay.mackenzie@cbc.ca