TELLING TALES
Festival seeking 150 local stories
ENTERTAINMENT Isle of Story Festival looking to tell 150 stories in Sydney.
For those who like to tell tales, the Isle of Story Festival is looking for about 150 of them.
Yes, 150 tall, small and even off-the-wall stories are needed to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday this year, says Rosalie Gillis, one of the organizers of the newly minted festival, slated to begin March 19 and run until March 25.
“The world storytelling day is March 20 — that’s why we’re doing it around that week,” says Gillis. “We were able to get some funding from Canada 150 so we’re hoping to get 150 stories told during that week. And I’m sure we will.”
While Cape Bretoners are generally considered to be pretty good when it comes to spinning yarns, Gillis is hopeful the week’s free events will further inspire those who would like to become better at it. On March 25, world-renowned storyteller Robert Seven Crows Bourdon will give a workshop on how to become a better and more effective storyteller. Bourdon, a member of the Kumik Elder’s Lodge at Indian and Northern Affairs, Ottawa, has given many workshops throughout Canada. His workshop will be open to only 15 people who must register in advance by phoning the McConnell Library at 902-5623161. The event will be held at Membertou Trade and Convention Centre from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m,
“It’s a great opportunity for someone to come and learn more about the craft of storytelling,” says Gillis. “Then we’re going to finish everything off with a spring gathering at Membertou in the afternoon and we’ll roll in with our final numbers and hopefully we have 150 stories done at that point.
“It should be great.”
The week opens on March 19 with an open storytelling event at the library from 2-4 p.m. featuring Ron Labelle, the regional library’s storyteller-in-residence. A children’s theatre and story session will also take place at 2 p.m. with the Fairytale Theatre and Jeff Ward of Membertou Heritage Park entertaining with a play and Ward’s rendition of the Mi’kmaq tale, “Story of the Giant Beavers.” On March 20, World Storytelling Day, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality will officially proclaim the day as CBRM’s Storytelling Day. The events will take place at 11 a.m. at Membertou Heritage Park, Elders Room.
On March 21, Ron Caplan will launch his latest book, “Great Cape Breton Storytelling,” a digital book celebrating the storytelling traditions of Cape Breton Island, from 4-6 p.m. at the McConnell Library. Labelle will be back at the McConnell from 7-9 p.m., on March 22 conducting an evening of folktales.
Also taking place this week will be several events and film screenings as part of the Global Music Series. On March 21, “The enemy A Partisan Hymnbook” will be shown 7-9 at the McConnell. On March 22, Meera Varghese will present the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam from 4-6 at the McConnell and on March 23, the film, “Zurkhaneh The House of Strength, Music and Martial Arts of Iran” will be shown from 7-9 p.m., also at the McConnell.
For many, the highlight of the week will come March 23 when a celebration of storytellers takes place at the Highland Arts Theatre from 4-6 p.m. A tribute will be paid to well-known Cape Breton storyteller Jim St. Clair and the DVD, “Our Community in Stories,” will be released.
“We went to 12 communities and we had storytelling sessions and then we went back to individuals within the community and videotaped them telling the stories of their communities,” explained Gillis. “So we’re going to launch that DVD at that time. That will be quite lovely — some great stories coming from people in the community — just talking about their communities and the histories — it’s really quite interesting.”
On March 24, a story slam will be held at Doktor Luke’s, A Respectable Coffee House. This open mic event allows anyone to get up and tell their own stories and the emphasis will be on encouraging younger people to take part in the event, says Gillis.
“We know that storytelling is part of our culture but it hasn’t in the past been made as big a thing in the culture as it is. We wanted to shine a light on storytelling as being a major cultural