The Black Friday market, which took place inside the C.D. Howe Building in downtown Ottawa on Friday, featured more than 20 Indigenous vendors from across the country. 

Charette, who sells beaded jewelry, originates from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory in Manitoulin Island. He said he has been bead-working with his sister since he was 13 years old. Together, they launched the David Whitedeer brand and sell their earrings in markets across the city.

He noted that the colours and designs he chooses for his work come from the inspiration of outfits he encountered in pow-wow dancing when he was a kid. Charette added that dancing is a lifestyle and is one that he embraces.

“You get trained for it during the wintertime, and then the summertime comes and there’s pow-wows back-to-back every weekend,” he said.

A few booths down was Marissa Dubé’s display. Dubé, who co-founded Indigenous Markets and is also a vendor, said she met her business partners at the Adaawe Indigenous Hub, an organization for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

 “We wanted to provide a higher-end experience for Indigenous Markets and be able to provide vendors with free opportunities,” she said. “We get sponsors to pay for the full event so that everyone does not pay for their tables.”

Through providing merchants with financially-accessible opportunities, Indigenous Markets is complementing its vision to “provide a unique retail experience that highlights Indigenous art, culture and traditions – while at the same time working towards our collective goal to Indigenize Colonial Spaces.”

Dubé highlighted Eiralize Dreams, her dream catcher and bracelet company. Self-taught and with familial links to both the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Algonquin and Kahnawake Mohawk territory, Dubé described the intricate webbing done on dream catchers.

“Traditionally, dream catchers were made to filter out the bad dreams. You would have them above your bed and the bad dreams will get lost in the webbing, which is why it’s so intricate,” she said. She added that the purpose of the feathers is so that good dreams and thoughts trickle down onto people as they sleep.

Tierney Kist heard about the event from a vendor she follows on Instagram, Quality Quills. Kist came out to the market to see what other Indigenous vendors would be selling. 

“I think it’s really nice to have something that showcases Indigenous peoples specifically,” she said. “They have so many beautiful things to offer and [it’s] really special that people are able to come and appreciate it in this kind of capacity.”

Kist said she is a huge fan of beaded earrings, so she was on the lookout for a pair for herself and also searching for a few gifts as the holiday season shopping begins.

Charette added he likes the environment of the market as “it brings people together” and allows artisans from different communities to come together. He added he hopes to be a part of Indigenous Markets for a long time.

O’Keefe, a member of the Ottawa Gay Men’s Chorus since 2022, said that the mission of the choir is to provide love and light during what can be a dark time of year.

“The energy created between the choir and the audience during the performances is one of unity, and shows that no matter who you are and where you come from, love prevails.”

This holiday season, the Ottawa Gay Men’s Chorus and the Tone Cluster choir are two music ensembles made up of people from the LGBTQ community that are putting on events to bring people together and provide a safe space to celebrate the holidays, which can be a particularly lonely time of year.

While some people view the holiday season as the most wonderful time of year, others, especially some people within the LGBTQ community, may feel displaced and alone. The celebrations around the holidays are also distinctly organized around togetherness, but such joyous unity is not the reality for all people.

“We all have our unique hang ups around the holidays. That is especially true for LGBTQ+ people,” said Alexandra Mintha, a masters of anthropology student at the University of British Columbia, whose research involves queer theory and lesbian asylum seekers in Vancouver.

Mintha, who identifies as queer, emphasizes that notions of family gatherings are not viable for some people as they are not always safe or accepting spaces during the holidays.

“I think on top of that, you look at the iconography of Christmas, holiday movies, holiday music,” she added. “It’s all kind of heteronormative, heterosexist and that’s what you see displayed and idealized.”

“You wonder, as a queer person, where you fit into all of it.”

Promoting inclusion

Both the Ottawa Gay Men’s Chorus and Tone Cluster are hosting holiday-themed concerts at the Gladstone Theatre in December. Organizers say the concerts are a chance to gather and feel included, as well as enjoy the unique choral arrangements from these local groups.

The ethos of these concerts is to connect to as many people and emotions as possible, said Deirdre Kellerman, the artistic director and conductor of Tone Cluster. Kellerman added the choir is a diverse group of members from different generations and different cultural and religious backgrounds.

“It’s a really varied group of people and life experiences, and the thing that kind of holds it together is the fact that most members of the choir identify as queer and everyone loves to sing.”

“It’s a real community.”

Tone Cluster, which turns 30 next year, is putting on a Holiday Extravaganza concert, with performances by local drag artists along with the choir.

“Hopefully we’ve prepared a program that is really inclusive in music and tone, not just for the performers but also for the prospective audience,” Kellerman said.

Guy Delorme, the president of the Ottawa Gay Men’s Chorus, said that since it was founded, the choir has always been about building community – and, of course, music. The non-audition choir currently consists of about 40 choristers, most of whom identify as gay or transgender.

The choir has performed a holiday concert every year since its start in 1986. 

“It began during the AIDS crisis, with people still being in the closet and scared,” Delorme said. “There was a gay men’s choir that had been started in Vancouver, and a man here [in Ottawa] named Gordon Johnson took the idea and started to gather a couple of people to learn some songs and perform around the holiday season.”

A more secular approach

While the choir originally would rehearse and perform in churches, it has moved out of churches to the Gladstone Theatre. Delorme explained this was to remove barriers that might prevent people from joining the choir or coming to its shows. 

“A lot of people did not feel comfortable being around religion, and there were choristers who were not necessarily happy or OK with singing in a church.” 

Kellerman echoed this sentiment about performing in a more secular space.

“People come to a show at a church and I think sometimes they’re a little distracted by the venue that they’re in, especially if it’s not a venue they’re comfortable in,” she said. “But you come to a theatre and the energy is really high and there’s a bar. I think it’s a great space for us.”

Kellerman added that the Tone Cluster show, which takes place Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m., will not exclude traditional or religious tunes, as religion is important for many of the members. Instead, the choir will interpret and sing these pieces through a more inclusive lens.

Also included in the choir’s arrangement are crowd favourites such as “Deck the Halls” and “Let it Snow.” Overall, Kellerman said the show will be “campy and fun,” and added concertgoers can expect to see some festive attire like colourful ugly Christmas sweaters.

The Ottawa Gay Men’s Chorus holiday show this year will take place at the Gladstone Theatre on Dec 10, with a matinee show at 3 p.m. and an evening concert at 7:30 p.m. In terms of what to expect, Delorme said with a twinkle in his eye: “a lot of fun.” 

 The group will perform a mixture of more earnest holiday songs and some funny songs that will give the audience a good laugh. Delorme said even the show’s name, “Nut Cracker,” is a playful double entendre.

“Whatever you want it to mean, it’s open for interpretation,” Delorme said with a laugh. 

Still, he reiterated that events like this mean a lot to the LGBTQ community, especially during the holiday season. “I don’t know the percentage, but many people in the community are alone around the holiday season, so the concert is a chance to gather. It’s a time to get together and see friends,” he said.

“And for those who have had negative holiday experiences before, it’s a moment of joy and celebration.”

Mintha said the idea of safe spaces and chosen family is a large part of the LGBTQ community. She added that being able to access and attend events during isolating times, such as the holidays, that promote acceptance is a special thing for a lot of people. 

“When we do think of the holidays, it’s often thought of as joyful, and I think any way to celebrate and come together and just experience queer joy is something that is really important.”

Tickets for both events are available on the Gladstone Theatre website.

The employees, members of the Unifor union, are seeking better salaries and working conditions at a time when food prices have increased nationwide.

Two shoppers said they support the workers, but expressed concerns about going elsewhere to buy groceries and pay for food during the holiday season. A third said her main concern is how a strike would affect her ability to buy affordable food.

“I can understand why Unifor workers want to go on strike. They’re obviously suffering,” said Phillip Walsh.

Walsh, a member of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, said he understands the necessity of a strike in order to directly improve the working conditions of the workers. “It’s an awful situation. Obviously I support the union,” he said.

Curtis Wright, a No Frills regular, also said he supports the workers.

“I think this is what they have to do,” said Wright. “The workers should be able to demand and bargain for what they want.”

Wright said that he hadn’t heard about the possibility of the strike, but said he thinks that if the strike were to happen it will “alleviate the stress felt by the workers during the holidays.”

Shopper Rosie Genio said that if No Frills workers went on strike, she would feel an added pressure to provide affordable food during the holidays.

“I price match,” Genio said. “So I’m just trying to get what I can while I can.”

Further, she said she would have to go somewhere else if the workers went on strike and that many people will have to find somewhere else to buy affordable groceries.

Food insecurity is on the minds of many as the holiday season approaches.

Statistics Canada reported this week that the proportion of families who were food insecure increased to 18 per cent in 2022 from 16 per cent in 2021. Food insecurity is determined by a variety of factors, such as the stability of income, assets and debt, access to family and social supports and the cost of living, according to the report.

Unifor said in a press release that the union would strike if demands were not met by Loblaw Companies, the parent company to No Frills.

“People simply don’t believe Loblaw can’t do better by its workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor national president. “Unless the corporation comes to the table with a serious offer, this will certainly result in our members being forced to take strike action. What choice do these workers have?”

Unifor is seeking increased wages, improved working conditions and more full-time jobs. They will strike on Nov. 20 if the bargaining is not successful.

The Loblaw public relations department did not respond to a request for comment.

The Stittsville family’s homage last year to the 2003 holiday hit included the seven levels of the Candy Cane Forest, the Sea of Swirly Twirly Gumdrops, as well as cardboard cut-outs of Buddy the Elf, a life-size replica of Santa’s sleigh and signposts of some of the film’s most recognizable quotes.

Turcotte, whose family built the display as a charity fundraiser, recalls seeing Ferrell’s Elf in theatres when it was originally released. “It’s incredible to see 20 years go by so quickly,” he said. “It’s a Christmas classic for a lot of people so I’ve found it’s really cool that they’re re-releasing it.”

The modern classic, which hits select big screens today, first aired on Nov. 7, 2003, and remains a holiday must-watch 20 years later.

“I think even when Elf was brand new, and obviously not creating its own nostalgia, it was already tapping into an earlier generation’s nostalgia,” says film critic and self-avowed fan of the film, Chris Knight.

Knight hasn’t seen the film in a few years but recalls scenes such as Buddy discovering the “world’s best cup of coffee” and being terrified by the pop of a jack-in-the-box at Santa’s workshop. “Will Ferrell commits so well to the role of Buddy. He just sort of has no filter, no shame. He really is this man-child character,” he said.  

Knight noted that the longevity of the film could be largely due to the script. “There’s nothing really dated about the comedy, it’s not leaning on social media or anything that might go out of style,” he said.  

Although only two decades old, this movie has reached classic status among the greats: It’s A Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, to name a few – because it draws on elements from all three of these films. 

Perhaps the appeal of the film is because of its close connection to the 1964 Rankin Bass television hit Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, said television columnist and critic Bill Brioux. “If you take a close look at the clothes that they’re wearing, [or] the backgrounds during some of the scenes, you’ll notice that the art direction really mimicked the way that Rudolph was designed,” he said.

Brioux added that Buddy’s costume was very much like Hermey the Elf’s, “right down to the hat on his head.” It was so similar to the television special that the creators almost got in legal trouble, according to Netflix’s Movies That Made Us. 

Elf also draws on other Christmas classics to contribute to its emotional appeal. It is likely that these factors play a role in the routine viewing of Elf in many households each year – as there is nostalgia embedded in the movie’s roots.  For instance, Buddy leans over a bridge in New York while feeling low near the end of the movie, which mimics George Bailey doing this in 1947’s It’s a Wonderful Life. Additionally, the actor Peter Billingsley, who plays Santa’s Head Elf in the 2003 film, starred as Ralphie in A Christmas Story in 1983.

Repeat viewings of holiday movies have a long history, according to a Film Studies Assistant Professor at Carleton University. “Probably the first example of that is It’s A Wonderful Life,” Katherine Morrow said, referencing the black-and-white classic.

However, a 2022 Statista report demonstrated that there were fewer people watching films in theatres last year than a decade earlier. Although COVID-19’s Omicron variant was rampant at this time, the amount of Cineplex movie-goers was cut by almost half – indicating that attendance was likely on the decline already.

Morrow added that the re-release of Elf demonstrates a shift to event cinema, which is a way to “more broadly get people back in theatre.” She added that this method is frequently used in the release of concert films as it provides people who were not able to attend an event in person, with the opportunity to experience it in a grandiose way.

Although playing holiday classics is commonplace leading up to the holidays, Morrow said that the re-release of Elf could be a result of the Hollywood writers’ strike that took place this year. She added that putting an already-made film back in theatres was a good idea from the studios as creating new ones “wouldn’t have been possible in the past year,” she said.

After the positive response to his Elf-themed Christmas display, Turcotte says he is almost certain that the re-release will be successful.

The father of two added that one of the reasons he and his wife fell in love was because of their shared admiration for Christmas. Each year, they create a long list of holiday movies to watch. “Elf is usually at the top of the list,” he said.

After watching the film upwards of 20 times last year in preparation for his family’s fundraiser, Turcotte noted that it never gets old for him. He said he hopes he can see the film the way it was intended to be watched: with his family in theatres.

At this time, no cinema showings have been scheduled for Elf in Ottawa.

Even for an uninitiated first-time visitor to Café Ukraine, it takes less than two minutes to get dragged into a game of chess, before getting gently dismantled by a burly, bearded Ukrainian man, down to the very last pawn. 

Meanwhile, other people are bringing out musical instruments, enjoying some traditional Ukrainian food and drink, and playing board and card games. The room is buzzing with conversation and laughter – which is exactly what organizers wanted. 

“The entire point of the café was to create a place specifically for Ukrainian newcomers where they could just be,” said Adriana Romas, a lead organizer of Café Ukraine and member of the Ukrainian diaspora.

“We had to figure out a way to pull these new Ukrainians into the community because there was a huge risk they would be spread out around Ottawa in strange homes, with strange people, with a strange language, and then what?” 

Pulling Ukrainians in Ottawa together as the holiday season arrives is noteworthy this year given that Ukraine has officially moved its Christmas holiday from Jan. 7 to Dec. 25, in an act of defiance against continued Russian aggression in Ukrainian territory, and as a departure from the Russian Orthodox Church. However, for the time being, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ottawa will continue to have its Christmas Day celebrations on Jan. 7. 

For many Ukrainians in Ottawa, this Christmas season is less about the day it is celebrated on and more about being together and celebrating Ukrainian traditions. The effects of the ongoing war have led to uprooted lives, separated families and lost loved ones. Having a sense of togetherness away from home, made possible through venues such as Café Ukraine, Maidan Market and the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, is vital for Ukrainian newcomers fleeing war to feel a sense of belonging this holiday season. 

“Broken souls and broken destinies need support. They need to feel at home,” said Father Taras Kinash, the parish priest at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, in Ottawa’s west end. 

For nearly two years now, Ukraine has been engaged in a bloody and brutal war with Russia, forcing millions from their homes and leaving 17.6 million people in Ukraine in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 

During this period of intense uncertainty and anxiety, many Ukrainians have turned to the church for support, Kinash said. The parish has been active since the war began, running a variety of events, programs and fundraisers to provide a welcoming environment for Ukrainian newcomers into the Ottawa-Ukrainian community, according to Kinash.

Deciding on which day to celebrate Christmas next year is not easy for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, whose decision the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Ottawa would follow. For Ukrainians who migrated to Canada long ago, “the tradition of celebrating Christmas on Jan. 7 was one way they could preserve their unique culture and identity in a land so far from home,” Kinash said.

For Mykyta Zakharchenko – a 17-year-old who came to Canada by himself because of the war over a year ago, hardly knowing any English at all – this holiday season will bring “new feelings.”  

“We should build something new, in a way that respects and remembers our old traditions,” said Mykyta, as he sipped a coffee Tuesday night at Café Ukraine.

However, he said there are more important things on his mind. “We have a war, we’re not thinking about a holiday.”

Mykyta says he had established a good life for himself in Cherkasy, south of Kyiv. He started a cryptocurrency company, joined a Ukrainian national rowing team and attended high school with his family and friends close by.

That all changed one morning in late February 2022 when he woke to a phone call from his best friend.

“The war has started,” his friend said. Mykyta said he knew at that moment things wouldn’t be the same.

Within the span of four days, it was determined he would move to Canada and live with a host family, while his mother and little brother would move to Germany. His grandmother remained in Cherkasy. Despite being separated, his family is constantly at the forefront of his mind. 

For Mykyta and many other Ukrainian newcomers who have been separated from their families, this holiday season will be a “painful” one, he said.

“Christmas is a family holiday. It is when you should be with your family,” Mykyta said.

Fortunately, diaspora organizations have stepped up big time to support Ukrainian newcomers. Places like Café Ukraine and Maidan Market sprung up as local initiatives in Ottawa after the latest war began and have played a big part in helping provide a sense of community for Ukrainian newcomers.

“To me, especially around the Christmas holidays, Café Ukraine feels like home,” Mykyta said. 

The Ottawa community has also shown its full support. During the initial phase of newcomers fleeing the war, Maidan Market – an information and learning centre for Ukrainian newcomers located in the West Gate Shopping Centre – had over 400 volunteers assisting over 2,000 Ukrainians in need of help, according to Svitlana Maksiuta, a lead organizer. 

Newcomers Olha Stoicheva and Venera Khakimova, who were waiting around after finishing their English lesson at the community hub on Thursday morning, said Maidan Market has been a place for them to feel comfortable and to connect with other Ukrainians. 

“Maidan Market, for everybody, is a country within a country, an island where we keep safe and feel warmth and friendliness,” Khakimova said. 

Over the upcoming Christmas holidays, both Café Ukraine and Maidan Market will be bringing Ukrainians together. Mykyta, Stoicheva and Khakimova all said they plan to celebrate Christmas twice, on both Dec. 25 and Jan. 7. 

Kinash and his parish have been working hard to make Ukrainian newcomers feel welcome this holiday season. On Saturday, Nov 18. the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ottawa will be hosting the 2023 Ukrainian Christmas Market. 

“The day Ukrainians celebrate Christmas,” Kinash said, “is not as important as the celebration of tradition itself.”